The words expect, hope and wait have similar meanings; however, they are not always interchangeable.
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate form of expect, hope or wait.
1. She is ……………… a promotion.
Before a noun we use hope for or wait for. Expect is used without for.
2. I am ………………… Maria to come in the evening.
If we expect something to happen we have a good reason to believe that it will happen.
3. I am ………………… to hear from her.
All three of these verbs are possible before a to-infinitive with somewhat similar meanings.
4. He ……………….. to get a bike for his birthday.
Either hopes or expects is possible here.
5. I have been ………………. for her for hours.
We wait when somebody or something is late.
6. She can’t ………………… for her birthday.
Can’t wait shows impatience.
7. We are ………………….. rain soon.
Before a noun we use hope for or wait for. Expect is used without for.
8. We are ………………… to get good rains this year.
Before a to-infinitive, all of the above are possible.
9. She is quite shy. I ………………….. her to be smarter.
Before object + infinitive we use hope for or wait for. Expect is used without for.
10. Employees are ………………… to start work at 9 o’clock.
Expect is often used with object + infinitive to talk about people’s duties. Passive forms of this structure are also common.
11. We are …………………. that you can come and stay with us.
Progressive forms of expect are not normally used before a that-clause.
12. We ………………. to hear from her today.
Before a to-infinitive simple and continuous forms of hope and expect are used with very similar meanings.
Answers
1. She is expecting a promotion.
2. I am expecting Maria to come in the evening.
3. I am waiting / hoping / expecting to hear from her.
4. He expects / hopes to get a bike for his birthday.
5. I have been waiting for her for hours.
6. She can’t wait for her birthday.
7. We are expecting rain soon.
8. We are expecting / hoping / waiting to get good rains this year.
9. She is quite shy. I expected her to be smarter.
10. Employees are expected to start work at 9 o’clock.
11. We are hoping that you can come and stay with us.
12. We hope / expect / are hoping/ are expecting to hear from her today.
