I hope < to pass/ I pass/ I will pass > (2025)

Hi everybody

I'd like to know whether all my sentences are correct and may be used interchangeably :

1 "I hope to pass my next exam."

2" I hope I pass my next exam."

3" I hope I will pass my next exam."

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

All sentences are correct and very similar in meaning. The only differences to me are formality.

1 "I hope to pass my next exam" -> formal, use this in formal writing

2" I hope I pass my next exam" -> a little less formal...this is how 99% of native (American) English speakers would say it

3" I hope I will pass my next exam" -> sounds "stuffy" and too formal

Sorry parla,I'll add periods right now!

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post #1: You can use them interchangeably, but in truth I expect that I wouldn't.

There are far fewer contexts where I expect 1 or 3 to be the most natural phrase.

In a real conversation, context, tone of voice, facial expression etc. would convey any nuace that might be lost by a non-native speaker using 1 instead of 2 or 3.

''Hopefully I'll pass my next exam'' is a sentence that I would recommend as a substitute for 1.

Hello, everyone.

mrgobby said:

2" I hope I pass my next exam" -> a little less formal...this is how 99% of native (American) English speakers would say it

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Can I also use this pattern to encourage someone?
I hope you pass your XXX exam.

Thank you.

Kenny Chang said:

I hope you pass your XXX exam.

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Why is the present tense (you pass) used for a future action/event? The exam will be in the future.
I can image using the present tenses (present simple and continuous) for future actions or events only in the following scenarios:
I'm meeting the doctor tomorrow (I have a previous appointment or an arrangement)
I start school at 8 tomorrow, it is something related to scheduled events, timetables, and fixed future arrangements.

It's just how we commonly use the verb "hope".

(Link to Cambridge Dictionary) Hope:
After hope, we often use present verb forms even when there is reference to the future:

We hope she passes her driving test next week.

I just hope the bus is on time tomorrow.

Kenny Chang said:

Can I also use this pattern to encourage someone?
I hope you pass your XXX exam.

Click to expand...

Yes, that’s entirely natural. But the verb pass is also often used intransitively in this context, e.g. “Good luck with your exam. I hope you pass!”.

Do you think you’ll pass the exam?​

I hope so. / I hope to. / I hope I will. / I hope I do.​

Kenny Chang said:

Can I also use this pattern to encourage someone?
I hope you pass your XXX exam.

Click to expand...

The pattern is unremarkable:

I hope you pass your <adjective or attributive noun> exam.

Kenny Chang said:

Hello, everyone.

Can I also use this pattern to encourage someone?
I hope you pass your XXX exam.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

It can be seen as encouragement, but it could imply a lack of confidence in your friend's abilities. If you just want to express sympathy with your friend, it's better to say "Good luck with your exam!"

In a similar way, "Have a good trip" sounds better than "I hope you get there safely".

Thank you for your help.

I'm wondering the differences among these three sentecnes:
1. I hope you pass your XXX exam. → Now I know it's the most common and natural one.
2. I hope you will pass your XXX exam. → Does it sound unnatural?
3. I hope you can pass your XXX exam. → Does it sound unnatural too?

Kenny Chang said:

2. I hope you will pass your XXX exam. → Does it sound unnatural?

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I can't think of a context in which it would sound natural.

Kenny Chang said:

3. I hope you can pass your XXX exam. → Does it sound unnatural too?

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I can't think of a suitable context for this sentence either.

Kenny Chang said:

3. I hope you can pass your XXX exam. → Does it sound unnatural too?

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Quite apart from sounding unnatural, it doesn't really even make much sense.
"Can" means "have the ability to". The ability is, as a matter of fact, either present or absent; it's not something you can hope for. Even if you

the ability, you might nevertheless not pass. What the speaker is hoping for is that you will

pass.

Thank you for your help.

Edinburgher said:

Quite apart from sounding unnatural, it doesn't really even make much sense.
"Can" means "have the ability to". The ability is, as a matter of fact, either present or absent; it's not something you can hope for. Even if you

have

the ability, you might nevertheless not pass. What the speaker is hoping for is that you will

actually

pass.

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So the problem that caused it not to make sense is the combination of "hope" and "can," right? Because we still can say something like "Can you pass the test/exam?", "Do you think you can pass test/exam?" or "I believe I can pass the test/exam."

Kenny Chang said:

Because we still can say something like

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Well, I suppose we can say those things, but whether they make sense or sound natural will depend very much on context. I find it difficult to imagine contexts in which I would say those things instead of the versions with "will".

Edinburgher said:

Well, I suppose we can say those things, but whether they make sense or sound natural will depend very much on context. I find it difficult to imagine contexts in which I would say those things instead of the versions with "will".

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But if the person is questioning the other if he has the ability to pass the test, I think he will use "can," right?
For example,
Do you think you can pass the test? It's very difficult. Everyone who tried failed.

Kenny Chang said:

Do you think you can pass the test? It's very difficult. Everyone who tried failed.

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Hmm, maybe. But that sounds as if taking the test is hypothetical at that stage, in which case I'd probably prefer "would".
If it's not hypothetical, i.e. if the questioner knows that the other person is definitely taking the test, it's back to "will".

Nexsus said:

I'd like to know whether all my sentences are correct and may be used interchangeably :

1. "I hope to pass my next exam."
2. "I hope I pass my next exam."
3. "I hope I will pass my next exam."

Click to expand...

For me, these differ only in degree of optimism. I find 1 the most, and 3 the least, optimistic.

Kenny Chang said:

I hope you can pass your XXX exam. → Does it sound unnatural too?

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It sounds natural to me, for example, in a context in which "you" had to stay up all night caring for a sick child.