Apologizing

To apologize is to tell someone that you are sorry for having done something that has
caused him inconvenience or unhappiness:
Examples:
I must apologize to Isabel for my late arrival.
I'd like to apologize for my trouble making.
Trains may be subject to delay on the northern line. We apologize for any inconvenience
caused.
Here are some epressions you can use to make and respond to apologies
Making apologies:
I do apologize for...
I must apologize for...
I apologize for...
I'd like to apologize for...
I am so sorry for...
I shouldn't have...
It's all my fault.
I'm ashamed of...
!lease" forgive me for...
#cuse me for ...
I'm terribly sorry for...
!ardon me for this...
!lease" forgive me for my....
!lease" accept my apologies for...
Accepting apologies:
That's all right.
$ever mind.
%on't apologize.
It doesn't matter.
%on't &orry about it.
%on't mention it.
That's '(.
I )uite understand.
*ou couldn't help it.
+orget about it.
%on't &orry about it.
$o harm done.
Remember:
,I'd like to apologize, is the short form of ,I &ould like to apologize,
Making Suggestions:
Could you please tell me if this use of suggest is grammatically correct?
The boss suggested we left early yesterday.
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Roger Woodham replies:
It is perfectly correct, Julie. ou could also say:
The boss suggested (that) we leave early.
The boss suggested (that) we should leave early.
!ll these forms are possible with little or no difference in nuance,
although the sub"unctive form, suggested we leave, is a touch more
formal.

suggest / insist / demand / recommend
Suggest is one of those verbs of advice that cannot be followed
by the more usual pattern of object + infinitive but has to be
followed by a that-clause with should + infinitive or
with past, present or subjunctive form verbs.
Insist, demand and recommend #among others$ also follow
this pattern, but other verbs that suggest that something is
desirable or necessary or important follow the object +
infinitive pattern. Compare the following:
I asked him / told him to stop phoning me.
I implored him / begged him to stop phoning me.
I insisted / demanded that he should stop phoning me.
I insisted / demanded that he stopped phoning me.
I insisted / demanded that he stop phoning me.
Everyone urged her to continue with her education for a
further three years.
Everyone advised her to continue with her education for
a further three years.
Everybody recommended that she should continue with
her education for 3 more years.
Everybody recommended that she continued with her
education for 3 more years.
Everybody recommended that she continue with her
education for 3 more years.
Even her granny recommends that she continues with
her education for 3 more years.

important / desirable / essential / vital / imperative
These ad"ectives, when they are used to e%press similar ideas,
are also followed by a that-clause with should + infinitive or
with present, past or subjunctive form verbs:
It is vitally important (that) you should take this
medication night and morning.
It is vitally important (that) you take this medication
night and morning without fail.
It was desirable (that) she should go to a school
where Italian was taught.
It was desirable (that) she go to a school where
Italian was taught.
It was desirable (that) she went to a school where
Italian was taught.
In e%amples like these, you can avoid a that-clause, if you
wish to, by using a for + object + infinitive construction,
which sounds slightly less formal:
It is important for you to take this medicine twice a
day.
It was considered desirable for her to attend a school
where Italian was taught.


the subjunctive
The sub"unctive is a special kind of present tense which has no-
s in the third person singular and where the same forms are
used in both present and past situations when we want to
sound slightly formal. The verb to be has a special sub"unctive
form, see below:
The school governors insisted that he resign from his
post as deputy head immediately.
They suggested that rs !iddy be appointed as deputy
head on a temporary basis"
#$e propose that rs !iddy be appointed as deputy
head until the end of the school year. It is of vital
importance that she be present at the interviews when
other teachers are selected.#
The doctors recommended that my father remain in
hospital for a further five days and that he return to
work only when fully fit.
&ote that do is not used in negative sub"unctive sentences:
They advised that he not return to work until fully fit.
Things to remember about suggestions:
1.The verb "suggest" can be followed by either:
should + verb = I suggest (that) we should go to the theater.
a verb (in the subjunctive for)= I suggest (that) we go to the ovies.
!."That" is o"tional:
"I suggest that we should visit #aris."
"I suggest we should visit #aris."