Different Ways to Say 'Sorry' in

English
February 24, 2020
6 Intermediate Language & Education

Exercise 1

Vocabulary
apologize /əˈpɑːləˌdʒaɪz/
Verb to say sorry for something one has done wrong

I apologize for not being able to answer your e-

mail.
He tried to apologize to her for his actions.
I don't feel I need to apologize for telling the truth.

We deeply apologize for the system error.

emphasis /ˈɛmfəsɪs/
Noun special value, focus, or importance placed on something

This writer always puts emphasis on the inner

thoughts of his characters.
My company puts a heavy emphasis on sales
results.
Our company puts a lot of emphasis on team
harmony.
He put emphasis on equality in his speech.

make sure /meɪk ʃʊr/

Phrase to do things in order to be certain that something
happens

Please make sure to turn off the lights when you

go.
 The police make sure people follow the law.
Make sure your hands are clean before you eat.

bump /bʌmp/ to hit into a person or thing

Verb
The two players bumped against each other during
the game.
I bumped the car in front of me, but fortunately I
didn't do any damage.

informal /ɪnˈfɔːrməl/ relaxed and casual; not following strict rules

Adjective
The atmosphere at my office is very informal.
Today we had an informal meeting with the
company executive.
I hosted an informal gathering of friends at my
house.
After an informal survey of employees, the CEO
decided to add a new health care plan.

Exercise 2

Article
Different Ways to Say 'Sorry' in English

When you make a mistake that hurts someone, it's important to

apologize. But there are lots of different ways to say "sorry" in English
to choose from.

"I'm sorry"

The simplest way to apologize is to say "I'm sorry." You can also add
emphasis with words like "very" or "really." But remember that for a
good apology, it's important to show that you know what you did
wrong and that it won't happen again.

For example, "I'm really sorry for what I said. I know I hurt your
feelings and I won't do it again."
"I apologize"

You can say "I apologize" instead of "I'm sorry" in any situation, but
it's often used in more formal situations, like at work.

For example, "I apologize for your order being late. I know you
needed it yesterday. We'll do everything we can to make sure this
doesn't happen again."

"Pardon me"

People usually say "pardon me" in situations where they have not
done something serious, but a small apology is still needed. It's best
used when you have done something rude by accident.

For example, if you bump into someone as you walk past them, you
might say "pardon me!" to show that you didn't mean to.

"My bad"

Saying "my bad" to someone is a quick and simple way to apologize.

However, it's also very informal, so it's best used when speaking to
friends, and should not be used to apologize for serious mistakes.

For example, "I forgot to buy you a drink from the shop. My bad."

Exercise 3

Discussion
1. Are there many different ways to say 'sorry' in your language?

2. Have you ever had to apologize to an angry customer? If so, please

share your experience.

3. When was the last time you apologized to your boss or a coworker?

4. Have you ever apologized to someone even though you didn't do

anything wrong?
 5. Do you find it easy to forgive people who have hurt your feelings?

Exercise 4

Further Discussion
1. Do you have any English-speaking friends? If so, how often do you talk
to them?

2. Do you remember the first time you had a conversation in English?

3. What are some of the first words and phrases you learned in English?

4. If you were traveling abroad, what words or phrases in the local

language would you try to learn before your trip?

5. Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot. –
Clarence Thomas. Do you agree?

Source
This lesson is based on an article by H.J. Meech.

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