Waiting and Wishing

There are two types of people in the world. Those who don’t know what do when they’re waiting. And those who don’t know what to do when the time comes. Actually, there is a third type of person: the English student, who confuses the verbs wait, hope, expect and look forward to. So it would be worthwhile for these types to take a look at the differences!

Waiting is staying somewhere until a certain time or action:

I’ve been waiting here a long time.

I’ve been waiting for the train to arrive.

I’ve been waiting half an hour for the train to arrive.

(because the train is late.)

We use wait + for + the object of the wait.

Hoping is wanting something to occur.

I hope (that) the train arrives on time.

I hope the train will arrive on time.

I hope to arrive home on time.

(because the train is often late)

The use of that after hope is optional. After hope, we can use either the present or future tense after a subject, or the to infinitive without a subject.

Expecting is anticipating something will happen with almost total certainty.

I expect someone will pick me up at the station.
I'm expecting someone at the station.

I expect to be picked up at the station.
I expect someone to pick me up at the station.

(because my family knows I'm coming)

If there is a subject after expect, we use a future tense. We can simply use an object after expect, or a to infinitive. Or we can use an object followed by a to infinitive after expect.

Looking forward to is being excited about something you are expecting.

I am looking forward to my spring vacation.

I am looking forward to seeing my family again.

(because I haven't seen my family for a long time)

If we use a verb after look forward to, instead of an infinitive after the preposition to, we use a gerund as activity noun, .

Well, I hope that you understand the difference and that you are looking forward to the next entry!