Wait v Expect v Hope v Look Forward To

Consider the following sentences:

1. I am waiting for my student.

2. I expect he'll arrive shortly.

3. I hope he hasn't forgotten.

4. I'm looking forward to my next class. It should be fun.




to wait - to pass time (inactively) until something happens.
e.g. I am waiting for my student (to arrive).
e.g. He's been waiting for an operation for 4 months.


to expect - to think sth will happen or sb will arrive; to see sth as probable or likely
e.g. I expect he'll arrive shortly (he normally phones to say if he's going to be late).
e.g. She's expecting a phone call from her brother (he said he'd phone today).

Source: Ron Smith on Unsplash

to hope - to want something to happen; an emotional desire
e.g. I hope he hasn't forgotten about the lesson (I'll be annoyed if he has).
e.g. I hope (that) I'll pass the exam (I'll be disappointed if I don't).


to look forward to sth - to feel excited or pleased about stg¡h that is going to happen
e.g. I'm looking forward to my next class. It should be fun.
e,g. I'm looking forward to going on holiday. I'm counting the days until I go.


Complete the following sentence with one of the verbs in its correct form:
  1. A: The bus hasn't arrived yet. B: How long ___ you ___ ? A: at least half an hour
  2. I ___ (-) the meeting tomorrow. I have to make a speech and the boss will be there.
  3. He ___ he'll find a job soon. He is starting to get really worried.
  4. We ___ (-) there to be any changes. It's the same every year.
  5. I wonder who that is at the door. ___ you ___ anyone?
  6. A: Who ___ you ___ for? B: My girlfriend. We're going to the theatre this evening.
  7. We ___ to get married early next year but only if we have enough money.
  8. She ___ seeing her boyfriend again. They haven't seen each other for a whole month.
  9. They ___ 10 million people to watch the match. That's an incredible number.
  10. I ___ you have a nice time on holiday. Tell me all about it when you get back.

What do you normally do while you are waiting for someone?

How long should you wait for someone before you get annoyed?

What do you expect to happen over the coming days and weeks?

What do you hope will happen this year?

Are you looking forward to anything?

Comments

lucia said…
Hi graham!

I hope you can read this comments easily!!!!

1. A: The bus hasn't arrived yet. B: How long have you been waiting ? A: at least half an hour
2. I’m not looking forward the meeting tomorrow. I have to make a speech and the boss will be there.
3. He hopes he'll find a job soon. He is starting to get really worried.
4. We don’t hope there to be any changes. It's the same every year.
5. I wonder who that is at the door.Do you expect anyone?
6. A: Who are you waiting for? B: My girlfriend. We're going to the theatre this evening.
7. We hope to get married early next year but only if we have enough money.
8. She is looking forward to seeing her boyfriend again. They haven't seen each other for a whole month.
9. They expect 10 million people to watch the match. That's an incredible number.
10. I hope you have a nice time on holiday. Tell me all about it when you get back.


What do you normally do while you are waiting for someone?
I normally watch my clock or watch people in the street or some shop windows.

How long should you wait for someone before you get annoyed?
I never get annoyed because people have a problem normaly, nevertheless I can feel bad if people make this and they don’t warn me.

What do you expect to happen over the coming days and weeks?
I expect my son win the handball champion.

What do you hope will happen this year?
I hope I’ll pass the English exam.

Are you looking forward to anything?
I’m looking forward to going on holiday.
Anonymous said…
Hi! Here is my exercise. WAITING FOR the correction.

1. A: The bus hasn't arrived yet. B: How long _HAVE__ you WAITED___ ? A: at least half an hour
2. I ´M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO___ (-) the meeting tomorrow. I have to make a speech and the boss will be there.
3. He _EXPECTS__ he'll find a job soon. He is starting to get really worried.
4. We DON´T HOPE___ (-) there to be any changes. It's the same every year.
5. I wonder who that is at the door. _ARE__ you EXPECTING___ anyone?
6. A: Who ARE___ you WAITING___ for? B: My girlfriend. We're going to the theatre this evening.
7. We HOPE___ to get married early next year but only if we have enough money.
8. She´S LOOKING FORWARD TO ___ seeing her boyfriend again. They haven't seen each other for a whole month.
9. They _EXPECT__ 10 million people to watch the match. That's an incredible number.
10. I _HOPE__ you have a nice time on holiday. Tell me all about it when you get back.

Nicolas.
Graham said…
LucĂ­a and Nicolas,

Who has the correct answer? -

1. L
2. N
3. L
4. neither (try again!)
5. N
6. both
7. both
8. both
9. both
10. both


LucĂ­a,

What do you normally do while you are waiting for someone?
I normally look at my watch or watch people in the street or look in shop windows.

