look forward to / expect / hope

[san]

Hi,

Please, what is the difference in context in these sentences:

a) I look forward to seeing him sometime.
b) I expect to see him sometime.
c) I hope to see him sometime.

which of the sentences express intention to do what it is said?

thanks!

 

[Delmobile]

"Expect" is the strongest; if you expect to see someone, you are sure of it happening.

"Ten o'clock on Tuesday is the best time for me to come in for an interview."
"Great. I'll tell our personnel director to expect to see you then."

"Look forward" implies that the event will take place, and also adds the information that you will be pleased by its occurrence.

"I called to say that Katie and I will be at the party Saturday."
"Great! We'll look forward to seeing you then."

"Hope" means that you wish it would happen, but can't predict whether or not it will.

[to answering machine] "Charles, this is Del. I just wanted to let you know that I'm having a few people over for dinner next Saturday at eight o'clock. Hope to see you and Katie then."

or

"I'm going to Paris next month. I heard Tom was living over there now - I hope to see him while I'm there."

[not a teacher]

 

[Delmobile]

I'm sorry; did you need all those with "sometime"?

Expect is still strongest.

I expect to see him sometime = I'm sure I'll see him in the near future.

I look forward to seeing him sometime. This one can go either way - you might say it if you've made, or plan to make, fairly definite plans to meet. Or you might just say it to be polite: "Yes, I'd heard your cousin was moving to my town next year. I look forward to seeing him sometime." (cousin is dreadful and you have absolutely no intention of seeing him)

I hope to see him sometime. When used with "sometime," "hope" can have the same meaning as "look forward" in the above examples---perhaps a little more formal.

hope that helps...