The pattern

"I'm sorry to" plus a verb apologizes for something you are doing right now, or shows sympathy. "I'm sorry to bother you" comes before an interruption. "I'm sorry to hear that" responds to bad news. The two uses sound similar but do very different jobs, and both are essential.

In quick speech it shrinks to "Sorry to": "Sorry to interrupt", "Sorry to keep you waiting". For something you did in the past, English often uses "Sorry for" plus -ing: "Sorry for being late."

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  4. The standard response to bad news. Warm and not too heavy.

  6. Formal announcements of bad news, often in emails.

  8. For something already done, "sorry for" plus -ing is common.

  9. Said to a colleague who is leaving.

Check yourself

1A friend tells you her dog is sick. What do you say?
2You need to interrupt a colleague on a call. What comes first?
3For something you already did, which is common?

Practice · 3 min

Apologize or show sympathy. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.