An apology becomes more useful when you name what went wrong. Practise a short exchange that combines an apology, a reason and something you can do now to put matters right.
The idea
Use Kusura bakma with someone you address as sen, and Kusura bakmayın with siz. Özür dilerim works with either. To name the action you apologise for, use Sizi beklettiğim için özür dilerim (I apologise for keeping you waiting). To explain an event, put a complete clause after çünkü: Geç kaldım çünkü otobüsü kaçırdım. You can then offer a remedy: Şimdi gönderiyorum (I am sending it now). Sorun değil accepts the apology when the problem is minor. Here, learn Sizi beklettiğim için özür dilerim as a fixed apology phrase; the full -dığı için construction is a B2 topic in this course.
Examples
- Kusura bakma, yanlış kapıyı çaldım.Sorry, I knocked on the wrong door.
- Özür dilerim, mesajınızı geç gördüm.I apologise; I saw your message late.
- Sizi beklettiğim için özür dilerim.I apologise for keeping you waiting.
- Geç kaldım çünkü otobüsü kaçırdım.I was late because I missed the bus.
- Dosyayı göndermeyi unuttum; şimdi gönderiyorum.I forgot to send the file; I am sending it now.
- Sorun değil, toplantı henüz başlamadı.No problem, the meeting has not started yet.
- Kusura bakmayın, size yanlış dosyayı gönderdim.I am sorry; I sent you the wrong file.
- — Özür dilerim, dosyayı göndermeyi unuttum. — Sorun değil, şimdi gönderebilirsin.— I am sorry, I forgot to send the file. — No problem, you can send it now.
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Watch out
Do not put the independent past-tense form straight before için: Sizi beklettim için is incorrect. Sizi beklettim is a complete statement; in this apology it becomes sizi beklettiğim için. By contrast, çünkü introduces a complete clause, so çünkü otobüsü kaçırdım keeps the ordinary past tense.
Try it yourself
Complete the apology using the polite siz form: “I sent you the wrong file.”
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bakmayın
bakmayın: size shows that the listener is addressed with siz, so the apology needs the polite or plural form. Bakma would switch to familiar singular address.
Use bekletmek with “I” to complete: “I apologise for keeping you waiting.”
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beklettiğim
beklettiğim: the speaker caused the wait. The ending identifies that speaker as the person responsible; the k of -dik becomes ğ before the vowel of -im. Beklettim alone would finish the statement too early.
Choose çünkü or ama: “I was late because I missed the bus.”
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çünkü
çünkü: missing the bus explains the delay. Ama would introduce a contrast rather than this cause.
Accept the apology: “I forgot to send the file.” Choose Sorun değil or Özür dilerim.
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Sorun değil
Sorun değil: the second speaker accepts the apology and allows the file to be sent now. Özür dilerim would make that speaker apologise instead.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Complete the apology using the polite siz form: “I sent you the wrong file.”
Use bekletmek with “I” to complete: “I apologise for keeping you waiting.”
Choose çünkü or ama: “I was late because I missed the bus.”
Accept the apology: “I forgot to send the file.” Choose Sorun değil or Özür dilerim.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write a four-turn exchange about a forgotten file. Apologise, explain the mistake, have the other person accept the apology, and say what you are doing to fix it. Then change the address from sen to siz.