Apologies, Excuses and Promises

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Apologies, excuses and promises Lesson code: DRNS-148B-9SE DRNS-148B-9SE7-J 7-J

INTERMEDIATE

1 When you do something wrong... Match the phrases to their correct definitions:

1. apol apolog ogiz izee for for some someth thin ingg

a. to feel feel sorr sorryy or disa disapp ppoi oint nted ed abou aboutt some someth thin ingg that that you you wish wish could be different

2. forgive forgive somebody somebody for something something

b. to give a reason reason to explain explain why you did something something wrong

3. make ake an excu excuse se

c. to make ake some sometthin hing clear learer er and easi easier er to unde unders rsttand and by givin ivingg more details about it

4. blame blame somebo somebody dy for someth something ing

d. to say that that you are sorry sorry for someth something ing

5. exp explain lain somet omethhing ing

e. to say/t ay/thhink ink that that a part partic icul ulaar pers person on is resp respoonsib nsible le for something bad or wrong that happened

6. regr regret et some sometthin hing

f. to stop top bein beingg angr angryy wit with some someoone for for som someth ething ing they hey have ave done

Now complete the sentences below with words from above:

1. Don't

Tom for the mistake. It was wasn't his fault.

2. What

did he make for not doing his homework?

3. I

not fin finishi ishinng scho schoool. I coul couldd have have a much bet better ter job now.

4. I

for my lateness ess. The traffic was just awfu wful.

5. Dan Daniela iela''s bos boss aske askedd her her to 6. Wil Will you

why why she was was so late late for for work work..

me for forgetting your name again?

2 Listening Listen to six mini-dialogues and put the dialogue number next to the appropriate situation below:

a. The speaker speaker makes an excuse. excuse. b. The speake speakerr promises promises to do something. something. c. The speake speakerr makes makes a formal formal apolog apology. y. d. The speaker speaker is forgiven. forgiven. e. The speaker speaker is not forgiven. forgiven.

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You can review our worksheets online. Lesson code: DRNS-148B-9SE7-J If this worksheet has a lesson code, go to www.linguahouse.com/ex and enter the code. c Linguahouse.com 

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Apologies, excuses and promises A

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3 Apologies and excuses Complete the conversation with the expressions in the box. Listen again to check your answers. OK never

afraid should

happen sincerely

keep unacceptable

matter worry

Dialogue 1 A: Sorry I'm late. I was held up at the airport. B: That's

OK

. I've just arrived myself.

Dialogue 2 A: I apologize for my behaviour. I was under a lot of stress. 2

B:

mind. I understand.

Dialogue 3 3

A: Sorry to 5

B: Don't

you waiting. It won't

4

again.

about it.

Dialogue 4 A: I really am sorry about this problem. 6

B: I

think so too! What you did was completely

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Dialogue 5 A: Sorry about spilling coffee on your floor. I'll get a mop. 8

B: Oh, it doesn't

. The cleaning lady will clean it up later.

Dialogue 6 A: We

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apologize for the late delivery.

B: I'm

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that's not good enough! I expect some sort of discount.

Now complete the structures for apologizing with `noun or verb -ing', `infinitive' and `SUBJECT + verb':

(be) sorry about + (be) sorry to + (be) sorry + apologize for + Study the responses to the apologies in the dialogues. Which expressions are used for accepting an apology? Which expressions are used for not accepting an apology? E


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4 Promising action Look at the dialogues again and study the expressions that the speakers use for promising action. What structure is used? Now match the following promises to the apologies below them:

1. I'll buy you a new one. 2. I'll give you a ring first thing tomorrow. 3. I'll clean it up. 4. I'll pay for the damage. 5. I won't forget to bring it next time. 6. I will make sure to contact you if it happens again. a. I apologize for breaking your window. b. I apologize for not informing you about the change of lesson time. c. I'm sorry - I left your dictionary at home. d. I'm sorry for not calling you today. e. Sorry about the mess I made in your kitchen. f. Sorry for losing the CD you lent me.

5 Role play In pairs, practise the following situations. In each case, one student decides if the other student should be forgiven or not.

1. Student A: You borrowed and lost Student B's coursebook. Apologize and promise action. 2. Student B: You didn't arrive for a meeting that you had arranged with Student A. Apologize and make an excuse. 3. Student A: You saw Student B at a party but you didn't say hello. Apologize and make an excuse. 4. Student B: You accidentally stepped on Student B's mobile phone and damaged it. Apologize, make an excuse and promise action.

6 Flashcard review Don't forget the words and phrases from today's lesson! Go to www.linguahouse.com/ex and enter Lesson code: DRNS-148B-9SE7-J Use Expemo often if you want to remember all the new language from your lessons.

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Apologies, excuses and promises - Transcripts A

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2- Listening

Dialogue 1 A: Sorry I'm late. I was held up at the airport. B: That's OK. I've just arrived myself. Dialogue 2 A: I apologize for my behaviour. I was under a lot of stress. B: Never mind. I understand. Dialogue 3 A: Sorry to keep you waiting. It won't happen again. B: Don't worry about it. Dialogue 4 A: I really am very sorry about this problem. B: I should think so too! What you did was completely unacceptable. Dialogue 5 A: Sorry about spilling coffee on your floor. I'll get a mop. B: Oh, it doesn't matter. The cleaning lady will clean it up later. Dialogue 6 A: We sincerely apologize for the late delivery. B: I'm afraid that's not good enough! I expect some sort of discount.

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Apologies, excuses and promises - Key A

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1- When you do something wrong...

1. d

2. f

3. b

4. e

5. c

6. a

1. blame

2. excuse

3. regret

4. apologize

5. explain

6. forgive

2- Listening Students can work alone and check in pairs. Play the audio file or use your mobile device to scan the QR code (make sure you have installed a QR code reader app and can access the Internet on your device).

a. b. c. d. e.

1,2,5 3,5,6 2,6 1,2,3,5 4,6

3- Apologies and excuses

2. never 7. unacceptable

3. keep 8. matter

4. happen 9. sincerely

5. worry 10. afraid

6. should

(be) sorry about + noun or verb -ing (be) sorry to + infinitive (be) sorry + subject + verb apologize for + noun or verb -ing Point out or have the students discover the formal expression of apology in Dialogue 6 (`apologize for'). Also point out that the structure `sorry for + verb -ing' is possible.

ACCEPTING AN APOLOGY: That's all right; Never mind; Don't worry about it; It doesn't matter. NOT ACCEPTING AN APOLOGY: I should think so too!; I'm afraid that's not good enough. 4- Promising action `will/won't' + infinitive is used for promising to do something.

f

d

e

a

c

b

6- Flashcard review Students who register on our website can revise the material from this lesson using the Expemo spaced repetition learning platform. Visit www.linguahouse.com/ex for more information.

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Apologies, Excuses and Promises

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