I’m /sorry.
more emphatic
I’m very sorry.
I’m so sorry.
I’m ever so sorry.— less formal I’m terribiy/awfully/dreadfully sorry.
Sorry.— less emphatic, often casual. Only for relatively unimportant things
These forms are often followed by for + gerund or / introducing a clause.
eg I’m (very/so/ terribly, etc) sorry
for making such a noise last night.
I have kept 1 ^ou waiting'
’m late.
When the person to whom we want to apologize does not yet know what has happened, we often use I’m (very/so, etc) sorry but...
eg I’m terribly sorry but I’ve broken a glass.
I’m afraid can be used instead of I’m sorry in this type of situation.
eg I’m afraid I’ve broken a glass.
I’m afraid means unfortunately here and functions as an apology.
I’m sorry may also be used to apologize"in advance for causing trouble.
eg a. I’m sorry to trouble you but could you come to the information desk? There’s an urgent call for you. b. I’m sorry to bother you but these letters have to be signed.
Excuse me (for...) is an alternative here.
eg Excuse me for troubling you but...
However, excuse me alone (or with please) is usually either a way of indicating politely that you want to pass, at the same time apologizing for any inconvenience you may cause, or a way of attracting the attention of a person whose name you do not know. (See p. 9.)
I hope you don’t mind...— when one has done something without first asking permission
eg 5 hope you don’t mind, (but) I’ve been reading your newspaper.
In formal apologies the verb ‘apologize’ may be used.
I apologize for...
eg I apologize for j the delay.
\ not letting you know earlier.
I must/do apologize for...— Must is not usually stressed here.
/ must apologize is hardly more emphatic than simply / apologize. Do, however, is stressed and makes the apology more emphatic.
eg I must/do apologize for ringing you so late but I have an urgent matter to discuss with you.
I beg your pardon is also formal. It is rarely used nowadays, except as an apology for not hearing something (and thus as a request for repetition). Even here, however, the forms given below are much more common.
Pardon — an abbreviated form of / beg your pardon. This is often used in Britain but tends to be avoided by educated people, who generally prefer Sorry (see below) or one of the forms given under “Requests” (see p. 25).
Sorry — the most common form among educated people nowadays. Pronounced with a high rise. If a specific request or explanation follows, I’m sorry may be used.
eg a. (I’m) Sorry. Would you say that again?
b. (I’m) Sorry but I didn’t quite catch your name.
Here are some possible replies to apologies: That’s/If’s all right.
That’s/It’s quite all right.— more formal That’s/lt’s OK.— informal, casual Don’t worry. (I’ve got plenty more.)
Never mind.
That/lt doesn’t matter.
In certain situations a less reassuring reaction may be
appropriate. —_
Oh, you are, are you? — in reply to I’m sorry.
eg — I’m very sorry.
— Oh, you are, are you? You don’t look it.
You have, have you? — in reply to I’m sorry (but) I’ve...
eg — I’m terribly sorry but I’ve burnt a hole in the carpet. — You have, have you?
Being sorry won’t help.
You should be more careful.
Polite replies to apologies for causing trouble include:
No trouble at all.
That’s quite all right.
I’m glad I was able to help you.
Illustrative Examples
— I’m sorry I’m late. I had to wait ages for a bus.
That’s all right. We haven’t started yet.
— I’m terribly sorry. I’ve forgotten to bring the book I promised
you.
Don’t worry. I’ve got another one to read.
— You’ve torn the cover of this book.
Have I really? I am sorry.
You should be more careful.
Yes. I’m ever so sorry. I’ll take it home and mend it.
— I’m awfully sorry but I’ve broken a cup.
Never mind. I never did like those cups anyway.
— I do apologize for not letting you know before. I couldn’t
get through to you on the phone.
— I’m so sorry to cause you all this trouble.
— There’s a good play on television tonight.
Sorry?
I said there’s a good play on television tonight.
Oh, is there? What time?
8.45.
— Excuse me. That’s my seat.
Oh, is it? Sorry, or: — I (do) beg your pardon.
emphatic, very formal
— I’m sorry for losing my temper last night.
