{"id":50894,"date":"2019-05-07T01:15:11","date_gmt":"2019-05-07T01:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/aee\/aee-1151-should-you-use-the-phrase-i-beg-your-pardon\/"},"modified":"2023-04-25T15:45:37","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T15:45:37","slug":"aee-1151-should-you-use-the-phrase-i-beg-your-pardon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allearsenglish.com\/aee-1151-should-you-use-the-phrase-i-beg-your-pardon\/","title":{"rendered":"AEE 1151: Should You Use the Phrase I Beg Your Pardon?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Have you ever heard somebody say \u201cI beg your pardon\u201d?<\/p>\n

Does this seem like an unusual phrase to use and is it a bit confusing?<\/p>\n

Do you wan to find appropriate ways to apologize in English?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to break down this phrase, how and when you might use it, and then give you some great alternatives as well. <\/p>\n

We have a listener question about this interesting and unique phrase.<\/p>\n

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Hi Lindsay and Michelle,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I want to tell you that I just love your podcast. I listen to you while working out and so many other times. I always listen to you before an interview or call in English, and this helps me to be more confident.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I have a question for you. I ran into an expression I\u2019d never heard before: \u201cI beg your pardon\u201d. I want to know if it\u2019s something commonly used. If it is, I\u2019d like to know if it is a formal or an informal one. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d thank you so much if you can tell other ways of apologizing, and the situations they can be used in. I really appreciate your time and I hope you can shed some light on this. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks guys for your help!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ernesto Rocha <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The Different Uses For This Phrase<\/strong><\/p>\n

To say \u201cI beg your pardon\u201d can be a bit more formal in conversation.<\/p>\n

You may typically hear it in conversation if you are asking somebody to repeat themselves, such as if you didn\u2019t quite hear them.<\/p>\n

It may be part of British English<\/a>, but it\u2019s definitely a phrase that has been around for awhile.<\/p>\n

This phrase has a few different uses, according to the dictionary:<\/p>\n

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  1. The one we covered: Asking someone to repeat themselves, such as you didn\u2019t hear them.<\/li>\n
  2. Disagreeing with someone<\/li>\n
  3. Apologizing: Not for something that is a big deal\u2013the dictionary says apologizing for a \u201cslight mistake\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For the purposes of this lesson, we will focus on the last one which pertains to apologizing.<\/p>\n

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    A Formal Way of Apologizing<\/strong><\/p>\n

    This is a formal sounding way to apologize. <\/p>\n

    If someone said this to you, it would definitely feel impersonal and more professional in nature.<\/a><\/p>\n

    If you break up the phrase it would be \u201cI beg\u201d meaning I ask, and then \u201cyour pardon\u201d meaning to forgive me.<\/p>\n

    This is a phrase that would typically be used for something smaller in nature.<\/p>\n

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    What are some potential situations where you might use this? <\/strong><\/p>\n