Apologizing for an Accidental Bump
One person accidentally bumps into another while shifting in line and apologizes, leading to a brief exchange of pleasantries.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
excuse me
A polite way to apologize for a small mistake, like bumping into someone, or to get attention. Use it in everyday situations to show respect.
sorry
A common word to express regret or apology for something you did wrong. It's simple and used in both formal and informal settings.
no worries
An informal phrase meaning 'don't worry' or 'it's okay.' It's a friendly way to accept an apology and make the other person feel better.
it happens
Means that something is common or normal and not a big deal. Use it to reassure someone after a minor accident.
line
Refers to a queue of people waiting for something, like at a store or event. In American English, it's 'line'; in British, it's often 'queue.'
exhibit
A display or show, often in a museum or gallery, featuring art, history, or new items. Useful for talking about cultural events.
worth the wait
Means something is valuable or good enough to make the waiting time okay. Use it when discussing patience for rewarding experiences.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Oh, excuse me! I am so sorry. I didn't see you there.
This is a polite apology for accidentally bumping someone. It uses 'excuse me' and 'sorry' together for emphasis, and 'I didn't see you there' explains the mistake without excuses. Useful for small accidents in public to keep interactions friendly.
No worries at all! It happens.
A reassuring response to an apology. 'No worries at all' is emphatic and casual, while 'it happens' shows it's common. Great for small talk to diffuse awkwardness and end on a positive note.
This line is quite long.
Describes a waiting queue. 'Quite' softens the adjective 'long' to mean 'fairly long' politely. Useful in conversations while waiting to start small talk about the shared situation.
Are you waiting for the new exhibit too?
A question to continue the conversation. 'Too' means 'also,' and the structure is a yes/no question with present continuous tense. It's practical for building rapport in lines by finding common interests.
I heard great things about it.
Expresses positive hearsay. 'Heard great things' uses past tense for reported information. Useful for showing enthusiasm and encouraging others in casual chats about events.
Hopefully, it's worth the wait.
Shows optimism about waiting. 'Hopefully' expresses hope, and 'it's worth the wait' is an idiom meaning the result justifies the time. Good for polite small talk when anticipating something exciting.
Seriously, no problem. Enjoy the exhibit!
Reiterates acceptance of an apology with 'seriously' for emphasis, and ends positively with a wish. 'Enjoy the exhibit' is a friendly goodbye. Use this to close conversations warmly in social settings.