Explaining Traffic Delay
You are late due to unexpected traffic and need to explain the situation to the person or group you are meeting.
Dialogue6
Hey John, sorry I'm a bit late! Traffic was absolutely crazy on the main road.
No worries, Sarah. We just got here ourselves. Was it a specific accident or just general rush hour?
I think it was just a lot of congestion. Google Maps kept telling me an extra 20 minutes added to the journey.
Oh, that's frustrating. Glad you made it though. We were just about to order drinks.
Yeah, I left with plenty of time, but you just can't predict traffic sometimes. What are you guys having?
I'm having a latte. Emily's got a tea. No rush, just relax. What can I get for you?
Vocabulary6
- sorry
This is a common way to apologize or express regret, like when you are late or make a mistake. Use it at the start of a sentence for politeness.
- late
Means arriving or doing something after the expected time. It's useful in everyday situations like meetings or appointments.
- traffic
Refers to the flow of vehicles on roads, often used when explaining delays. In cities, it's a frequent reason for being late.
- congestion
Describes heavy traffic where cars are stuck and moving slowly. It's a practical word for urban travel problems.
- frustrating
Means something that causes annoyance or irritation because it's difficult or unpredictable. Use it to express feelings about delays.
- predict
To guess or expect what will happen in the future. In this context, it shows that some things like traffic are hard to foresee.
Key Sentences6
- 1
Hey John, sorry I'm a bit late!
This is a casual apology for arriving late. 'A bit' softens the lateness to make it less serious. Use this greeting-style apology with friends or colleagues to start a conversation politely.
- 2
No worries.
A friendly response meaning 'don't worry about it' or 'it's okay.' It's informal and reassuring. Use it to accept an apology without making the other person feel bad.
- 3
Traffic was absolutely crazy on the main road.
This explains the reason for being late using 'absolutely crazy' for emphasis, meaning very chaotic. It's useful for describing bad traffic vividly in casual talks.
- 4
I think it was just a lot of congestion.
This gives an opinion on the cause with 'I think' for uncertainty and 'just' to downplay it. Practice this for explaining everyday delays like traffic jams.
- 5
Oh, that's frustrating. Glad you made it though.
Shows empathy with 'frustrating' and relief with 'glad you made it though,' where 'though' adds contrast. Use this to comfort someone after their explanation.
- 6
Yeah, I left with plenty of time, but you just can't predict traffic sometimes.
This defends the lateness by saying you planned well ('with plenty of time') but traffic is unpredictable ('can't predict'). The 'but' connects contrast; great for justifying delays.