🙏 Why “I Hope You Would Come” Is Wrong on TOEIC

How TOEIC Tests “Hope,” “Wish,” and “Regret”

Some expressions sound polite or logical in conversation — but TOEIC still marks them wrong. One common trap? Using the wrong word form when talking about wishes, hopes, or regrets.

1️⃣ The Core Idea

Wrong:
I hope you would come to the event.

Correct:

  • I hope you can come to the event.

  • I hope you join us tomorrow.

TOEIC expects you to use hope for real, possible situations — not with “would.”

2️⃣ How TOEIC Sees It

✅ Hope = Real Possibility (Now / Future)

Use it for things that can still happen.

  • I hope she gets the job.

  • We hope you enjoy the seminar.

  • I hope he arrives on time.

TOEIC likes this when talking about real plans or outcomes. Use a present form, not “would.”

✅ Wish = Not True / Not Possible (Now or Past)

Use it for things that are missing, impossible, or too late.

  • I wish I had more time.

  • She wishes she spoke French.

  • I wish I had known about the meeting. ← TOEIC loves this pattern.

✅ Regret = Past Mistakes or Formal Apology

Use it for something already decided or as a formal statement.

  • I regret to inform you that your application was not accepted.

  • He regrets not applying earlier.

  • We regret the delay in shipping.

3️⃣ Common TOEIC Traps

❌ I hope he would attend.
✅ I hope he attends.

❌ I wish I know the answer.
✅ I wish I knew the answer.

❌ I regret informing you of the delay.
✅ I regret to inform you of the delay.

4️⃣ TOEIC-Style Practice Questions

Q1. I hope the manager ___ the updated document by noon.
(A) would send
(B) sends
(C) sending
(D) sent
✅ Answer: (B) sends — “Hope” needs a present form here.

Q2. I wish I ___ more confident during the interview.
(A) am
(B) will be
(C) was
(D) had
✅ Answer: (C) was — This is something you wanted but didn’t have at the time.

Q3. We regret ___ that your request has been declined.
(A) inform
(B) informing
(C) to inform
(D) informed
✅ Answer: (C) to inform — TOEIC often uses this formal expression.

Q4. He wishes he ___ more fluent in English before moving abroad.
(A) is
(B) was
(C) will be
(D) had been
✅ Answer: (D) had been — Talking about a past situation that’s already finished.

📌 Strategy / Takeaway

  1. Hope → Something possible now or in the future.

  2. Wish → Something not true now, or too late to change.

  3. Regret → Something that happened in the past, or a formal statement.

Golden Rule:

If it can still happen → hope.
If it’s not true anymore → wish.
If it’s a past action or formal notice → regret.

Final Word

TOEIC isn’t testing politeness — it’s testing if you can match the right word to the situation. Get “hope,” “wish,” and “regret” straight, and you’ll avoid some of the test’s sneakiest traps.

For more strategies and resources to master TOEIC word choice traps, visit the English Library Collection and start locking in precision confidence today.

FAQ – English (with answers) Q: Why is “I hope you would come” wrong? A: TOEIC expects “I hope you can come” or “I hope you come.” “Would” means it’s not likely — so it sounds strange with “hope.” Q: Can I say “I hope he will attend the meeting”? A: Yes. It’s okay. But “I hope he attends the meeting” is more common and sounds more natural on TOEIC. Q: When do I use “hope” and not “wish”? A: Use “hope” when it’s still possible. Use “wish” when it’s too late or not true. Q: Why is “I wish I know” wrong? A: TOEIC wants “I wish I knew.” “Wish” is for something that’s not true now. Q: What does “I wish I had known” mean? A: It means you didn’t know before — and you feel sorry or regret it now. TOEIC uses this to test past situations. Q: I wrote “I regret informing you” — is that wrong? A: For TOEIC, the correct phrase is “I regret to inform you…” It’s more formal and more common in business emails. Q: Can I say “I hope she would come”? A: No. TOEIC expects “I hope she comes” or “I hope she can come.” “Would come” doesn’t fit with “hope.” Q: Why does TOEIC use “regret to inform”? A: Because it’s a polite, formal way to give bad news. It’s common in business writing. Q: What’s the difference between “I wish I knew” and “I hope I know”? A: “I wish I knew” means you don’t know. “I hope I know” doesn’t make sense — you either know or you don’t. Q: Is “I wish I was there” okay on TOEIC? A: Yes. It shows you are not there, but you want to be. “I wish I were there” is also okay, but “was” is more common in modern usage. Q: Can I say “I regret that I didn’t join” on the test? A: Yes. TOEIC accepts that. You can also say “I regret not joining.” Q: Is “hope” more formal than “wish”? A: No. “Hope” is used for real things. “Wish” sounds more emotional or regretful. Both are used in formal and casual English — depending on the meaning. Q: What’s wrong with “I wish I can speak English”? A: TOEIC wants “I wish I could speak English.” “Wish” is for something that isn’t real — so use “could,” not “can.” Q: Does “I hope it will happen” work on TOEIC? A: Yes. But “I hope it happens” is shorter and often more natural. Q: I wrote “I hope she would respond.” Is that okay? A: TOEIC expects “I hope she responds.” “Would” feels too uncertain here. Q: Why does TOEIC test hope/wish so much? A: Because they’re common in business communication — especially when expressing goals, feelings, or regrets. Q: Is “I regret saying that” correct? A: Yes. It shows you feel sorry for something you already did. Q: What’s the best way to remember the difference between “hope” and “wish”? A: “Hope” = still possible. “Wish” = not true or too late. Q: Can I use “regret” in speaking too, or only in writing? A: Yes, you can use it in both. But TOEIC usually tests it in writing — like emails or announcements. Q: How can I avoid mistakes with “wish” and “hope”? A: Think: Is this real or not real? If real = use “hope.” If not real or too late = use “wish.”