sorry I'm late or sorry to be late?
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Is it correct to say " I apologize to be late " - WordReference Forums
Roniy asks the same question in post #5
Good luck!;-)
Teia
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Marina Alejandra
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when you are in a hurry and you need to leave someone becouse you are late for doin something, you use: sorry, Im late. I need to get to the station on time (for example)
when you arrive late to some place use: i'm sorry to be late. My bus was late (for example)
when you arrive late to some place use: i'm sorry to be late. My bus was late (for example)
Both are fine as is,
I'm sorry that I'm late.
Sorry for being late.
I'm late, sorry about that.
There are likely more.
>Hello, Boadicea! Thank you for your information. I confirmed the threads you had mentioned. I was able to learn something I needed.
>Hello, ruholla! Thank you for your comment. I'm glad to know how these expressions are used in general.
>Hello, teia_petrescu! Thank you for your comment. According to you, "I'm sorry to be late" is incorrect in this case.
>Hello, Marina Alejandra! Thank you for your comment. In your opinion, "I'm sorry, I'm late" can be used when someone excuses to leave and "I'm sorry to be late" can be used when someone arrived late.
>Hello, riverkid! Thank you for your comment and the example sentences. I realized there are other ways to apologize for being late.
;-)I'm grateful for your commitment. Thank you all !
I also found the expression, "I am very sorry to be late. I was wrapping your present," in a picture book titled "Frog and Toad All Year(by Arnold Lobel).
As of now, I take it that, strictly speaking, "I'm sorry to be late" is incorrect grammatically but some people use it when they apologize for being late.
Do I get it wrong?
>Hello, ruholla! Thank you for your comment. I'm glad to know how these expressions are used in general.
>Hello, teia_petrescu! Thank you for your comment. According to you, "I'm sorry to be late" is incorrect in this case.
>Hello, Marina Alejandra! Thank you for your comment. In your opinion, "I'm sorry, I'm late" can be used when someone excuses to leave and "I'm sorry to be late" can be used when someone arrived late.
>Hello, riverkid! Thank you for your comment and the example sentences. I realized there are other ways to apologize for being late.
;-)I'm grateful for your commitment. Thank you all !
I also found the expression, "I am very sorry to be late. I was wrapping your present," in a picture book titled "Frog and Toad All Year(by Arnold Lobel).
As of now, I take it that, strictly speaking, "I'm sorry to be late" is incorrect grammatically but some people use it when they apologize for being late.
Do I get it wrong?
Kayoox,
Since 'do' is used for routine, habitual, always type situation we'd use 'have' in this situation. If you wanted to used 'get' then,
"Did I get it wrong?"
"I'm sorry to be late" is not ungrammatical.
riverkid,
Thank you for your correction.
I was able to learn more.
If I want to apologize for being late, I can say both "I'm sorry I'm late" and "I'm sorry to be late."
And the former is more common.
Did I get it right this time?
Last edited:
riverkid,
Thank you for your correction.
I was able to learn more.
You're welcome, K.
If I want to apologize for being late, I can say both "I'm sorry I'm late" and "I'm sorry to be late."
And the former is more common.
Did I get it right this time?
I really don't know which would be more common. Why not try a google "exact phrase" search? That could give you an indication.
:hi:Thank you for your suggestion, reiverkid. I'll try it later!
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