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I desire he visit us more often.

This is correct, right?

I hope he visit us more often.

Why is this incorrect? Why should I use “visits” instead?

You want to look into subjunctive mood.

The verb "desire" falls into the subjunctive category, so the following verb takes the subjunctive form:

I desire that he visit me more often.

Notice the additional "that", which is required.

"Hope" does not fall into the subjunctive category, so it does not need the subjunctive mood:

I hope he visits tomorrow.

There isn't a lot of general rule around this. It's axiomatic. Typically, sentences that express an achievable want/expectation will use subjunctive mood. "Hope" and "wish" are well-known exceptions.

Keep in mind that subjunctive mood is not widely used colloquially, but it is important in formal/professional use.

I desire he visit us more often.

I hope he visit us more often.

If the OP was attempting to construct two subjunctive sentences, the grammar was almost there.

The English subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form that expresses something desired or imagined.

We use the subjunctive mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

wants to happen
anticipates will happen
imagines happening

English Club

Although the subjunctive has long gone out of fashion in colloquial British English, it still has its supporters across the Atlantic, where you are most likely to encounter it. See for example how it is used in an article by the American newspaper The Hill

“Trump told The Associated Press that while he doesn’t think it is “overly necessary” that he visit a military base in a combat zone, he plans to do so “at some point” in the future.”

The subjunctive mood is more common in formal writing and speech, and this continues to be also true in British English.

Many American English speakers would consider the mandative subjunctive “visit” to be fully correct, if any of the following verbs was followed by a that clause.

to advise (that), to ask (that), to command (that), to demand (that), to desire (that), to insist (that), to propose (that), to recommend (that), to request (that), to suggest (that), to urge (that) etc.

I desire that he visit us more often

I suggest that he visit us more often

I prefer that he visit us more often

Unfortunately, the verb hope is NOT included in that list.

I tried, briefly, searching online for a possible explanation, but I could not find any.

When any verb follows hope, in the present simple tense, the third person singular always requires an -s or -es marker.

I/we hope she visits us more often

I/we hope he stays longer next time

He hopes she passes her exam

A special mention for wish which is also used in the subjunctive mood but primarily with past tense forms

1. If I were a rich man (obligatory Youtube link)


2. John wishes he were taller


3. We wish we could afford to move home

The subject “He” is the third person singular,
so you should say “I hope he visits us more often”,
or “I hope he will visit us more often.”

Similarly, you should say “I desire
that he visits us more often.
However, I think I hope he visits or will visit us more often is the preferred form
The link is provided to show that both I hope he visits and he will visit are correct.

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/hope.html