I'm sure that from among the following sentences, the first sound natural to natives, but the question is that whereas 'being sorry' and 'being afraid' are the same, then whether 'afraid' is usable in the following ways as numbers 3 and 4 or not?
- I’m sorry for being absent last session; I was on a trip.
- I’m sorry that I was absent last session; I was on a trip.
- I’m afraid for being absent last session; I was on a trip.
- I’m afraid that I was absent last session; I was on a trip.
Best Answer
Afraid in this quasi-apologetic usage always looks to the future (sorry to have to disappoint another person or to have to disabuse them of a notion).
Nbr 4 works only if the fear is of what the person will do or say or feel when you tell them that you missed the last session.
Nbr 3 does not work.
Afraid formeans something different. To be concerned or worried about someone. I'm afraid for her; she's living in a war-zone.