Injured party can completely let go and fully trust you again. There is little

you can do to speed this process up, but there are endless ways to bog it

down. If the person is truly important to you, it's worth it to give them the

time and space they need to heal. Don't expect them to go right back to acting normally immediately. At the same time, don't let someone hang this

over your head for the rest of your life. The same way you need to learn

how to apologize, they need to learn how to forgive. 40

Stick to your word. A true apology entails a resolution, and you have

to carry out your promise in order for the apology to be sincere and complete. Otherwise, your apologies will lose their meaning, and trust may disappear beyond the point of no return.

Here are some expressions used for apologizing:

I’m terribly/very/awfully sorry for being late/troubling you/disturbing

you, etc. (slightly formal, emphatic).

I’m very sorry, I’m afraid I’ve lost your book/overslept this morning, etc.

(polite)

Sorry for interrupting /coming so late/breaking your cup, etc. (informal)

Sorry, (I didn’t mean to). Sorry, it was wrong of me. (direct, informal)

I apologize for splitting tea on the table-cloth/taking your book home, etc.

(formal)

If you react to apologies unhappily, you can say like that:

Oh, dear (that’s a pity). (quite polite)

Oh, no! (informal, very strong)

By means of the following expressions you can make an excuse:

I had no intention of hurting your feelings, really. I didn’t mean to,

really. (rather formal)

It really wasn’t my fault, you see, I just couldn’t help it. (informal)

Accepting apologies you can choose one of the following phrases:

That’s quite all right. These things happen: it can’t be helped. I quite

understand. (Please, don’t worry).

That’s/It’s OK. Never mind. That/ It doesn’t matter. (informal)

DIALOGUES

Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used as a model to have similar conversations.

1. - Oh, excuse me.

- It’s all right.”

2. - Must be awfully sorry, old boy.

- Oh, that’s OK.” 41

3. - Pardon me for calling you, up so late.

-That’s all right.”

4. - I’m awfully sorry. I’ve broken your cup.”

- Oh, don’t worry about that.

- I do apologize. I’ll buy you a new one on Monday.”

- No, I won’t hear of it. That’s out of the question.”

5. - Excuse me, could you tell me the correct time, please?

- I beg your pardon. I didn’t catch what you said.

- Sorry, so has mine.

- Never mind, the bus is coming anyway.

6. - I’m terribly sorry, I was thrown off balance.

- Oh, that’s all right.

7. Cynthia: Hi, Victor, do you think it’s possible for us to have a talk

sometime today?

Victor: I’d love to, but I’ve got a pretty tight schedule today.

Cynthia: Oh, what have you got going on?

Victor: Well, I’ve got to finish a report by ten. Then I have to drive to

the to pick up a client of mine at eleven. After that, I’ll have a meeting

with him over lunch. I guess I won’t have a break until two o’clock.

Cynthia: Wow, that’s cutting it close.

8. Joe: Sir, did I do anything wrong?

Officer: Yes, sir. You ran through the stop sign. May I see your driver

license, please?

Joe: Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see the stop sign at the corner. I didn’t

mean it.

Officer: That doesn’t justify your violation. May I see your license,

please?

Joe: Oh, sorry, sir, I don’t have it on me. Honestly, I forgot it back at

the house. But I have the insurance policy with me. Here it is.

Officer: Please wait here, sir. I’ll come back in a moment.

42

EXERCISES

I. Discuss the following questions:

1. What does the language of apologies depend on? 2. Why do you have to

avoid such words as “but” and “if” while apologizing? 3. Why is it important to make amends? 4. Which are the most polite ways of apologizing

in English? 5. What language do the British use for making excuses in

formal situations? 6. Is the language of apologies and excuses the same in

both informal and formal situations?

II. Read the conversation and answer the questions given after the text.

Smith: Late again, Tom

Tom: I’m sorry, I’m late, Mr.Smith, but …

Smith: Oh, don’t tell me your train was late.

