Apologizing to a Group
You arrive late to a casual get-together with several friends and need to apologize to everyone present.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
nightmare
A nightmare means something very bad or difficult, like terrible traffic that causes delays. Use it to describe frustrating situations casually.
no worries
This phrase means 'don't worry' or 'it's okay.' It's a friendly way to reassure someone who apologizes, common in casual conversations.
don't sweat it
An idiom meaning 'don't worry about it' or 'it's not a big deal.' Use it to comfort a friend who feels bad about being late or making a small mistake.
understanding
Being understanding means being patient and sympathetic when someone makes a mistake, like arriving late. It's a key word for polite interactions.
appreciate
To appreciate means to feel grateful for something. Say 'I appreciate it' to thank someone sincerely for their kindness.
catch up
To catch someone up means to quickly tell them what happened while they were away. It's useful when updating a late friend on a discussion.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
So sorry I'm late.
This is a simple, direct apology for arriving late. Use it in casual situations to express regret quickly. The structure 'So + adjective + subject + verb' adds emphasis, like 'so sorry' for stronger feeling.
No worries, John!
A reassuring response to an apology, meaning 'it's fine.' It's useful for friends to show forgiveness casually. Notice the exclamation for friendly tone and using the name for personalization.
Yeah, don't sweat it.
This casually dismisses the apology, meaning 'don't worry.' Great for informal groups. 'Yeah' agrees with previous talk, and the idiom 'don't sweat it' is a common pattern for reassurance.
Thanks for being understanding, guys.
Expresses gratitude for sympathy. Use after apologizing to acknowledge kindness. 'Guys' is informal for a group of friends; the gerund 'being understanding' describes the action.
Is there anything I missed?
A polite question to ask for updates after being late. It's useful to rejoin a conversation. The question form with 'anything' keeps it open-ended and shows interest.
We can catch you up.
Offers to inform someone about missed parts. Practical for group settings. The modal 'can' suggests ability, and 'catch you up' is a phrasal verb for quick summaries.