[Grammar] Regarding a use of verb

[Joe333]

Sentence: "Please accept my sincere apologies for not able to reply to you sooner."

Two question: Is there any need of verb "being" before the word able? Will the sentence be correct without it?

Regards and thanks

 

[philadelphia]

*Not a teacher

You are right, Razer, "being" is needed before "able to", so "Please, accept my sincere apologies for not being able to reply to you sooner". The infinitive form is "to be able to".

 

[emsr2d2]

Sentence: "Please accept my sincere apologies for not able to reply to you sooner."

Two question: Is there any need of verb "being" before the word able? Will the sentence be correct without it?

Regards and thanks

You need to add "being" if you want to use "able". The sentence is not correct without it.

Please accept my sincere apologies for not being able to reply to you sooner.

However, you could just say "Please accept my sincere apologies for not replying sooner".

 

[Joe333]

Thanks.

 

[philadelphia]

However, you could just say "Please accept my sincere apologies for not replying sooner".

I thought of this as well, the meaning is different though. "For not replying sooner" is just a fact, you did not answer in time for example while "for not being able to reply sooner" would imply that you really wanted to reply but you could not.

 

[Joe333]

You need to add "being" if you want to use "able". The sentence is not correct without it.

Please accept my sincere apologies for not being able to reply to you sooner.

However, you could just say "Please accept my sincere apologies for not replying sooner".

Teacher can this be said like this also "I deeply regret I couldn't reply to you promptly?"

Thanks