Giving excuses for being late

It happens. We are late for something. That's when we say sorry and normally give a reason - our excuse for being late.

Sorry - I didn't hear the alarm clock.
The alarm didn't go off.
I slept right through the alarm.
I had to wait ages for a bus.
The bus was late.
The traffic was terrible.
I couldn't find a parking space.
The roads were chockablock.
I got lost coming here.
It's not an easy place to find.

Explanations

• 1, 2 and 3 are all about problems waking up. We blame the alarm clock. 2 shows there was a problem with the alarm clock. 3 shows you were so tired that the alarm didn't wake you up.
• The traffic is often responsible for us being late. 4 says that the bus is responsible - it didn't arrive when it was supposed to. 5 is similar.
• 6 Here we are saying the traffic in general was responsible. You can use this if you are driving or traveling on the bus.
• 7 and 8 are common problems for drivers. 7 means that it was difficult to park.
• We use 8 to say the roads were full of traffic, like when there is a traffic jam.
• 9 and 10 are used when you are visiting a place for the first time and don't know the way.