Future Simple vs Present Progress vs Future Progress

[russian69tw]

I'm a little bit confused. What's the difference between these three sentences:

1) I’m sorry to hear that you won’t come to London after all.
2) I’m sorry to hear that you aren't coming to London after all.
3) I’m sorry to hear that you won't be coming to London after all.

Would you help me?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'm a little bit confused. What's the difference between these three sentences?:

1) I’m sorry to hear that you won’t come to London after all.

2) I’m sorry to hear that you aren't coming to London after all.

3) I’m sorry to hear that you won't be coming to London after all.

Would you help me?

Yes.

To me, only the phrasing is different. (By the way, none of them needs "that.")

What's natural to one person isn't always natural to another. I would probably use 3. But they're all grammatical, and they all express your regret that I'm not coming to London.

Now let's see what some of the teachers here think.

 

[jutfrank]

The three sentences use three different forms. That means they have different uses and meanings.

I don't think you're going to understand the differences between these uses and meanings very well by using the same context. You should study each of the forms, meanings and uses one by one. It's also important I think that you don't make up your own sentences. Look at either authentic sentences or ones specially made by teachers.

 

[russian69tw]

The three sentences use three different forms. That means they have different uses and meanings.

So what's the difference?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

The three sentences use three different forms. That means they have different uses and meanings.

I don't think you're going to understand the differences between these uses and meanings very well by using the same context. You should study each of the forms, meanings and uses one by one. It's also important I think that you don't make up your own sentences. Look at either authentic sentences or ones specially made by teachers.

Yes, I heartily agree that in different contexts, different responses are more likely.

But I don't know what you're responding to. I don't know what I said to you about coming to London or why I was coming or what our relationship is.

So, without knowing the situation, it's hard to discern a difference in meaning.