The words hope, expect, wait and look forward to have very similar meanings, but they are not always interchangeable. Test your understanding of these confusing words with this vocabulary exercise.

1. Susie is ………………. a baby girl.

a) expecting

b) hoping

c) waiting

2. I am ………………… her to phone at 6 pm.

a) expecting

b) hoping

c) waiting

3. I …………………. it will rain in the evening, but I ………………… it doesn’t.

a) expect, hope

b) hope, expect

4. I ………………… him to call at 4 pm, but he didn’t.

a) hoped

b) expected

c) waited

5. I …………………. for her till 10 pm, and then went home.

a) waited

b) expected

c) hoped

6. I ………………… you are all tired after your journey.

a) expect

b) hope

c) wait

7. I am …………………. to my birthday.

a) looking forward

b) expecting

c) hoping

8.  I …………………… to hearing from you.

a) expect

b) look forward

c) hope

9. She is quite tall – I …………………. her to be shorter.

a) hoped

b) expected

c) Either could be used here

10. I ………………… that she will be here soon.

a) expect

b) am expecting

Answers

1. Susie is expecting a baby girl.

2. I am expecting her to phone at 6 pm.

3. I expect it will rain in the evening, but I hope it doesn’t.

4. I expected him to call at 4 pm, but he didn’t.

5. I waited for her till 10 pm, and then went home.

6. I expect you are all tired after your journey.

7. I am looking forward to my birthday.

8.  I look forward to hearing from you.

9. She is quite tall – I expected her to be shorter.

10. I expect that she will be here soon.