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Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

I'm sorry but/that

http://www.berlitz.co.jp/wm/07/0528.htm

GUEST: I can't sleep with all the noise in the next room. Can you move me to another room?
CLERK: I'm sorry, but there are no other rooms available tonight.

Can I say "I'm sorry that there are no other rooms available tonight"?
  

Top answer

Here is my try: To me, yes. But I see a difference in meaning. I'm sorry, but there are no other rooms available tonight.

— Doll

  • Here is my try: To me, yes.
  • But I see a difference in meaning.
  • I'm sorry, but there are no other rooms available tonight.
  • ---Here you feel sorry emotioanlly.
  • I'm sorry that there are no other rooms available tonight --- This sentence means that you are sorry for the situation of not having any room available.
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3 Answers
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Here is my try:

To me, yes.Emotion: smile But I see a difference in meaning.
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I'm sorry that there are no other rooms available tonight.

Sorry for what.

A better rewrite:

I'm sorry to tell you that there are no other rooms available tonight.
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In this context only 'but' really works, otherwise you are not answering your guests question.

I'm sorry (I would like to move you to another room) but ...

Using 'that' isn't answering their request as you are just apologising for the lack of other rooms. You haven't even told them there aren't any other rooms.
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