“I’m sorry to + (verb)” is a common English expression used to apologize for an action or statement that one regrets. This phrase can be used in a variety of situations, and the verb that follows “I’m sorry to” can be changed to fit the context of the apology. Below is a table with headings and examples of different ways this phrase can be used:
| Verb | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Interrupt | Apologize for interrupting someone | “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I have a question.” |
| Hear | Apologize for bad news or something negative | “I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother’s passing.” |
| Inform | Apologize for delivering unexpected news | “I’m sorry to inform you that your flight has been canceled.” |
| Bother | Apologize for causing inconvenience | “I’m sorry to bother you, but do you have a moment to speak?” |
| Disappoint | Apologize for not meeting expectations | “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the product is currently out of stock.” |
| Confuse | Apologize for causing confusion | “I’m sorry to confuse you, can I explain it again?” |
The basic structure of the “I’m sorry to + (verb)” expression is:
- Start with “I’m sorry”
- Add “to”
- Add a verb that fits the context of the apology
- Complete the sentence with the reason for the apology
Some additional examples of the “I’m sorry to + (verb)” expression used in small sentences include:
- “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to clarify something.”
- “I’m sorry to hear about your job loss.”
- “I’m sorry to inform you that we won’t be able to attend the event.”
- “I’m sorry to bother you, but do you have a spare pen?”
- “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but we won’t be able to deliver the package on time.”
- “I’m sorry to confuse you, let me try to explain it differently.”