Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score – Key Word: Hope

Collocations with the word “hope” are extremely useful in IELTS Writing and Speaking, especially when expressing optimism, expectations, or emotional reactions. By learning how to use verb, adjective, and noun collocations with “hope,” you can make your language more natural, persuasive, and fluent.

Verb + Hope

Common Verbs Used with “Hope”

These verbs are frequently used with “hope” to express maintaining, losing, or inspiring optimism: abandon, cling to, give, raise, hold out, offer, pin (hope) on, have

Examples:

• My strong belief in God gave me hope during those difficult times.
• Rescuers have abandoned hope of finding any survivors.
• You shouldn’t pin all your hopes on getting this job. Apply for others too.
• With so many people wanting to see the concert, I don’t hold out much hope of getting a ticket.
• Without work, most of these young people have no hope for the future.
• The new information from the north raises hope that the hostages are still alive.
• This new treatment for cancer offers hope to thousands of patients worldwide.
• My sister still clings to the hope that one day her long-lost son will return home.

Exercise 1: Verb + Hope Collocations

Use the correct form of these verbs to complete the sentences: abandon, cling to, give, raise, hold out, offer, pin (hope) on, have

1. My strong belief in God ___________ me hope during those difficult times.
2. Rescuers have given up hope of finding any survivors. They have ___________ hope of finding anybody alive.
3. You shouldn’t ___________ all your hopes ___________ getting this job. Apply for other positions as well.
4. With so many people wanting to see the concert, I don’t ___________ much hope of getting a ticket.
5. Without work, most of these young people ___________ no hope for the future.
6. The new information from the north ___________ hope that the hostages are still alive.
7. This new treatment for cancer ___________ hope to thousands of patients worldwide.
8. My sister still ___________ the hope that one day her long-lost son will walk through the door.

Answer Key: 1. gave 2. abandoned 3. pin… on 4. hold out 5. have 6. raises 7. offers 8. clings to

Destroying Hopes

Verbs and Expressions That Convey Disappointment

Sometimes we need to describe situations where expectations are not met. These collocations are useful when discussing failures or negative outcomes in IELTS Writing Task 2 or IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Examples:

• Hopes of an economic recovery have been dashed by the sharp rise in oil prices.
• His injury ruined his hopes of competing in the tournament.
• Their team’s defeat ended their hopes of reaching the final.

Exercise 2: Match the Two Halves

1. Hopes of an economic recovery
2. I failed a vital exam so all my hopes of
3. A knee injury
4. Hopes of finding the missing child
5. Our hopes of holding the birthday party outside
6. Last night’s defeat by Liverpool

a. becoming a doctor were quashed.
b. are fading fast.
c. have been dashed by the sharp rise in the price of oil.
d. ended Arsenal’s hopes of playing in Europe next season.
e. ruined my hopes of success in the tournament.
f. were defeated by the weather.

Answer Key: 1-c, 2-a, 3-e, 4-b, 5-f, 6-d

Adjective + Hope

Common Adjectives Used with “Hope”

Adjectives with “hope” describe the strength, realism, or possibility of optimism. faint, false, high, new, only, best

Examples:

• She has high hopes for her children.
• You’re our only hope.
• Scientists have developed a drug that gives new hope to millions.
• Power-sharing offers the country its best hope for peace.
• Don’t lose heart; there’s still a faint hope of recovery.
• I don’t want to raise any false hopes, but your son might still be alive.

Exercise 3: Adjective + Hope Collocations

Use the correct adjectives from the list: faint, false, high, new, only, best

1. She has __________ hopes for her children – one wants to be a lawyer and the other a doctor.
2. All our hopes rest with you. You’re our __________ hope.
3. Scientists have developed a revolutionary drug which may give __________ hope to millions.
4. Power-sharing between factions offers the country its __________ hope for a peaceful outcome.
5. Don’t lose hope. There is still a __________ hope that he may recover.
6. I don’t want to raise any __________ hopes, but I do still believe your son is alive.

Answer Key: 1. high 2. only 3. new 4. best 5. faint 6. false

Why Learning “Hope” Collocations is Important for IELTS?

Learning collocations with “hope” can significantly enhance your performance in both Writing and Speaking. You can:

1. Improve lexical resource – Use advanced collocations like “cling to hope” or “raise false hopes” naturally.
2. Add emotional depth in Speaking – Express optimism, disappointment, or determination effectively.
3. Enhance coherence in Writing – Connect ideas about goals, challenges, and outcomes fluently.

Mastering collocations with “hope” allows you to express emotions and expectations more vividly in IELTS. It improves your vocabulary range, helping you discuss aspirations, optimism, and reality in a natural way. Use expressions like “a faint hope,” “raise hope,” or “beyond all hope” to sound fluent and precise.

Whether in Writing Task 2 essays about social change or Speaking Part 3 discussions on global issues, these collocations will make your answers more engaging and impressive. Consistent use of such natural phrases can truly make a difference in your IELTS band score.

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