Page 99 - Basic English Usage

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look forward
Looking forward is an emotion about something that is certain to happen.
If | look forward to something, | know it will happen, | feel happy about it,
and | would like the time to pass quickly so that it will happen soon.
He's looking forward to his birthday.
!'m really looking forward to going to Morocco in June.
! look forward to hearing from you.(common formula at the end of a
letter)

wait
Waiting happens when something is late, or when you are early for
something. | wait for something that will probably happen soon; | am
conscious of the time passing (perhaps not quickly enough); | may be
angry or impatient.
| hate waiting for buses.
It's difficult to wait for things when you're three years old.
‘What's for supper?’ ‘Wait and see.’
want
Wanting is emotional, like hoping. But if | want something to happen, |
may be able to do something about it.
What do you want to do when you leave school?
/'m going to start saving money. | want a better car.
wish
Wishing is wanting something that is impossible, or that doesn’t seem
probable — being sorry that things are not different.
| wish | could fly.
| wish | had more money.
! wish she would stop singing.
Wish + infinitive can also be used like want (but wish is more formal).
| wish to see the manager.

Some comparisons
I'm expecting a phone call from Mary.
I've been waiting all day for Mary to phone — what does she think
she's doing?
! expect it will stop raining soon.{ = | think it will stop.)
| hope it stops raining soon.( = It may stop or it may not; | would like
it to stop.)
! wish it would stop raining.( = It doesn't look as if it’s going to stop;
| feel sorry about that.)
| hope you have a good time in Ireland.(1 can't do anything about it.)
! want you to have a good time while you're staying with us. (I'll do
what | can to make things nice for you.)
| expected her at ten, but she was late.
! waited for her until eleven, and then | went home.