DIALOGUE
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: saying sorry. First, read the following dialogue out loud with your tutor, then switch roles and try again.
Kevin and Dorothy are talking about saying sorry.
Kevin: Dorothy, have you ever hurt someone’s feelings?
Dorothy: Yes, I have. However, I always try to apologize when it’s my fault.
Kevin: That’s good. Speaking of which, I’m sorry about missing dinner with your family.
Dorothy: No worries. There’s nothing to be sorry for. You were busy.
Kevin: Will you ask your family to please forgive me?
Dorothy: I’m sure they will be happy to accept your apologies.
Kevin: They’re good people. I just don’t want them to think I’m impolite.
Dorothy: It’s not a problem. Why don’t you come to dinner this week?
Kevin: I hope you pardon me again, but I’m not free this week either!
Dorothy: No problem. We’ll excuse you.
VOCABULARY
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
| hurt someone’s feelings | (phrase) when you cause someone to feel sad or offended
When you hurt someone’s feelings you should say sorry. |
| apologize | (v) to express regret for doing or saying something wrong
Please apologize to your teacher for being late. |
| fault | (n) responsibility for making a mistake or causing a problem
The car accident was my fault. |
| sorry about | (phrase) a way to start to apologize for something
I’m sorry about not making my bed. |
| sorry for | (phrase) a way to start to apologize for something
Sorry for making you late for school. |
| please forgive me | (complete sentence) to ask someone not to be mad at you
Please forgive me for making a mess in the kitchen. |
| please accept my apologies | (complete sentence) asking someone to understand why you are sorry; to agree with it
Please accept my apologies for forgetting your birthday. |
| impolite | (adj) not being polite; showing bad manners
It’s impolite to eat with your mouth open. |
| pardon me | (phrase) another way to say sorry
Pardon me for not coming to the party. |
| excuse | (n) a reason to apologize
Excuse me for leaving work early. I was sick. |
EXERCISE
Practice answering the following questions with your tutors. You can use the sample answers to come up with your own answer. You can use the sentences and phrases you learned above.
- What would you say if you hurt someone’s feelings?
- Please forgive me for yelling at you.
- I’m very sorry I forgot our anniversary.
- Your answer:
- What would you say if you caused a car accident?
- The accident was my fault. Sorry for not stopping at the stop sign.
- I’m so sorry for hitting your car.
- Your answer:
- What would you say if you were late for class?
- Excuse me for being late, but my car would not start.
- My apologies for being late for class. I missed the bus.
- Your answer:
- What would you say if you were late for a meeting?
- Please accept my apologies for arriving late. The traffic was bad.
- So sorry for being late. I got lost driving to the customer’s office.
- Your answer:
- What would you say if you forgot your wedding anniversary?
- Oh my god, honey! Please forgive me for not remembering our anniversary.
- I’m so sorry, dear! I forgot about our anniversary today. There are no excuses!
- Your answer:
CONVERSATION
Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.
- Why is it important to say you’re sorry?
- Can you tell me something you were sorry for?
- What excuses do people use when they are late for work?
- How can people be impolite?
- Is it easy to forgive people for doing something bad to you? Why or why not?
WRAP-UP
Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.
