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GENERAL ENGLISH · PRACTICAL ENGLISH · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

APOLOGIES,
EXCUSES AND
PROMISES
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1 Warm up

Look at the pictures. What do you think has happened in each one?

picture 1 picture 2 picture 3

Now, look at what these people said after the picture was taken. Choose the best word to describe
the purpose of each phrase: request / apology / excuse / advice / promise / order.

1 ___________________________ 2 ___________________________ 3 ___________________________

Now, answer the questions below.

• What do you think happened next in each situation?
• Have you experienced any of the situations in the pictures? What happened?

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APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND PROMISES

2 Vocabulary

Part A: The phrases on the left are used when somebody does something wrong. Match the phrases
to their correct definitions.

1. apologise for something a. to feel sorry or disappointed about something that

2. forgive somebody for something
3. make an excuse
4. blame somebody for something
you wish could be different
b. to give a reason explain why you did something
wrong
c. to make something clearer and easier to understand
by giving more details about it
d. to say that you are sorry for something

5. explain something e. to say/think that a particular person is responsible

for something bad or wrong that happened
6. regret something f. to stop being angry with someone for something
they have done

Part B: Now complete the sentences below with words from above.

1. Don’t Tom for the mistake. It wasn’t his fault.

2. What did he make for not doing his homework?
3. I not finishing school. I could have a much better job now.
4. I for being late. The traffic was just awful.
5. Daniela’s boss asked her to why she was so late for work.
6. Will you me for forgetting your name again?

Part C: Look at the questions and discuss.

1. When was the last time you had to apologise to somebody? Why?
2. Has someone ever blamed you for a mistake that wasn’t your fault? Did they explain why they
blamed you?
3. Do you find it easy to forgive people?
4. In English, the expression "the dog ate my homework" is an excuse sometimes given jokingly
(instead of giving the real reason). Is there a similar expression in your language? Did you make a
lot of excuses as a child?
5. Do you regret anything that you have done (or haven’t done) recently?

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APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND PROMISES

3 Listening for general idea

You are going to listen to six short dialogues. Tick the boxes to show where the dialogues take place.

dialogue dialogue dialogue dialogue dialogue dialogue

1 2 3 4 5 6

post
office

train
station

restaurant

office

shop

house

4 Listening for detail

Complete the conversations with the words below, then listen again to check your answers.

sure unacceptable happen sincerely actually matter

worry keep never expect course late

Dialogue 1
1
A: I’m so sorry I’m . My train was cancelled so I had to take the bus.
2
B: Oh, that’s OK. I’ve just arrived myself. My train was half an hour late.

Dialogue 2
A: I want to apologise for my behaviour during the meeting yesterday. It won’t
1
again.
2
B: Listen... don’t about it. I know you’ve been under a lot of stress recently.
A: Thank you for your understanding, but I feel terrible. I’ll buy the coffee for the whole team for
the rest of the week!

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APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND PROMISES

Dialogue 3

A: Excuse me. Who ordered the soup?

B: Me!
A: I’m afraid we don’t have any left. I’m sorry for my mistake.
1
B: Oh mind. In that case I’ll have the salad please.
2
A: Of . I’ll remove your drinks from the bill.
B: Thank you, we really appreciate that.

Dialogue 4

1
A: Sorry to you waiting. The store manager is with another customer at the
moment.
2
B: This really is . I can’t wait here all day.
A: He’ll be with you as soon as he can madam.

Dialogue 5

A: I’m really sorry about the mess I made! I’ll go and get the vacuum cleaner.
1
B: Oh, it doesn’t .
2
A: Are you your husband won’t mind?
B: He isn’t here. He won’t be back until tomorrow.

Dialogue 6

1
A: We apologise for losing your parcel sir.
2
B: I’m afraid that’s not good enough! I some sort of refund.
A: I understand sir. You will receive a 20% discount on your next order.

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APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND PROMISES

5 Focus on grammar

Look at the dialogues and highlight all the phrases which use the words sorry and apologise.

Now fill in the table to show which structures are possible for each expression. Please note that
not every possible structure is contained in the dialogue.

noun verb + ing infinitive + to subject + verb

(be) sorry
about +

(be) sorry +

(be) sorry for +

apologise for +

Which apologies seem more formal? Why?

Find four expressions in the dialogues which are used to accept an apology.

1. ......................................................................
2. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. ......................................................................

Find two expressions in the dialogues which show the speaker does not accept an apology.

1. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Find promises in the dialogues.

1. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What structure is used for promises?

....................................................................................................

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APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND PROMISES

6 Practice 1

Match the apologies with the promises below.

1. I apologise for breaking your window.

2. I apologise for not informing you about the change of lesson time.
3. I’m sorry for not calling you today.
4. I’m sorry - I left your dictionary at home.
5. Sorry about the mess I made in your kitchen.
6. Sorry for losing the book you lent me.

a. I’ll buy you a new one.

b. I’ll clean it up.
c. I’ll give you a ring first thing tomorrow.
d. I’ll pay for the damage.
e. I will make sure to contact you if it happens again.
f. I won’t forget to bring it next time.

Now, look at the pictures. What has happened? Who will be responsible for making an apology?

picture 1 picture 2 picture 3

picture 4 picture 5 picture 6

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APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND PROMISES

7 Practice 2

In pairs, practise the following situations.

• Situation 1
Student A: You borrowed and lost student B’s coursebook. Apologise and promise action.
Student B: Decide if student A should be forgiven.

• Situation 2
Student B: Student A has blamed you for eating a sandwich that they left in the fridge. Explain
why it wasn’t you.
Student A: React to student B’s explanation.

• Situation 3
Student B: You didn’t arrive for a meeting that you had arranged with student A. Apologise and
make an excuse.
Student A: Decide if student B should be forgiven.

• Situation 4
Student A: Student B has blamed you for moving their chair. Explain why it wasn’t you.
Student B: React to student A’s explanation.

• Situation 5
Student A: You saw student B at a party, but you didn’t say hello. Apologise and make an excuse.
Student B: Decide if student A should be forgiven.

• Situation 6
Student B: You accidentally stepped on student B’s mobile phone and damaged it. Apologise,
make an excuse and promise action.
Student A: Decide if student B should be forgiven.

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APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND PROMISES

8 Optional extension

Put the conversations in the correct order.

Conversation 1

Don’t worry about it. What happened?

I’m so sorry for arriving late this morning.

I was stuck in a traffic jam on the bridge. I really regret not taking the train!

Oh, don’t blame yourself. We’re all late sometimes.

Thanks for your understanding. It won’t happen tomorrow.

Conversation 2

Don’t blame your boss. You knew about it for months.

I know. It’s just that my boss asked me to stay late...

I’m afraid that really isn’t a good enough excuse. You knew how important it was to me!

I’m sorry I missed your presentation last night. You see, I had to stay late at work.

I’m so sorry. I’ll definitely be at your next presentation. I promise.

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