TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Appropriate Apologies

Activity Type Introduction

Speaking Activity: gap- In this complaining and apologizing activity, students practice
fill, matching, forming making complaints and giving apologies using prompts.
sentences from prompts,
controlled practice (pair Procedure
work)
Divide the students into pairs (Student A and B). Give each
student a corresponding worksheet.
Focus
Complaining and Tell the students not to show their worksheet to their partner.
apologizing
Working alone, students complete complaints with the words
provided.
Aim
Exercise A - Answer key
To practice complaining
and apologizing. Student A

1. room 2. table 3. car 4. pets 5. food

Preparation 6. music 7. doctor 8. chocolate 9. child 10. eating
Make one copy of the two
worksheets for each pair Student B
of students.
1. coffee 2. shoes 3. sandwich 4.room 5. seat
6. pizza 7. photos 8. change 9. pen 10. toy.
Level
Next, students take turns reading out their complaints, adding a
Pre-intermediate (A2) suitable introductory phrase, e.g., 'Excuse me, but...', 'I'm sorry,
but...'.
Time Their partner then checks the bottom of their worksheet to find a
25 minutes suitable apology and says it with an appropriate phrase, e.g. 'I'm
very sorry...', 'I'm so sorry...'

If the other student agrees the apology matches the complaint,

they ask for the letter of the apology and write it next to the
complaint. It's then the other student's turn to read out a
complaint.

The first pair to match all their complaints with the correct
apologies is the winner.

Exercise B - Answer key

Student A

1. o 2. r 3. k 4. t 5. m 6. p 7. l 8. n 9. s 10. q

Student B

1. i 2. e 3. g 4. c 5. h 6. f 7. b 8. j 9. a 10. d

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 COMPLAINING AND APOLOGIZING

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Appropriate Apologies

Student A

A. Complete the complaints using the words below.

eating music car room chocolate pets doctor table child food

1. Our ......................... hasn't been cleaned. We'd like it done soon.

2. I booked a ......................... for four people. There is only room for two here.

3. Is that your red .........................? I think you're in my parking space.

4. ......................... aren't allowed in the restaurant.

5. We ordered our ......................... an hour ago, and it still hasn't arrived.

6. Your ......................... is really loud. We can hear it from next door.

7. I think I'm next to see the .......................... I was here before you.

8. I asked for a ......................... ice cream. This one's strawberry.

9. Your ......................... is kicking the back of my seat.

10. ......................... and drinking are not allowed in the bank.

B. Read the complaints to your partner, adding a suitable introductory phrase e.g.
'Excuse me but...', 'I'm sorry to bother you, but...', etc. When they give you a suitable
apology, ask them for the corresponding letter and write it next to the complaint.

C. When you hear your partner's complaint, give them a suitable apology below,
starting with an appropriate phrase, e.g. 'I'm very sorry...', 'I'm so sorry...'

a. Let me get you one that works. f. I'll get you a vegetarian one.

b. I didn't know. I'll put my camera away. g. I'll get you one with white bread.

c. We'll get you a sea view room right away. h. I thought I was in 6D.

d. I'll make him give it back. i. I'll bring you a black one.

e. I'll get you a pair in the right size. j. Here's the rest of your change.

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 COMPLAINING AND APOLOGIZING

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Appropriate Apologies

Student B

A. Complete the complaints using the words below.

seat shoes change coffee toy photos sandwich room pen pizza

1. This ......................... has milk in it. I said I wanted a black one.

2. I asked for these ......................... in a size 6. These are a size 4.

3. I ordered a ......................... made with white bread. This bread is brown.

4. We asked for a ......................... with a sea view. This one has a garden view.

5. I think you're in my ......................... My ticket says I'm in 5D.

6. I asked for a vegetarian ........................ This one has meat on it.

7. You can't take ......................... in here. It's bad for the paintings.

8. I think you gave us the wrong ......................... I gave you $20, not $10.

9. This ......................... I bought here yesterday doesn't seem to write.

10. My daughter is crying because your son has taken her .........................

B. Read the complaints to your partner, adding a suitable introductory phrase e.g.
'Excuse me but...', 'I'm sorry to bother you, but...', etc. When they give you a suitable
apology, ask them for the corresponding letter and write it next to the complaint.

C. When you hear your partner's complaint, give them a suitable apology below,
starting with an appropriate phrase, e.g. 'I'm very sorry...', 'I'm so sorry...'

k. I'll move it. p. I'll turn it down immediately.

l. I thought it was my turn. q. I'll finish my sandwich outside.

m. I'll go and see where it is. r. I'll get you another table.

n. I'll get you a chocolate one. s. I'll get him to stop.

o. I'll send someone to do it right away. t. I didn't know. We'll go somewhere else.

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