Need help again! Sorry for the hassle, everyone! T_T

A. I am sorry about...( the noise last night.)
B. I am sorry for... ( the noise last night.)

Which sentence is correct and what is the difference in meaning, between the two phrasal verb ( is that what you call it? )

A confused help wanted creature T_T


Plus, is the word "among" a preposition? Thanks heaps again...

[RonBee]

The phrases sorry about and sorry for are often used synonymously, and in your example sentences they mean the same thing. There is really not much difference in their usage.

Yes, among is a preposition.

:)

[RonBee]

P.S. Stop apologizing, already! That's what we're here for is to answer questions.

:wink:

Originally Posted by Helped Wanted

A. I am sorry about...( the noise last night.)
B. I am sorry for... ( the noise last night.)

Which sentence is correct and what is the difference in meaning, between the two phrasal verb ( is that what you call it? )

A confused help wanted creature T_T


Plus, is the word "among" a preposition? Thanks heaps again...

Hullo!
To answer your other question about phrasal verbs:

1. "Sorry" is not a verb, so "sorry for" is not a phrasal verb.
2. A phrasal verb is one that is used with a preposition and gives a meaning different from the verb used without the preposition. So they become like new verbs, with a new meaning. E.g. "give up" has a quite different meaning from "give". :wink:

[Casiopea]

I believe both A. and B. are correct and, as RonBee pointed out, tend to be used as synonyms by some speakers.

The word 'sorry', as jwschang rightly adds, isn't a 'verb', but rather an adjective: it describes a state of being: "be sorry".

Technically, 'sorry about' is comprised of two separate units: an adjective and a preposition, whereas 'sorry for' has two different structures:

1) a phrasal adjective: one unit comprised of an adjective plus a preposition, and

2) two separate units: an ajdective plus a preposition.

As a phrasal adjective, 'sorry for' expresses a different meaning from 'sorry about':

sorry about X
[adj] + [prep]
with regards to X

sorry for X
[adj + prep]
sympathy towards X

Examples:

1. I am sorry about the noise. (feel sorry regarding the noise)
2. I am sorry for the noise. (feel pity towards the noise) Ungrammatical
3. I am sorry for her. (feel pity towards her)


It's only when 'sorry for' is expressed as two separate units, that it shares a similar meaning to 'sorry about':


'sorry for' and 'sorry about' as synonyms:

sorry for X
[adj] + [prep]
in reference to X


sorry about X
[adj] + [prep]
with regards to X


3. I am sorry for the noise. (with reference to) grammatical
4. I am sorry about the noise. (with regards to) grammatical

Cas :)

[RonBee]

The same subject is being discussed here:
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/vi...hp?p=8978#8978

Don't be sorry. For more explanations and examples, go here:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/...ry&msg=15318.1

:)