Cool MateHope vs Is chance
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hope
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Is chance
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Hope
| Hope | Is chance | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/həʊp/","/həʊps/","/həʊpt/","/ˈhəʊpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/həʊp/","/həʊps/","/həʊpt/","/ˈhəʊpɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪz tʃæns//🇺🇸 //ɪz tʃæns// |
| Meaning | To believe that something good will happen. | A possibility or opportunity to happen something. |
| Example | I hope you have a great day! | Is there a chance you might join us later? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | certainly, desperately, fervently, (not) dare (to), hardly dare, scarcely dare, for, hope against hope, hope for the best | take a chance, give a chance, take a chance on something, miss a chance, high chance |
| Antonyms | despair, fear, doubt | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'hope' in a negative context, e.g. 'I hope not to do that.', Confusing 'hope' with 'wish' — 'wish' implies a less likely outcome., 'Hope' should not be followed directly by an infinitive verb. | Confused with 'the chance' which refers to a specific opportunity., Using 'is chance' instead of 'is there a chance'., Not using it appropriately in negative forms. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in most contexts, though more formal settings may prefer 'anticipate' or 'expect'. Avoid using with certainty. | Used mainly in informal contexts to express uncertainty or possibility. It can sometimes appear in formal writing but is less common. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hope vs Is chance
What's the difference between Hope and Is chance?
Hope: To believe that something good will happen. Is chance: A possibility or opportunity to happen something.
Which is more common: Hope and Is chance?
Hope is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hope: I hope you have a great day! Is chance: Is there a chance you might join us later?
Can I use Hope and Is chance interchangeably?
Not always. Hope and Is chance are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.