Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This Spanish language lesson teaches intermediate learners how to express gratitude and apologies using key phrases such as "Te agradezco por" and "Quiero disculparme por." It explains their grammatical structure and provides contextual examples to enhance understanding and practical use.
  1. We use "te agradezco por" or "estoy agradecido por" to express gratitude.
  2. We use "quiero disculparme por" or "lamento que" to express apology.
  3. In both cases, the expressions are followed by a sentence or a noun that indicates the reason for the gratitude or the apology.
TipoExpresiónEjemplo
AgradecimientoTe agradezco por...Te agradezco por tu actitud optimista al tratar este problema. (Thank you for your optimistic attitude when dealing with this problem.)
Estoy (muy) agradecido por...Estoy muy agradecido por el respeto que demostraste en esa acción. (I am very grateful for the respect you showed in that action.)
DisculpaQuiero disculparme por...Quiero disculparme por el humor con el que me puse ayer. No fue apropiado. (I want to apologise for the mood I was in yesterday. It was not appropriate.)
Lamento (mucho)...Lamento mucho mi actitud pesimista. No supe soportar bien la situación. (I deeply regret my pessimistic attitude. I couldn’t handle the situation well.)

Exercise 1: Estructuras para expresar agradecimiento y disculpa

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

disculparme, agradecido, Lamento, agradezco, Quiero disculparme

1. Agradecimiento (agradecer):
Estoy muy ... por tu actitud positiva llena de optimismo.
(I am very grateful for your positive attitude full of optimism.)
2. Disculpa (agradecer):
Quiero ... por haber tratado la situación con tan poca paciencia.
(I want to apologise for having handled the situation with so little patience.)
3. Disculpa (agradecer):
... por el mal humor con el que me puse al tratar el tema.
(I want to apologise for the bad mood I got into when discussing the topic.)
4. Disculpa (lamentar):
... mucho haber perdido el humor en ese momento tan difícil.
(I deeply regret having lost my sense of humour at such a difficult moment.)
5. Agradecimiento (agradecer):
Estoy muy ... por el sentimiento de apoyo que siempre me das.
(I am very grateful for the feeling of support you always give me.)
6. Agradecimiento (agradecer):
Te ... por soportar mi pesimismo cuando me puse a pensar en lo peor.
(I thank you for putting up with my pessimism when I started thinking of the worst.)
7. Disculpa (disculpar):
Quiero ... por la percepción equivocada que tuve sobre tu acción.
(I want to apologise for the mistaken perception I had about your action.)
8. Disculpa (agradecer):
... mucho haber herido tus sentimientos con mi actitud.
(I am very sorry for having hurt your feelings with my attitude.)

Expressing Gratitude and Apologies in Spanish

This lesson focuses on useful Spanish structures for expressing gratitude and apologies at an intermediate (B1) level. Learning these expressions is essential for effective communication in everyday and professional contexts, allowing you to politely acknowledge kindness or admit mistakes.

Key Expressions for Gratitude

To express thanks, you will learn phrases like "Te agradezco por" and "Estoy (muy) agradecido por". Both are followed by a reason explaining what you appreciate. For example:
Te agradezco por tu actitud optimista al tratar este problema.
Estoy muy agradecido por el respeto que demostraste en esa acción.

Key Expressions for Apologies

To apologize, common phrases include "Quiero disculparme por" and "Lamento (mucho)", similarly followed by the reason for the apology. Examples are:
Quiero disculparme por el humor con el que me puse ayer. No fue apropiado.
Lamento mucho mi actitud pesimista. No supe soportar bien la situación.

Structure and Usage

In both cases, the expressions precede a clause or noun phrase that specifies why you are grateful or sorry. This clarity enriches your communication and helps you sound natural.

Comparison with English

English speakers might use "I thank you for..." or "I am grateful for..." which directly mirror the Spanish phrases. Apologizing with "I want to apologize for..." or "I regret..." also has close equivalents. However, Spanish often emphasizes the verb form "agradecer" and the phrase "quiero disculparme", which are reflexive and more formal than casual English apologies. Using these correctly will enhance both politeness and fluency.

Additional Tips

  • Practice the phrases aloud to get comfortable with pronunciation and rhythm.
  • Remember the importance of tone to convey sincerity.
  • Use these structures when writing emails or speaking to express respect and empathy.

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