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airi@home
Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Posts: 35
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 Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 11:54 pm Post subject: sorry / apologize |
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Are "I am sorry" and "I apologize" the same meaning?
Does " I apologize" sound more serious than "I am sorry" or no difference?
ex)
I am sorry for making a mistake.
I apologize for making a mistake.
Can I say both? Are they the same meaning? Which one do you prefer to use?
I usually hear "I am sorry" and I hardly ever hear someone says " I apologize".
I have never said " I apologize", but " I am sorry."
When is more appropriate to say I" apologize" than to say "I am sorry"?
Thank you, teachers  |
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asterix
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 1654
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| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:47 am Post subject: |
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When you say, "I am sorry" that is an apology.
When you say it, you are apologizing.
In a sincere apology you should say, " I am sorry."
If you say, I apologize, you are not saying, I am sorry and no apology is made.
Can we assume that saying I apologize is a crafty ploy to avoid apologizing at all?
Are lawyers involved???
Or is it the USA????!!!
If not, why not?? |
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Blossom
Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:24 am Post subject: Sorry |
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My mother died recently and my boyfriend said he was sorry. He was not apologising.
America said they were sorry that the pilot in the spyplane accident had been killed. They were not apopogising for the incident. |
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Sorry |
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| Blossom wrote: |
My mother died recently and my boyfriend said he was sorry. He was not apologising.
America said they were sorry that the pilot in the spyplane accident had been killed. They were not apologising for the incident. |
That is true. Sometimes, "I'm sorry" is short for "I'm sorry to hear that," or "I feel sorry that you feel bad." Not necessarily "I'm sorry for something bad I've done." It is often just a polite way to express sympathy for an unfortunate situation. The polite response is "Thank you." Or if the situation is not really so bad, you can say "That's okay." |
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asterix
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 1654
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 4:59 am Post subject: |
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| In the context of sympathy over a death, you cannot use apoligize at all. |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:38 am Post subject: |
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This just happened to be in the paper yesterday, in a column of anecdotes:
DEAR Diary:
My 5-year-old son, Henry, was jumping on the bed as his little brother, Eli, talked to Grandpa on the phone.
As he waited his turn, Henry acknowledged that he knew Grandpa's sister had died. This was the first time the boys had spoken to my 81-year-old father since my remarkable Aunt Ruth passed away.
"Why don't you tell Grandpa you're sorry?" I told Henry.
"Why?" he cried out, thoroughly outraged. "I didn't do it."
by Jane Hanstein Cunniffe
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/18/nyregion/18diary.html (requires free subscription) |
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