Apologies

 

How to apologise

Observe this short dialoge: Jane: You forgot to bring the book I asked for. Anna: I am sorry I will bring it next time.

Anna uses the word "sorry" to apologise. 'Sorry' is often used in English with apologies. To make apologies stronger you can use additional words such as: very, extremely, really, very:

Example:

I am very sorry. He is extremely sorry We are really very sorry

I am so sorry

The addition of emphasizing words before the word "sorry" makes the apologies more real.

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How to accept apologies

Look at the dialogue again: Jane: You forgot to bring the book I asked for. Anna: I am sorry I will bring it next time. Jane: No problem.

By saying "no problem" Jane has accepted Anna's apology.

Other common ways to accept apologies:

It's O.K Don't worry about it It is not important Don't mention it.

That's all right

Apologies’s pop quiz

1.   You are late again.
I am very sorry	So should I be sorry?	Well, never mind
2.   I was waiting for you in the coffee shop but you didn't come.
Sorry, what was that?	Please excuse me. I forgot.	Was the coffee good?
3.   Did you remember to feed the cat?
Oh I am sorry, I will do it now	What, that sorry animal?	Can you do it?
4.   Did you apologise to Jane?
She will get over it	I'm sorry, but I won't	I am sorry. I haven't seen her today
5. Did you cut the grass in the garden?
No, I am sorry. I will do it tomorrow	No	You do it, or you'll be sorry

Complaints

 How to complain politely

Excuse me

Look at this small dialogue: Jane: Excuse me, I think you are sitting on my chair Anna: Oh, I am sorry.

Jane uses the words "excuse me" while she is complaining.

Look at these further examples: You are waiting in the queue and someone is trying to get in front of you. You say: Excuse me, but I was first.

You are watching TV and your mother comes in and switches the TV off. You say: Excuse me, I wanted to watch that.

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Sorry

Although we are using the word sorry we don't always mean to appologise.

Look at the dialogue again: Jane: Excuse me, I think you are sitting on my chair Anna: I am sorry, but I don't think I am.

Anna disagrees with Jane. Although she uses the word "sorry", she says it is her chair, not Jane's.

Look at these further examples: You are in the restaurant and the waiter brings you some food which you did not order. You say: I am sorry, but I did not order that.

You are in the train and someone just put his music on very loudly. You say: I am sorry, but I think this music is too loud.

The Family

Look at these descriptions of members of the family

Top of Form

	1. Jane is David's mother and Mark is David's son. Mark is Jane's
	2. Anna is Liz's daughter and Lize is Pete's daughter-in-law. Ann is Pete's
	3. Liz is David's wife Mark is Anna's
	4. Jane is Anna's
	5. Pete is Mark's