APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND THANKS ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE PRE INTERMEDIATE

 

ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE PRE INTERMEDIATE UNIT 65 APOLOGIES, EXCUSES AND THANKS

 

A Apologies with common replies We can apologise [say sorry] in different ways in different situations. Terribly/really makes you sound ‘more sorry’. I beg your pardon is a more formal apology, often used if you walk into someone. We use this phrase when we interrupt / speak to someone who is busy working. We use this phrase when someone is waiting for us. I won’t be long = I will be with you very soon. We use this phrase when we have to leave a room or go somewhere. This is a more formal apology, and it is often used in business letters. Common mistakes   I’m sorry I’m late. (NOT I’m sorry for be late. OR I’m sorry to be late.) B Excuses We often give an explanation or excuse after an apology. An excuse is a reason for the apology, which may or may not be true. These are excuses students might give for being late for class. I’m sorry I’m late for class … – There was a delay / hold-up on the underground. [when a train, plane, etc. leaves or arrives later than you expect] – I was held up in traffic. [hold up – cause a delay and make someone late – is often used in the passive] – My train was cancelled [the train company decided not to run the train], and I had to wait half an hour for the next one. – I overslept [slept longer than I planned or wanted to]. C Thanks and replies These are some common ways of thanking people, with typical replies. A: Thanks (very much). B: Not at all. (also That’s OK.)   A: I’ve brought your books. B: Oh, cheers. (infml) A: No problem. (infml)   A: I’ll post those letters for you. B: Oh, thank you. That’s very kind of you. (This is polite and slightly more formal.)   EXERCISES 65.1 Find three more pairs of phrases that have a similar meaning. thanks very much I’m terribly sorry don’t worry never mind I was held up cheers I beg your pardon there was a delay 65.2 Complete the dialogues with one word. Contractions (e.g. I’m) count as one word. 1 A: I’m _____terribly_____ sorry. B: That’s OK. 2 A: Thanks very much. B: ______________ at all. 3 A: Sorry to ______________ you waiting. I won’t be ______________. B: That’s all ______________. 4 A: I’m sorry ______________ late. The 7:30 train was ______________, so I had to wait for the next one. B: That’s OK. No ______________. 5 A: I gave your parents a lift to the station. B: Oh, thanks. That’s very ______________ of you. 6 A: I must ______________ for missing the meeting yesterday afternoon. B: ______________ mind. I’ll ask Claire to tell you what happened. 7 A: I ______________ your pardon. I thought the room was empty. B: That’s OK. 65.3 What could you say in these situations? If it is an apology, give an explanation. 1 You walk into someone by accident and he/she almost falls over. _____ I’m terribly sorry. OR I beg your pardon. I didn’t see you. ____________________ 2 You arrange to meet some friends in town at 9 am but you are twenty minutes late. ________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Your car has broken down. You’re pushing it to the side of the road and a man offers to help. ________________________________________________________________________________ 4 You need to speak to your boss but she’s working. What do you say when you enter her office? ________________________________________________________________________________ 5 You have to leave a meeting to take an important phone call. What do you say to the others? ________________________________________________________________________________ 6 You are on the phone but a customer is waiting to talk to you. What can you say to them? ________________________________________________________________________________ 7 You are late for an appointment because you had to wait half an hour in traffic. ________________________________________________________________________________   8 Your company promised to send some information to a customer last week. You still haven’t sent the information and you must now write to explain. Write the first sentence of your letter. ________________________________________________________________________________ 65.4

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