Sorry I'm Late! — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Introduction

A: Hi! Sorry I’m late! I got held up at work, and then traffic was terrible.

B: No worries. I just got here myself. Okay — what just happened there?

A: I apologized, I gave two excuses, and you said it was fine. Four useful phrases in ten seconds.

B: That’s today’s episode: how to say sorry in English, and how to explain why you’re late, without sounding too formal or too dramatic.

A: Listen for these: My bad, I didn’t mean to, I lost track of time, It won’t happen again, and Apology accepted.

B: You can practice today’s phrases in Recursio — link in the description.

A: So let’s start with the most important word. Sorry.

Saying sorry

B: Imagine this. You’re on a busy train, it moves suddenly, and you step on someone’s foot. Hard.

A: Ouch. In that moment, I don’t want a long sentence. I just want the right words, fast.

B: Then say: I’m so sorry! “So” makes it stronger. It shows you really feel bad.

A: “I’m so sorry!” Is that stronger than “I’m sorry”?

B: Yes. “Sorry” alone is small — for a little thing, like when you bump someone’s bag. “I’m so sorry” is for when you really hurt someone, or you made a real mistake.

A: And if it’s very serious?

B: Then “I’m really sorry” or “I’m terribly sorry.” And “I’m so sorry” is very common in everyday conversation.

A: Okay. Now the opposite. A very small mistake, with a friend. I took his pen by accident.

B: Then you can say: My bad. It’s short, casual, and a little funny. It means “that was my mistake.”

A: “Oh — that’s your pen? My bad.” Can I say it to my boss?

B: Careful with that. With friends and coworkers you know well, it’s perfect. In a serious meeting, or with a customer, it can sound too relaxed. There, say “Sorry, that was my mistake.”

A: Got it. My bad for small things, with people I know.

B: Exactly. And sometimes the problem is that you hurt someone, but it wasn’t your plan. You didn’t want it to happen.

A: Like when I tell a joke, and my friend is upset.

B: Right. Then you say: I didn’t mean to. You did it, but not on purpose.

A: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

B: Perfect. You can stop after “to” — “Sorry! I didn’t mean to!” — or add a verb: “I didn’t mean to wake you up.” “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

A: So it’s “mean to” plus a verb. And “on purpose” is the opposite.

B: Yes. “I didn’t do it on purpose” means the same thing. Both sound natural.

Running late

A: Now, the big one. The situation from the start of the episode. You arrive, and your friend has been waiting.

B: The first words are usually the classic: Sorry I’m late!

A: Not “Sorry for late”?

B: No — that’s a very common mistake. It’s “Sorry I’m late,” or “Sorry for being late.” And if it’s in an email later that day: “Sorry I was late this morning.”

A: And then people always give a reason. An excuse.

B: Always. And the most useful excuse in English is: I got held up. It means something stopped you or made you slow, and you couldn’t leave on time.

A: “I got held up at work.” “I got held up at the bank.”

B: Great examples. It’s nice because it’s a little vague. You don’t have to explain the whole story. Your boss wanted “just one more thing” — you got held up.

A: Then there’s the excuse everyone uses in a big city.

B: Traffic was terrible. Or “The traffic was terrible.” Both are fine.

A: Sometimes it’s even true!

B: Ha — sometimes. You can also say “There was a lot of traffic,” “I was stuck in traffic,” or for public transport, “My train was delayed.”

A: Okay, and now the honest one. I was reading, or playing a game, or watching videos, and suddenly — it’s seven o’clock.

B: Then you say: I lost track of time. You were busy with something, and you didn’t notice how late it was.

A: “Sorry, I lost track of time.” It sounds more honest than traffic.

B: It does, and people usually like honesty. Just be careful: if you lose track of time every week, it starts to sound like you don’t care.

A: Quick tip before we go on. Excuses are easy to forget when you’re in a hurry. Save these phrases in Recursio — it brings them back right before you forget.

Making it right

B: Sometimes a quick “sorry” isn’t enough. You did something bigger. Maybe you forgot a friend’s birthday, or you were rude in a meeting.

A: And you’ve had time to think about it.

B: Then you can start with: I owe you an apology. “To owe” means you need to give something back — like money. Here, you need to give an apology.

A: “Hey, Sam. I owe you an apology for yesterday.”

B: That’s a strong, mature way to start. For a serious apology, “I want to apologize for what I said” is a clear choice.

A: And “Excuse me”? Is that an apology too?

B: “Excuse me” is common for getting attention or small interruptions: “Excuse me, can I get by?” “Excuse me for interrupting.”

A: Okay. I said sorry. What do I say next, so they believe me?

B: You make a promise: It won’t happen again.

A: “I’m sorry I missed the deadline. It won’t happen again.”

B: Very common at work. But only say it if you mean it. If it happens again next week, the promise is worth nothing.

A: And if I want to do something nice, to fix the situation?

B: Then you offer to make it up to them. “To make it up to someone” means to do something good, so they feel better after your mistake.

A: “I’m sorry I forgot your birthday. Let me make it up to you — dinner’s on me.”

B: Perfect. And it’s a question too: “How can I make it up to you?” It sounds warm and sincere.

A: So: I owe you an apology, it won’t happen again, let me make it up to you. That’s a full apology.

B: That’s a very good apology. That shows you’re taking responsibility and want to make things right.

Accepting an apology

A: Now let’s switch sides. Someone apologizes to you. What do you say?

B: For small things, the easiest answer is: No worries.

A: “Sorry I’m late!” — “No worries.”

B: Exactly. It means “it’s okay, don’t worry about it.” It’s friendly and relaxed. You’ll also hear “No problem,” “It’s fine,” and “Don’t worry about it.”