How long should you wait for someone before you get annoyed?
I never get annoyed because people normally have a problem, nevertheless I can feel bad if people do this and they don’t warn me.

What do you expect to happen over the coming days and weeks?
I expect my son will win the handball championship.
This sounds that you are very confident. You would say this if they win every year or if they are by far the strongest team this year.
Graham said…
I remember a saying which describes the Scots perfectly.

They hope for the best but expect the worst.
Anonymous said…
4. We DON´T EXPECT___ (-) there to be any changes. It's the same every year.

Is it ok now?

Nicolas

P.S. By the way, I can´t go to the class tomorrow. I´m sorry.
Graham said…
You've got it now, NicolĂĄs!

Are you having Monday off? If so, enjoy the extra long weekend!

PS I'll publish your comment on "wear v take v carry" when one of your classmates has a go at it too.
Anonymous said…
How are you doing Graham?

I am going to tell you a short story about a brownie, little beings like a goblin. They wear a shreds of brown clothe. The brownies have a little and deflated face. They have a holes of nose like suck of a needles and they are very hairy. Sometimes they are in a group, although, normally, are alone. As another goblin they live in harmony with human beings and don´t have evilness. If you treat well to brownie, he will take care too much of you and he will sing beautiful songs. But you can´t pay them directly because if you give a reward, they will go out for ever. You can give them a little present, for example, a bowl of milk, and they will feel very grateful. If you offend them, they offend usually, will go out and then they will take a good luck that used to surround these beings.

This story is from Scotland, do you know it? I hope you had heard it. As I was reading about your county, I can practice to avoid my lot of mistake after learn your rules about English grammar. I need practice too many times and I tank you have so patience, but don´t stop to check please. When you go to Scotland have to carry oranges of Spain and to bring a lot of brownies to Spain, we need too many them. I will expect you bring them early because I look forward to meet them.

While I wait your check my writing, I wish you a good weekend. See you. José.
Graham said…
Hi José!

I'm doing alright thanks. I don't know if it's anything to do with the fact that we have two days off this week. :-)

These "brownie" creatures that you talk about ring a bell but the first thing that came to mind were the girl equivalent of the boy scouts. Apparently, they were named after these goblins.

You really should go to Scotland some day after all this research you have been doing.


They wear shreds of brown clothes / brown rags. Brownies have little, flat faces. They have pinhole nostrils and they are very hairy. Sometimes they are in a group, although normally they are alone. As any other goblin they live in harmony with human beings and aren't evil. If you treat a brownie well, he will take great care of you and he will sing beautiful songs. But you can´t pay them directly because if you give a reward, they will leave for ever. You can give them a little present, for example, a bowl of milk, and they will feel very grateful. If you offend them, they will leave and take with them the good luck that surrounded them.

I hope you have heard of it. As I was reading about your country, I can try to avoid my many mistakes after learning your rules about English grammar. I need practice a lot and I thank you for your endless patience, but don´t stop checking please. When you go to Scotland you have to take oranges from Spain and to bring a lot of brownies to Spain, we need a lot of them. I hope you bring them soon because I am look forward to meeting them.

While I wait for your corrections, I wish you a good weekend.


I see you have difficulties with "a lot of", "many" and "too many/much". Read the explanation in the post of 18 October 2011 (Poll 2) and then do the linked exercises.

Have you seen the post on "carry v take v wear"? Do the exercise that I created there.


Enjoy your days off this week.
Anonymous said…
Thank you very much Graham. ¿Can you tell me if the phrasal verb "ring a bell" means "me suena" in Spanish?
I told you that I will soon go to Scotland and I will try the haggis.
I´m happy because I have only made two mistake, from three cases. It´s unbelievable.
Good rest to you. José.
Anonymous said…
Hey Graham!!!It´s me Blanca, here you are the homeworks about confusing words, i am reviewing one by one...it is hard, you know? so, i hope i pass the exam...

1. A: The bus hasn't arrived yet. B: How long have you being waiting for it ? A: at least half an hour
2. I don´t expect to have the meeting tomorrow. I have to make a speech and the boss will be there.
3. He hope he'll find a job soon. He is starting to get really worried.
4. We don´t expect there to be any changes. It's the same every year.
5. I wonder who that is at the door. are you waiting for anyone?
6. A: Who are you waiting for? B: My girlfriend. We're going to the theatre this evening.
7. We hope to get married early next year but only if we have enough money.
8. She is looking forward to seeing her boyfriend again. They haven't seen each other for a whole month.
9. They expect 10 million people to watch the match. That's an incredible number.
10. I hope you have a nice time on holiday. Tell me all about it when you get back.
Graham said…
Hi Blanca!

