VOA一分钟英语：用英语道歉的方式（2）

在正式场合应该怎样用英语道歉？开会时，如果你打断了上司说话，最好怎样致歉？做报告时，如果错误频出，可以怎样表达自己感到非常抱歉？
 
Let's take a minute to look at different ways you can apologise in a formal situation.
Imagine you're in an important meeting at work and you interrupted your boss.
To say sorry, you might say:
Sorry…
Excuse me…
Pardon me…
Apologies…
I sincerely apologise for… interrupting or for the interruption.
Because 'for' is a preposition, you can either use a gerund or a noun.
Now imagine you're in the same important meeting at work and you give a presentation in front of your boss that is incomplete and full of mistakes.
To say sorry, you might say:
I'm afraid I didn't finish the presentation.
Don't be confused – 'afraid' does not mean 'scared' here – it's like sorry, but more formal.
And notice that after 'afraid', we use a full clause or sentence.
 
用法总结
1. 工作场所时需要道歉，比如开会时需要打断他人，可以用到下列句式：
Sorry …
Excuse me …
Pardon me…
Apologies…
I sincerely apologise for...
注意，介词 “for” 后面可以加 “-ing” 动名词或名词，比如 “interrupting” 或 “the interruption”。
Sorry for interrupting you earlier.
Pardon me, but may I add one thing to this agenda?
I sincerely apologise for the confusion caused by the miscalculation.
 
2. 我们还可以用 “I'm afraid...” 的句式来为某情况或某事道歉，这里的 “afraid” 不是 “害怕” 的意思，而是相当于更正式一点的 “sorry”。“I'm afraid” 后接完整从句或一个句子。
I'm afraid I didn't finish the presentation.
I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the meeting on time.
I'm afraid the new product is underperforming.