Lesson 31 “Sorry” for what?

ポイント
“Sorry” is one of the commonest and most important words in English; you’d seem very rude if you never used it. However, it’s also misused.

ダイアログ
Takeo: I’m sorry for my late.
Tim: Sorry for your what?

解説
This is a common error that I’ve heard many times. Tim is confused because he wasn’t expecting just a 形容詞 after “my.” Takeo must put a 名詞 after “my”: “I am sorry for my late arrival.” He can also swap “my + 名詞” for a 動名詞: “I’m sorry for arriving late.” To use just an 形容詞, Takeo should use the verb “to be”: “I’m sorry I’m late.” If you follow these grammar rules, you won’t have to be sorry for your English.