WAIT - EXPECT - HOPE - LOOK FORWARD

Let's define the terms hope wait expect and look forward to and then compare them. 

1) To wait
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something

-Basically to wait is when you pass time until something else happens or occurs.

To wait is usually related to something physically. For example: You wait at the bus stop for the bus. Imagine sitting or standing at the bus stop. You are there (physically) waiting for the bus.

2) To expect
to see something as probable, likely or reasonable

-When you expect something it is like you are mentally assuming that it will happen. You expect the sun to rise in the morning because it has happened everyday of your life so far.

You also expect to get paid for the work that you do because it is reasonable. Imagine that you are still waiting for the bus. You expect it to come at 5pm because that is the schedule and it has come at that time for the last month.

3)To hope
the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled

-Hope is close to expect but the difference is that hope involves emotions. When you expect something it is a mental process whereas hoping for something to happen is more of an emotional desire.

If you are waiting for the bus you could say that you hope the bus is on time because you have a plane to catch.

4)To look forward to
thinking about something in the future, with pleasure

-When you look forward to something, it is a combined sense or feeling of hoping, expecting and waiting regarding something pleasurable in the future.

For example I am looking forward to going to Canada this summer.

Now that you have a good understanding of the definitions for hope wait expect and look forward to, lets look at how each word changes the meaning of a similar sentence.

Choose the correct answer.

 

1. She is _________ a promotion.
   1.   waiting
   2.   hoping
   3.   expecting
2. I am _________ Maria to come in the evening.
   1.   expecting
   2.   hoping
   3.   waiting
3. I am __________ to hear from her.
   1.   waiting
   2.   hoping
   3.   expecting
   4.   all of the above
4. He ______ to get a bike for his birthday
   1.   hopes
   2.   expects
   3.   either could be used here
5. I have been ________ for her for hours.
   1.   waiting
   2.   hoping
   3.   expecting
6. She can’t _____ for her birthday.
   1.   wait
   2.   hope
   3.   expect
7. We are _________ rain soon.
   1.   expecting
   2.   hoping
   3.   waiting
8. We are _________ to get good rains this year.
   1.   hoping
   2.   expecting
   3.   waiting
   4.   all of the above
9. She is quite shy. I ________ her to be smarter.
   1.   expected
   2.   hoped
   3.   waited
10. Employees are _________ to start work at 9 o’clock.
    1.   expected
    2.   hoped
    3.   waited
11. We are ______ that you can come and stay with us.
    1.   hoping
    2.   expecting
    3.   waiting
12. We hope ___________ to hear from her today.
    1.   hope
    2.   expect
    3.   are hoping
    4.   are expecting
    5.   all of the above
13. I'm ___________ to my birthday.
    1.   waiting
    2.   looking forward
    3.   hoping
    4.   waiting
14. She ___________ to met her husband
    1.   waits
    2.   expects
    3.   looks forward
    4.   hopes