The more work you put in, the more progress you'll make. I am happy with your progress so far this term.

Here is the homework about confusing words, I am reviewing them one by one.

1. A: The bus hasn't arrived yet. B: How long have you been waiting (for it)? A: at least half an hour

2. I am not looking forward to the meeting tomorrow. I have to make a speech and the boss will be there.

3. He hopes he'll find a job soon. He is starting to get really worried.

5. I wonder who that is at the door. Are you expecting anyone?


A shaky start but you did quite well in the end.
Unknown said…
1. have you been waiting
2. look forward to
3. hopes
4. don't expect
5. Are you waiting
6. are you waiting
7. look forward
8. hopes
9. expect
10. hope

-When I am waiting for someone I usually smoke some cigarettes, I know I shouldn´t but it is what I do when I am bored.
-Before I get annoyed I wait for someone no more than 30 minutes. It is time enogh to get bored and feeling that you are wasting your time.
-Over the coming days and weeks I expect to receive my Master's diploma. I've being waiting for it for two years.
-This year I hope to pass the Cambridge Advanced Certificate exam. I also hope to travel abroad in summer.
-I am looking forward to Sam, an American friend who is coming to Spain in May and who I don't see since 10 years ago.
Graham said…
Hello Alejandro,

2. I'm not looking forward to the meeting tomorrow.

5. I wonder who that is at the door. Are you expecting anyone?

7. We hope to get married early next year but only if we have enough money.

8. She is looking forward to seeing her boyfriend again. They haven't seen each other for a whole month.

-When I am waiting for someone I usually smoke some cigarettes. I know I shouldn´t but it is what I do when I am bored. (You could always read old Whatsapp messages instead)

-I wait for someone for no more than 30 minutes otherwise I get annoyed. It is enough time to get bored and feeling that you are wasting your time.

-Over the coming days and weeks I expect to receive my Master's diploma. I've being waiting for it for two years.

-This year I hope to pass the Cambridge Advanced Certificate exam. I also hope to travel abroad in summer.

-I am looking forward to seeing Sam, an American friend who is coming to Spain in May and who I haven't seen for ten years.

MarĂ­a Rossignoli Montero said…
Hi Graham!

A: The bus hasn't arrived yet. B: How long have you been waiting for ? A: at least half an hour

I expect having the meeting tomorrow. I have to make a speech and the boss will be there.

He hopes he'll find a job soon. He is starting to get really worried.

We hopes/don't expect there to be any changes. It's the same every year.

I wonder who that is at the door. Do you expect anyone?

A: Who are you waiting for? B: My girlfriend. We're going to the theatre this evening.

We hope to get married early next year but only if we have enough money.

She hopes seeing her boyfriend again. They haven't seen each other for a whole month.

They expect 10 million people to watch the match. That's an incredible number.

I hope you have a nice time on holiday. Tell me all about it when you get back.

What do you normally do while you are waiting for someone? When I'm waitinf for someone, normally I'm just sat in a bunch with the phone.

How long should you wait for someone before you get annoyed? Around 30-40 minutes

What do you expect to happen over the coming days and weeks? I expect to receive my wage these days.

What do you hope will happen this year? I hope I'll have a great experience in Nederlands.

Are you looking forward to anything? I'm looking forward to watch the new movie in the cinema.
Graham said…
Hi MarĂ­a,

I hope you like these posts on Confusing Words. I don't expect you'll have any problems with this exercise. I look forward to seeing you later - don't keep me waiting.

A: The bus hasn't arrived yet. B: How long have you been waiting (for it)? A: at least half an hour

I am not looking forward to (= dreading) the meeting tomorrow. I have to make a speech and the boss will be there.

He hopes he'll find a job soon. He is starting to get really worried.😍

We don't expect there to be any changes. It's the same every year.

I wonder who that is at the door. Are you expecting anyone?

A: Who are you waiting for? B: My girlfriend. We're going to the theatre this evening.😍

We hope to get married early next year but only if we have enough money.😍

She is looking forward to seeing her boyfriend again. They haven't seen each other for a whole month.

They are expecting 10 million people to watch the match. That's an incredible number.

I hope you have a nice time on holiday. Tell me all about it when you get back.😍

What do you normally do while you are waiting for someone? When I'm waiting for someone, I'm normally just sat on a bench with the phone.

How long should you wait for someone before you get annoyed? Around 30-40 minutes (You are very patient. I hope they ring you to say they are going to be late)

What do you expect to happen over the coming days and weeks? I expect to receive my wages these days.

What do you hope will happen this year? I hope I'll have a great experience in the Netherlands<.

Are you looking forward to anything? I'm looking forward to watching the new movie at the cinema. (Napoleon? It doesn't live up to the hype. I should have known.)