English course

Lesson 6 of 240

New here? This is lesson 6 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Start hereHow this works

Excuse me, sorry in English

Ana is at the Blue Plate again. Murray sits on two stools at the end of the counter, and she needs to get past him.

She says excuse me, then asks if she can get by. She bumps him a little and says sorry.

Murray says don't worry. Then he says be right there, but he stays on the stools.

By the end, you'll get someone's attention, ask to pass, say sorry, and accept an apology.

By the end of this lesson

Get attention, pass through a crowd, apologize, and accept an apology.

  • Excuse me.you say this to get someone's attention
  • Can I get by?you need to pass through
  • Sorry.a short apology
  • I'm sorry.you apologize more fully
  • It's okay.you accept an apology
  • Don't worry.you tell them the small problem is fine

Scene — the stools are in the way

Same diner, later that week. Ana has her tote bag and needs to reach the booth by the window.

Murray sits on two stools at the end of the counter. His coffee is still full. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Dee watches from the coffee pot, but she does not move the stools.

Ana pauses in the diner aisle as Dee points toward the window booth and Murray occupies two stools at the counter.

Learn — excuse me and sorry

Six short lines cover excuse me, can I get by, sorry, and I'm sorry.

You'll also hear It's okay and Don't worry when someone accepts an apology.

  1. Ana lifts a hand to get Murray’s attention while he remains seated at the counter.

    Excuse me.

    you say this to get someone's attention

    When to use it: Say this when you need someone to look at you.

    Learn it as one piece to get a person's attention.

    Say it: The stress is on the second part of Excuse.

  2. Ana approaches the narrow gap beside Murray, holding her tote close as she tries to reach the window booth.

    Can I get by?

    you need to pass through

    When to use it: Say this when a person is in your way.

    Learn it as one piece when you need to pass.

    Say it: Can and I can link.

  3. Ana’s tote bumps Murray’s horn, and Murray turns with a calm, reassuring gesture as his coffee stays full.

    Sorry.

    a short apology

    When to use it: Say this after a small bump or a small mistake.

    Learn it as one piece for a short apology.

  4. Ana apologizes more fully and checks Murray’s horn while he stays seated on the stools.

    I'm sorry.

    you apologize more fully

    When to use it: Say this when you want a fuller apology.

    Learn it as one piece for a fuller apology.

    Say it: I'm sounds like one short word.

  5. Murray accepts Ana’s apology with a gentle gesture as she reassures him that the small problem is fine.

    It's okay.

    you accept an apology

    When to use it: Say this when someone says sorry to you.

    Learn it as one piece to accept an apology.

  6. Ana steps through the gap toward the window booth while Murray stays on the stools and Dee remains by the coffee pot.

    Don't worry.

    you tell them the small problem is fine

    When to use it: Say this when a small problem is fine.

    Learn it as one piece when a small problem is fine.

    Say it: Don't is one short word.

Story — he does not move

Watch Ana try to pass Murray's two stools. He says he will move, but he does not.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Dee points at the booth by the window. Murray's two stools block the path.
  2. DeeHave a seat, hon.please sit down
  3. Ana steps toward the stools with her tote bag tight at her side.
  4. AnaExcuse me.you say this to get someone's attention
  5. MurrayHello.a polite hello
  6. AnaCan I get by?you need to pass through
  7. She steps past. The tote bumps his horn. His coffee does not spill.
  8. AnaSorry.a short apology
  9. MurrayWell, don't worry.you tell them the small problem is fine
  10. AnaI'm sorry. Is the horn okay?She apologizes more fully, then checks his horn.
  11. MurrayIt's okay. Be right there.He accepts the apology, then says he will come.
  12. He stays on the stools. The coffee is still full. The jukebox stays quiet.

Practice — pass or sorry

These quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Excuse me.Drop the Simple English here
    Can I get by?Drop the Simple English here
    Sorry.Drop the Simple English here
    It's okay.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Murray's stools block the path to the booth. You need to pass.

  4. What does it mean?

    I'm sorry.

  5. Fill the gap

    you tell them the small problem is fine

    Don't ____.

  6. Build the line

    you apologize more fully

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    Sorry.

    a short apology

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    Murray's stools block the path. You need to pass, not order.

    Can I get ____?

  9. What do you say?

    You already passed. Your bag just hit Murray's horn.

  10. True or false?

    This line apologizes for a bump.

  11. True or false?

    This line asks if you can pass through.

Say it — ask to pass

Now you're Ana at the counter. Murray's stools are in the way. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeHave a seat.please sit down
  2. Ana (you)Get his attention. The stools are in your way.

    Excuse me.

    you say this to get someone's attention

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Excuse me.you say this to get someone's attention
Can I get by?you need to pass through
Sorry.a short apology
I'm sorry.you apologize more fully
It's okay.you accept an apology
Don't worry.you tell them the small problem is fine
Next: lesson 7See you tomorrow

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps excuse me and sorry ready.

Open Yak Cards