You are, are you? Well, I wish" you’d learn to control yourself. You completely ruined my evening-
rO
—Oh dear. I’ve spilt tea on the tablecloth. I’m ever so sorry.
It doesn’t matter. The cloth needs washing anyway.
Exercises
Exercise 1. Read the illustrative examples in pairs, noting how people apologize in various situations and how to respond appropriately. Then learn three/four of them and reproduce them with another student in class.
Exercise 2. Choose the best answer.
After wrecking your brother’s car you say to him:
Sorry, Jack.
I hope you don’t mind, Jack. I’ve run the car into a wall.
I’m terribly sorry, Jack. I’m afraid I’ve damaged your car.
When you want to get to the front of the bus, past some standing passengers, you say:
Sorry, b. / beg your pardon, c. Excuse me.
When you tread on someone’s toe, you say:
I must apologize for treading on your toe.
I’m so sorry, c. I beg your pardon.
If a senior colleague apologizes for keeping you waiting, you say:
That’s OK. b. That’s quite all right.
Don’t mention it.
If you have not heard what someone said, you say:
Sorry, b. Excuse me. c. Repeat it, please.
If you have to interrupt someone in his work because you need his help or advice, you begin by saying:
/ beg your pardon, b. I’m sorry to trouble you.
May I interrupt you?
very
ever so terribly awfully
dreadfully
sorry
I’m
afraid
I’ve lost the key I can’t remember the address I’ve forgotten to buy bread I’ve let the dog out I’ve broken your favourite cup
but I forgot to water the plants I’ve eaten all the cake I’ve scratched the record
I’ve rubbed off your recording I dropped the alarm clock last
night
I’ve spilt ink on your passport I’ve burnt the potatoes I’ve lost the book you lent me I overslept this morning I haven’t done the translation
Exercise 3. Express apology, using one item from each column. Let another student respond.
Exersise 4. Reply to the following apologies, avoiding repetition as far as possible.
I’m sorry.
So sorry.
I do apologize for keeping you waiting.
I’m sorry to be such a nuisance.
I’m terribly sorry but I burnt the collar of your shirt while I was ironing it.
I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name.
I’m sorry to disturb you.
Do excuse me for looking so untidy.
I’m' sorry I’m late.
I must apologize for our secretary’s rudeness.
Exercise 5. What would you say in the following situations? (Address your apology to another student, who then replies.)
You’ve broken a vase while visiting an elderly aunt.
You are late for a class.
You forgot to ring a friend last night.
You didn’t hear what your neighbour said.
- You lost an umbrella which your sister lent you.
You accidentally knock someone’s arm in a shop.
You want to pass someone to get to your seat in the cinema.
A librarian has spent some time helping you to find a book the author of which you could not remember.
You have spilt coffee on a friend’s dress.
You made a noise coming in late last night (and woke your parents up).
You let the shop door swing back in someone’s face.
You leave your guests alone for some time (to finish getting the supper ready).
Suggestions
When we want to suggest something in which we are to participate ourselves, we use one of the following forms:
Let’s...
Why don’t we...?
W'hy not...?
What/How about ...ing?
We could/might... — tentative ! suppose we could/might...— more tentative I suggest (that)... + Present Subjunctive — a firmer suggestion, and more formal.
eg I suggest that we change the timetable.
1 propose (that)... — even stronger and more formal. Used mainly at meetings, official discussions, etc.
If we agree to a suggestion, we say:
Yes, let’s (do that).
That’s a (very) good idea.
Good idea.—less formal That/It might be interesting.
OK. — informal, casual
Ail right. — willing but not enthusiastic
I don’t mind. I ,, . ,.,r
We might as well (do that). ) rather Indlfferent
Conditional agreement can be expressed by:
All right, but only jpeg — Let’s have a picnic after the tennis match tomorrow.
All right, but only if it’s warm enough.
Yes/All right/I don’t mind, providing/as long as...
eg — Why don’t we take a taxi?
I don’t mind, providing we split the fare.
If we disagree, our reply depends to a greater extent on the situation. Here are some commonly used phrases:
i don’t like... — only among friends (too abrupt for other situations)
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