A: And “No harm done”? I heard that in one of our cartoons.

B: Yes — “No harm done” means nothing bad really happened. You bump into someone, and they say, “No harm done.”

A: And for a bigger apology? “No worries” sounds a bit small if someone says “I owe you an apology.”

B: Then you can say: Apology accepted. It’s a little more serious. It closes the conversation.

A: “Apology accepted.” Is it cold?

B: It depends on your voice. With a smile, it’s warm: “Apology accepted. Let’s forget about it.” With a flat voice, it can sound like “Okay, but I’m still upset.”

A: So the tone matters more than the words.

B: In apologies, it usually does.

A: One more question. What if I don’t accept the apology? I’m still a little upset.

B: You can be honest and kind at the same time. “Thanks for saying that. I just need a little time.” That’s polite, and it’s clear.

A: And if someone apologizes for something that wasn’t their fault at all?

B: Then say, “Don’t be sorry! It’s not your fault.”

A: And we also say “I’m sorry” when we hear bad news, right? Like when a friend says their cat is sick?

B: Exactly. “Oh no, I’m so sorry.” It doesn’t mean “it was my fault.” It means “I feel bad for you.” That surprises a lot of learners.

Late for dinner

A: Let’s hear these in action. It’s Friday evening. We’re meeting at a restaurant at seven. You’re there first.

B: And it’s seven twenty-five. I’m checking my phone.

A: Hi! I’m so sorry! I know, I know — I’m really late.

B: Twenty-five minutes! I was about to order without you.

A: I got held up at work. My manager stopped me right at the door. And then traffic was terrible.

B: On a Friday? Of course it was.

A: I should’ve texted you. My bad. My phone was in my bag the whole time.

B: Okay, okay. I was a little worried, that’s all.

A: I didn’t mean to worry you. Let me make it up to you — dinner’s on me tonight.

B: Well, in that case — apology accepted!

A: Ha! I thought that might help.

B: Sit down. I’m starving. And next time?

A: Next time I’ll text. It won’t happen again.

B: You said that last month.

A: Did I? Then this time I really mean it.

At the office

B: Friday dinner — saved by a free meal. Let’s do one more scene, at work this time.

A: Okay. It’s Tuesday morning, nine fifteen, and you’re at your desk with a coffee. Yesterday we had an online meeting with a client, and I didn’t join.

B: And I’m your coworker. I had to present alone.

A: Hey — do you have a minute? I owe you an apology.

B: For yesterday? Yeah. What happened?

A: Honestly, no good excuse. I was working on the report, and I lost track of time. When I looked up, the meeting was over.

B: I was a little stressed. The client kept asking about your numbers.

A: I’m so sorry. That wasn’t fair to you.

B: Well, it went okay in the end. I found the slides.

A: Thank you. I’ll write to the client this morning and explain. And I’ve put every meeting in my calendar with two reminders. It won’t happen again.

B: Two reminders? Okay, I believe you.

A: And let me make it up to you. Coffee this afternoon?

B: No worries. But I’ll take the coffee.

Running late by text

A: One last situation. These days, most excuses don’t happen face to face. They happen in a text message.

B: True. So let’s write one together. You’re meeting me at the movies at eight, and it’s seven fifty-five. You’re still on the bus.

A: Okay. “Hey! So sorry, I’m running late. Traffic was terrible. Be there in ten minutes!”

B: That’s a great text. Short, a clear excuse, and a time. The time is the most important part.

A: “Running late” — that’s not on our list, but it’s useful.

B: Very useful. “I’m running late” means you’re behind schedule and expect to arrive late. You can say it before you leave or while you’re on your way. Let the other person know as soon as you can.

A: And what do you text back?

B: Something like: “No worries! I’ll get the tickets. See you inside.”

A: Nice. And if I’m the one who’s always late?

B: Then maybe send it earlier. Like, at seven thirty.

Practice

A: Now it’s your turn. You’ll hear a situation. Answer out loud in the pause, then listen to our answer. First one: you arrive at the cafe, and your friend has been waiting. What do you say first?

B: Sorry I’m late!

A: Not “sorry for late” — “Sorry I’m late,” or “Sorry for being late.”

B: Your boss kept you at work for twenty minutes. How do you explain this to your friend?

A: I got held up at work.

B: “Held up” — something stopped you, and you couldn’t leave on time.

A: You were reading a great book and didn’t notice the time. Now you’re late. What’s your honest excuse?

B: Sorry, I lost track of time.

A: “Lost track of time” — you didn’t notice how late it was.

B: You missed an important meeting yesterday. You want to start a serious conversation with your coworker. What do you say?

A: I owe you an apology for yesterday.

B: Notice: apologize for something — “I apologize for missing the meeting.”

A: You forgot your sister’s birthday. You want to do something nice for her. What do you offer?

B: Let me make it up to you.

A: “Make it up to you” — do something good to fix your mistake.

B: Your friend says, “Sorry I’m late!” It’s really not a problem. What do you answer?

A: No worries.

B: Short, friendly, and relaxed.

Outro

A: Now you can say sorry, explain why you’re late, make things right, and accept an apology.

B: Today’s twelve: I’m so sorry, Sorry I’m late, My bad, I didn’t mean to, It won’t happen again, I owe you an apology, to make it up to you, I got held up, I lost track of time, Traffic was terrible, No worries, and Apology accepted.

A: On Friday, we’re talking about advice — what to say when a friend asks, “What would you do?”

B: Until then, open the link below and practice today’s phrases in Recursio.

A: See you in the next one — and don’t be late!