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often in connection with a particular event, or that they will enjoy their birthday
which is to come. Thus we have expressions like:
" 'I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.'
" 'Remember it's Sarah's birthday tomorrow. Don't forget to wish her many
happy returns.'
" 'They wished me all the best in my new job.'
" 'I wish you good health and every happiness in the New Millennium.'
As you suggest, wish is also used when you wish that something were the case or
you would like it to be the case even though you know that it is impossible or
unlikely. In this sense, the verb which follows wish has a past tense inflection. Thus
we have:
" 'We wish you could be here.'
" 'He wished he hadn't said that, for Fiona was terribly upset.'
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" 'It rained every day. I do wish I hadn't gone there for my holidays.'
" 'I wish you didn't have to work so hard.'
Wish, as in 'wish to', is also sometimes used as a slightly more formal alternative to
'want to'. So we have:
" 'They were very much in love and wished to get married as soon as it could
be arranged.'
" 'I don't wish to see him ever again,' she said, five months after they were
married.'
" 'He could do most of his work from home, if he wished.'
" 'I don't wish to interrupt (your conversation), but the potatoes are burning
dry.'
" 'I don't wish to be rude, but that red dress really doesn't suit you.'
Now let's take a brief look at hope. We speak of people's 'hopes for the future' and
hope normally signals future intentions. If you hope to do something, you want to
do it and intend to do it if you possibly can.
Like wish it can be used with to, plus infinitive. So we might have:
" 'I hope to be a millionaire by the time I'm thirty.'
" 'I was hoping to catch the 5.30 train and would have caught it, if Jennifer
hadn't phoned.'
However, when a new subject is introduced, hope must be followed by a clausal
construction. Thus, we would find:
" 'I hope (that) she'll like these flowers.'
" 'Her mother hoped (that) Judith would become a doctor, but her heart was
always set on the stage.'
" 'I hope (that) you won't think me rude, but that red dress that you're wearing
definitely doesn't suit you.'
" 'They were stranded on the side of the mountain and hoped (that) the rescue
team would reach them before nightfall.'
Hopes and wishes! It is my hope and wish that all of you out there reading this
column will enjoy good health and every happiness in the New Millennium. Or, to put
it in two other ways: I wish you good health and every happiness in the 21st
Century. I hope you'll enjoy good health and every happiness in the 21st Century.
'house' or 'home'
House describes a particular type of building.
Home is the place where you live and feel that you belong to.
Compare the following:
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" 'Most people in Britain live in semi-detached houses.'
" 'We re going to buy Emma a doll s house for Christmas.'
" 'The Houses of Parliament in London are visited by 50,000 people each
year.'
" 'I ve enjoyed living abroad for the last six years, but it s time for me to go
back home now!'
" 'We were at home in bed when our car was stolen from outside the house.'
" 'These children need a good home and we are in a position to give them one.'
Note also the differences in meaning and use between 'houseproud', 'housework' and
'homework', 'homesick' and 'homeless'.
Study the following:
" 'I did my housework (i.e. cleaning the house) this morning and my
homework (work given to me by my school to do at home) this afternoon.'
" 'People say that I m houseproud because I spend so much time cleaning the
house so that others will admire it.'
" 'She said that she was missing her home and family so much. She sounded
really homesick.'
" 'I am homeless. I have no home to go to.
interfere and intervene
Could you kindly explain what is the difference between interfere and intervene?
Thank you.
Amos Paran answers:
Yes Eric, these two words are similar and yet so different. Both start with 'inter-',
meaning 'between'. The difference is in the connotations of the two words.
'Interfere' has very strong negative connotations. There's a wonderful short story by
Julian Barnes called 'Interference', in his collection Cross Channel, and the title refers
to two types of interference which happen in the story.
One type of interference that the title refers to is interference with radio signals - you
know, when you're listening to a radio programme and there are other signals and
reception is not very good.
The other type of interference is the type where people interfere in other people's
business, telling them what to do, how to behave, what to eat and so on. If I say to
someone, Stop interfering I mean that what I am doing is none of their business.
And there's some of that happening in the story too.
'Intervene' has got more positive connotations; it has the connotation of wanting to
improve a situation, change things for the better. You intervene between two people
in order to prevent a quarrel, for example.
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job applications
I would like to know the difference between an application letter and a cover
letter. I would like to have examples of application and cover letters. This is because
I am always confused as to why both must be sent when one is looking for
employment.
letter of application
If you are responding to a job advertisement you may be asked to write a letter of
application. This is the letter which lists all your work experience and qualifications
and should also explain why you want the job. Begin your letter by telling the reader
where you saw the advertisement:
" I am writing to apply for the post of Fashion Shop Manager advertised in the
'News Shopper' of 14 February 2002.
You would then go on to list your experience and relevant qualifications:
" I have worked in the retail industry for a total of ten years, first as a sales
assistant in a department store and for the last three years as a Section Head
and Deputy Manager at Jones the Bootmaker.
You might then go on to say why you are particularly interested in this job and
mention the particular abilities and skills that you have.
" I am applying for this position as I am looking to progress from junior to
senior management. I have always been interested in the latest fashion
trends and developments and I believe your organisation is a well-run quality
fashion business. I would very much like to work for your company.
" I believe I have all the skills, knowledge and expertise that you are looking
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