The words expect, wait and hope have related meanings but they are not interchangeable. Can you use them correctly? Take a moment to do this exercise.
Complete the following sentences using expect, wait or hope.
1The garden is very dry, so we are ............... for a lot of rain.
Wrong!
Use "hoping" with "for" when you want something to happen.
2The forecast says we are ............... rain soon.
Wrong!
Use "expecting" when you think something will probably happen.
3I am still ............... to hear from him.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Expecting", "waiting", and "hoping" are all possible before "to hear from him", but they have different meanings.
4My sister is ............... a baby.
Wrong!
Use "expecting" to mean that a woman is pregnant.
5I ............... her to arrive at six, but she didn’t come.
Wrong!
Use "expected" with an object and infinitive when you thought someone would do something.
6I ............... for her until eight.
Wrong!
Use "waited" with "for" when you stayed until someone came or until a time passed.
7We ............... them to arrive in half an hour.
Wrong!
Use "expect" with an object and infinitive to say what you think will happen.
8She is quite old; I ............... her to be younger.
Wrong!
Use "expected" with an object and infinitive to describe what you thought would be true.
9We ............... you can come and stay with us soon.
Wrong!
Use "hope" before a clause to say that you want something to happen.
Answers
- The garden is very dry, so we are hoping for a lot of rain.
- The forecast says we are expecting rain soon.
- I am still expecting / waiting / hoping to hear from him.
- My sister is expecting a baby.
- I expected her to arrive at six, but she didn’t come.
- I waited for her until eight.
- We expect them to arrive in half an hour.
- She is quite old; I expected her to be younger.
- We hope you can come and stay with us soon.