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Prepositions after verbs

Hope for, to, in, after or against?

Hope is commonly followed by for, to, or in. Hope after is not standard. Hope against appears in the expression hope against hope.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct after hope?

Use hope for + noun to talk about desired results, hope to + verb for intentions or wishes, and hope in mainly in religious or formal contexts. Hope after is not standard. Hope against appears in the phrase hope against hope.

We hope for better weather tomorrow.
She hopes to study abroad next year.
They hope in God during difficult times.
Fans hoped against hope that the team would recover.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
hope for + noun

Wanting a result or situation

Use hope for before a noun or noun phrase.

I hope for good news soon.
The company hopes for growth this year.
2
hope to + verb

Expressing a desired action

Use hope to before an infinitive verb.

She hopes to visit Japan next spring.
We hope to finish early today.
3
hope in + person/belief

Placing trust or faith

Hope in is formal and often religious or philosophical.

They hope in a better future.
Many people hope in divine help during crises.
4
hope against hope

Continuing to hope despite poor chances

This fixed expression means hoping even when success seems unlikely.

She hoped against hope that he was alive.
The villagers hoped against hope for rain.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
hope for
We hope for peace.
want a result or situation
hope to
I hope to see you soon.
want or expect to do something
hope in
They hope in God.
place trust or faith in someone or something
hope after
Hope after success is not standard English.
not an idiomatic construction with hope
hope against
She hoped against hope.
part of a fixed expression about unlikely success

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using hope after

Hope after is not a normal English combination.

✕ We hope after better times. ✓ We hope for better times.

Using for before a verb

Use hope to before an infinitive verb.

✕ I hope for travel next year. ✓ I hope to travel next year.

Overusing hope in

Hope in is formal and uncommon in everyday speech.

✕ I hope in my team. ✓ I have hope in my team.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They hope ___ a quick recovery.
2. I hope ___ finish the report tonight.
3. She hoped against ___ that the storm would pass.

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Frequently asked questions

Is hope after correct English?

No. Native speakers normally say hope for instead.

Can hope in be used today?

Yes, but it sounds formal or religious in many contexts.

What is the difference between hope for and hope to?

Hope for is followed by a noun. Hope to is followed by a verb.

hack-into-by-at-to, in "haggle with" or "haggle for"? "hail from" or "hail as"? hamper by, due, in, for or throughout? "handle by" or "handle in"? hang in, from, over, around or onto? "happen to" or "happen in"? harass by, in, at, for or with? "harm by" or "harm to"? harvest from, in, for, at or by? hasten to, by, from, after or into? hate on, for, by, about or in?

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