keep/have kept

[Astro-D]

Hello, teachers.

What is the difference between following two sentences?

1 : I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
2 : I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

I guess that I should use the first when someone will wait for me from now on, and I should use the socond when someone has been waiting for me until now................... :?:

Thank you for your time.
Astro-D

 

[Anonymous]

Hello, teachers.

What is the difference between following two sentences?

1 : I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
2 : I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

I guess that I should use the first when someone will wait for me from now on, and I should use the socond when someone has been waiting for me until now................... :?:

Thank you for your time.
Astro-D

Generally speaking, that is correct. However, I'd explain it like this.

1. Use 1 if the person has to continue waiting.This would most likely be followed by a reason that the person has to continue to wait. At the moment that the person no longer has to wait, some people might use 1 also.

2. Use 2 when someone no longer has to wait. You should use sentence number 2 at the moment that the person no longer has to wait. That sentence would not work very well if too much time has passed. It is best used at the time or moment that the person no longer has to wait.

 

[Astro-D]

Thank you, CitySpeak.

Then, when too much time has passed, what should I say?
For example, I kept Tom waiting so long time last month. And now, I want to apologize to him for it.

In such a case, I might say simply "Tom, I kept you waiting so long time last month. I'm sorry." or "I'm sorry that I kept you waiting so long time last month."
These two sentences will work well?

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you, CitySpeak.

Then, when too much time has passed, what should I say?
For example, I kept Tom waiting so long time last month. And now, I want to apologize to him for it.

In such a case, I might say simply "Tom, I kept you waiting so long time last month. I'm sorry." or "I'm sorry that I kept you waiting so long time last month."
These two sentences will work well?

Not quite. I wouldn't use those sentences.

Here is what we can say:

Tom, I'm sorry that I kept you waiting for such a long time last month.

That sentence is fine, but I would add more considering a whole month has gone by.

Tom, I've been meaning to tell you something. I'm sorry I kept you waiting for such a long time last month.

It has taken me a month to finally say something. Please forgive me. I'll be sure to not let it happen again.

Hopefully, it won't take a month for anyone to remember to tell someone something like this.

 

[Astro-D]

Hello, CitySpeak.

Thank you for your comment.
I hope that I will not have to tell someone something like that. :lol:

Astro-D