In everyday English, knowing how to apologise and make excuses is essential. Whether you need to explain why you were late or apologise for a mistake, it's important to express yourself correctly.
Excuses are used to explain why something happened or why you couldn't do something.
Here are some common phrases for making excuses:
▶︎ I'm sorry, but I couldn't…
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t finish the report on time because I was sick.
▶︎ I had something come up…
I had something come up at the last minute, so I couldn’t attend the meeting.
▶︎ I didn’t mean to…
I didn’t mean to interrupt, I was just asking a quick question.
Apologies are used to express regret or sorrow for something you’ve done. It’s important to recognise the impact of your actions.
Here are common phrases for apologising:
▶︎ I apologise for…
"I apologise for the misunderstanding."
▶︎ I take full responsibility for…
"I take full responsibility for the mistake, and I’ll leave
immediately."
▶︎ I regret…
"I regret missing the meeting yesterday."
It’s kind and polite, but sometimes we say it too much or in the wrong situations.
Someone bumps into you, and you say "sorry."
Instead, say "Are you okay?" or just smile.
"Sorry to bother you, but can you help me?"
Instead, say: "Can you help me, please?" or "Excuse me, could I ask something?"
"Sorry, but I don’t agree."
Instead, say: "I see it differently." or "I understand, but I think..."
"Sorry, I can’t do that today."
Instead, say: "I can’t do that today." or "I’m not available right now."
"Sorry for making you wait."
Instead, say: "Thank you for waiting."
1. I want to _______ for being late to the meeting.
2. I’m really _______. I missed your call.
3. He should _______ for the mistake.
4. I’m _______. I couldn’t come yesterday.
5. They _______ to the manager for the confusion.
Exercise 3
Apologies:- why, what did you do?
A. I'm sorry.
B. Please forgive me.
C. I didn’t mean to.
D. It won’t happen again.
E. I apologise for that.
Say what you did, clearly and honestly. This shows you're taking responsibility.
"I know I hurt when I didn't include you."
Use the words "I'm sorry" or "I apologise." Avoid excuses at this point.
"I'm sorry for that."
Let the person know you get how they feel. This shows empathy.
"I understand why that made you feel worried and unimportant."
If possible, ask how you can fix it, or suggest something yourself.
"Can we talk about how I can make it up to you?"
Explain what you’ll do differently in the future.
"Next time, I’ll make sure to include you and check with you."
1. Apology: "I’m sorry for spilling coffee on your book. It was an accident, and I’ll pay for the damage."
2. Excuse: "I’m sorry I’m late. There was heavy traffic on the way here."
3. Excuse: "I’m sorry I didn’t reply earlier. I was busy with some urgent tasks."
4. Apology: "I’m sorry for interrupting. Please go ahead."
5. Apology: "I’m sorry I missed the appointment. I completely forgot about it."
1. Apologise 2. Sorry 3. Apologise 4. Sorry 5. Apologise
Situations:
A. You broke your friend's chair.
B. You arrived late for work.
C. You spilled coffee on someone's project.
D. You forgot a friend’s networking event.
E. You shouted at your colleague by mistake.