Everyday English · CEFR A2 · Everyday
Sorry for / Sorry to — Everyday english
Sorry for looks back at something you did. Sorry to looks forward at something you are about to do. Excuse me comes before, sorry comes after.
The shape
Sorry for + -ing · Sorry to + verb · I apologise for + -ing
Apologise for the right thing, at the right moment.
In Hindi
sorry for पीछे की बात के लिए, sorry to आगे की बात के लिए। excuse me पहले, sorry बाद में।
CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.
The mistake to fix first
The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
Sorry for disturb you. | Sorry for disturbing you. After "for" the verb takes -ing. |
Sorry for / Sorry to examples
Easiest first. Every sentence is authored, with the Hindi it comes from.
I am glad.
मुझे खुशी हुई।
also correct: My pleasure.
I was busy at that time.
मैं उस समय व्यस्त {था|थी}।
Sorry for being late.
मुझे देर के लिए माफ़ कीजिए।
I am sorry to hear that.
मुझे यह सुनकर दुख हुआ।
Sorry for disturbing you.
मुझे परेशान करने के लिए माफ़ कीजिए।
Thank you, you helped me a lot.
धन्यवाद, तुमने मेरी बहुत मदद की।
Questions people ask
- What is the sorry for / sorry to used for?
- Sorry for looks back at something you did. Sorry to looks forward at something you are about to do. Excuse me comes before, sorry comes after. In practice: apologise for the right thing, at the right moment.
- How do you form the sorry for / sorry to?
- Sorry for + -ing · Sorry to + verb · I apologise for + -ing.
- What is the most common mistake with the sorry for / sorry to?
- Saying “Sorry for disturb you.” instead of “Sorry for disturbing you.”. After "for" the verb takes -ing.
Where sorry for / sorry to fits
Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.
Sorry for / Sorry to is a CEFR A2 structure — the everyday band — and it belongs to everyday english. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
CoCap turns this page into practice: Hindi sentence in, English sentence out, corrected one thing at a time. Free, no card.
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