Expressing sympathy

The most common way to show that you are sad for someone when something bad has happened is to use I’m (so) sorry. or I’m sorry to hear …

Diana told me about your brother’s accident. I’m so sorry.

I heard that Charlie had lost his job, Sara. I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry to hear that your mother died.

I was very sorry to hear that Julia and Marco had split up.

To show that you are sorry when something slightly bad or disappointing has happened, use It’s a shame … or It’s a pity …

It’s a shame you couldn’t come with us last night.

It’s a shame she didn’t pass her exam after all that hard work.

It’s a pity you can’t stay longer.

It’s a pity your mother won’t be there.

Other expressions of sympathy that you might want to use are:

I’m thinking of you.

Our thoughts are with you.

You have my deepest sympathy.

Come back for more blogs on using English in everyday situations: https://blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-learners/learning-english/

All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company, HarperCollins.

Other Articles

Vane, vein or vain?

The words vane, vein and vain are pronounced the same but each has a different meaning. This article explains how each word is used in English. vane Vane is a countable noun. A weather vane is a metal object on the roof of a building which turns round as the wind blows. It is used to … Read More

Proper nouns

Nouns that are really names of particular people, places or things are called proper nouns. Proper nouns and titles are always written with an initial capital letter. They include: The names of specific peopleAnna DicksonMr John MertonUncle Liam Geographical places SpainThe ThamesHome FarmGlen RoadMount Fuji Planets and galaxies JupiterEarthMilky Way Days… Read More

Principle or principal?

Principle is always a noun. A principle is a general rule that someone’s behaviour or ideas are based on. She did not eat meat because it was against her principles. We follow the principle that everyone should be treated equally. Principal can be an adjective. The principal thing or person in a group is the… Read More