Tom: No, it wasn’t but …

Smith: What’s your excuse this time then, Tom?

Tom: The 8.00 train was cancelled so I had to wait for the next train.

Smith: Cancelled, was it?

Tom: Yes, just my luck.

Smith: Well, that’s rather strange. Your colleague got here all right. He

doesn’t seem to have any problem with the trains.

Questions:

1. Do you think Mr. Smith believes Tom’s excuse? Explain your answer.

2. What could you correct in this dialogue.

3. What different excuses could Tom have given if he’d traveled by car?

III. Read the conversation and answer the questions given below.

Wife: you didn’t ring me last night. You said you would.

Husband: I’m sorry.

Wife: And why were so rude to me at lunch?

Husband: Was I? Sorry. I didn’t mean to be.

Wife: And why are you yawning now? Are you bored?

Husband: Forgive me, darling. I’m terribly tired. 43

Questions:

1. Do the speakers sound informal? If so, what language shows they do?

2. Does the husband talk apologetically? If so, what language shows he is?

3. What else could the husband have said with the same meaning?

IV. React to the questions, using one of the following expressions:

That’s all right. Never mind. Forget it. Not at all. You needn’t apologize. You are not to blame. It’s my fault. No trouble at all.

1. Excuse my back. 2. Excuse my troubling you. 3. Excuse my being late.

4. Apologize to Henry for me. 5. I’m afraid I’m taking up too much of your

time. 6. Excuse my disturbing you. 7. Sorry I’ve torn the magazine you

gave me. 8. I must apologize for my behavior. I know I was rude. 9. I beg

your pardon. Have I frightened you? 10. Don’t speak all together. One at a

time, please.

V. Fill in the missing words.

1. Excuse my going first … . 2. … I meant well. 3. You needn’t apologize

… . 4. … I didn’t let you know in time. 5. I’ve kept the book so long. You

probably needed it. 6 “ … “ - “ Forget it.” 7. “ … “ - “ Never mind.” 8. “

… “ - “ No trouble at all.” 9. “ … “ - “ It was a slip of the pen.” 10. “ … “

- “I was a slip of the tongue.” 11. “I know you hate it when people interrupt you. I’m sorry I did.” - “ … .” 12. “I’ve got to apologize. I wrote it in

pencil.” - “ … .”

VI. What would you say in the following situations?

1. You’ve borrowed a book of mine and lost it.

2. We were to meet at 7 p.m. You were fifteen minutes late.

3. I was walking down the street when you bumped into me. You didn’t

see me.

4. You phoned me at night. I was trying to get to sleep after a long day and

you disturbed me. 44

5. You and your friend discover that two men are sitting in the seats

you’ve reserved in the lecture hall.

6. You’re 5 minutes late for the lecture on philosophy. It’s not the first

time you’ve been late.

7. You’re a salesgirl. You’ve given a customer the wrong change.

8. You’ve hurt your friend’s feelings.

9. You’ve forgotten to telephone your friend.

10. You accidentally step on someone’s foot.

11. You were rude to a friend and want to apologize.

12. Your colleague is asking you for the loan of some money. You are not

able to help her. You are a bit hard up at the moment.

VII. Make short conversations in the following situations:

1. You’re walking through the park when a small dog runs up to you and

nips your ankle. The owner rushes up and apologizes profusely. Accept

his/her apology and try to reassure him/her that you are not hurt.

2. You have to break a promise to go to a party because you have to complete an important work. Call your friend and apologize. Your friend accepts you apology.

3. At a party a few weeks ago you lost your temper with one of the guests.

You’ve just met him/her again and are apologizing for your behaviour

which you think was due to overtiredness. Your apology is generously accepted.

4. A letter sent to your neighbor was delivered to you and you opened it by

mistake. Explain to him/her and apologize.

5. For the first time in your life you’ve arrived very late, and you see your

boss is annoyed. How do you apologize?

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UNIT 6