1.Discussion

The basic form of apology is “I’m sorry”. However, there are several variations which make the apology more or less emphatic.

I am sorry/ I’m very sorry/ I’m so sorry/ - more emphatic

I’m ever so sorry. - less formal

I’m terribly/awfully/dreadfully sorry. - also more emphatic

Sorry. - less emphatic, often casual (only for relatively unimportant things).

These forms are often followed by “for” + gerund or “I” introducing a clause.

e.g. I'm (very/so/terribly) sorry for making such a noise last night/to keep/ have kept you waiting. I'm late.

When the person to whom we want to apologise does not yet know what has happened, we often use “I'm (very/so, etc) sorry but …”

e.g. 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.

e.g. 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 apologise in advance for causing trouble.

e.g. 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.

e.g. 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 apologising for any inconvenience you may cause, or a way of attracting the attention of a person whose name you do not know.

In formal apologies the verb “apologise” may be used.

I apologise for ... (the delay/ not letting you know earlier.)

e.g. I apologise for

I must/do apologise far ...- “Must^” is not stressed here. “I must

apologise” is hardly more emphatic than simply “I apologise”. “Do”,however, is stressed and makes the apology more emphatic.

e.g. I must/do apologise 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 ^“I beg your pardon”. This is often

used in Britain but tends to be avoided by educated people, who

generally prefer “Sorry” or one of the forms given under REQUESTS

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.

e.g. 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/ It’s all right.

That's/it's quite all right. - more formal

That’s/ It’s OK. – informal, casual

Don’t worry.

Never mind.

That/ It doesn't matter.

In certain situations a less reassuring reaction may be appropriate.

Oh, you are,_,, are you? - in reply to ‘I'm sorry’.

e.g. -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…"

e.g. - 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.