Saying Sorry
Practice friendly apologies for everyday mistakes, from arriving late to forgetting a phone call.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
What do you say to apologize?
You spill water on your friend's notebook.
- I'm sorry!
- That's okay!
- Don't worry!
Show solution
- I'm sorry!
'I'm sorry' works with friends and with people you do not know.
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2. Complétez le blanc.
You arrive after the meeting starts.
Sorry I'm ___.
- early
- late
- absent
Show solution
Sorry I'm late.
'Sorry I'm late' is natural in everyday speech. You can also start with 'I'm sorry.'
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3. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
What does your friend mean by 'That's okay'?
You: "I'm sorry I dropped your pencil."
Friend: "That's okay."- They want you to say sorry again.
- They are not upset about it.
- They did not hear your apology.
Show solution
- They are not upset about it.
'No problem' is another friendly way to accept an apology for a small mistake.
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4. Remettez les mots dans l’ordre.
Your music is too loud. Your neighbor comes to your door.
- I'm sorry
- the noise.
- about
Show solution
I'm sorry about the noise.
Naming the problem makes your apology clear.
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5. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
What does the caller say next?
Caller: "Hello, is this Daniel?"
You: "No, you have the wrong number."- Oh, sorry. I couldn't answer your call.
- Oh, sorry. I forgot to call you.
- Oh, sorry. I called the wrong number.
Show solution
- Oh, sorry. I called the wrong number.
A short apology is enough before ending a call to the wrong person.
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6. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
Which reply explains why your answer is late?
Friend: "I sent you a message yesterday."
You only read the message today.- Sorry, I only saw your message today.
- Sorry, I sent you the wrong message.
- Sorry, I can't send messages today.
Show solution
- Sorry, I only saw your message today.
A short reason can explain a late reply without a long story.
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7. Écoutez et saisissez la réponse.
You were going to return a borrowed book today.
Show solution
- Sorry, I left your book at home.
'Left it at home' means you did not bring it with you.
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8. Complétez le blanc.
A coworker is speaking, but you need to ask a question.
Sorry to ___ you. Can I ask a quick question?
- repeat
- interrupt
- introduce
The other person has not finished speaking.
Show solution
Sorry to interrupt you. Can I ask a quick question?
Use 'Sorry to interrupt' before speaking while someone else is talking.
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9. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
Which apology explains your mistake?
Friend: "Is that my pen in your bag?"
You took the pen because you thought it was yours.- Sorry, I didn't know you wanted it back.
- Sorry, I thought you wanted to borrow mine.
- Sorry, I thought it was mine.
Show solution
- Sorry, I thought it was mine.
Use 'mine' for something that belongs to you.
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10. Remettez les mots dans l’ordre.
You have a cold and need to cancel dinner with a friend.
- I'm sorry,
- but
- come tonight.
- I can't
Show solution
I'm sorry, but I can't come tonight.
You can suggest another day after saying you cannot come.
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11. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
Which apology also offers help?
You spill juice on a cafe table. The juice is still on the table when a worker comes over.
- I'm sorry. Could you clean it up?
- I'm sorry. I'll clean it up.
- I'm sorry. I don't have time to clean it up.
You can do something to fix the problem.
Show solution
- I'm sorry. I'll clean it up.
Offering to fix the problem shows that you care.
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12. Complétez le blanc.
You left the front door open. Your roommate asks you to be more careful.
I'm sorry. It ___ happen again.
- won't
- didn't
- doesn't
You are making a promise about the future.
Show solution
I'm sorry. It won't happen again.
'Won't' means 'will not,' so this promise is about the future.
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13. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
Which words ask the server to say the question again?
At a busy coffee shop, you cannot hear the server's question.
- Sorry, could I ask a different question?
- Sorry, could you come back later?
- Sorry, could you say that again?
Show solution
- Sorry, could you say that again?
'Sorry?' can also mean that you did not hear or understand someone.
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14. Remettez les mots dans l’ordre.
You told a friend you would return their call, but you forgot.
- you
- I forgot
- back.
- to call
- I'm sorry
Show solution
I'm sorry I forgot to call you back.
To 'call someone back' is to return their phone call.
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15. Choisissez la bonne réponse.
Which reply says sorry without blaming your friend?
You were tired and spoke angrily to a friend.
Friend: "That hurt my feelings."- I'm sorry, but you made me speak like that.
- I'm sorry I spoke like that. I was tired.
- I'm sorry, but you get upset too easily.
Think about who made the mistake.
Show solution
- I'm sorry I spoke like that. I was tired.
You can give a reason and still say that you made a mistake.