Expressing Sympathy and Responding
Sample phrases (from formal to informal)
- A: I am/was deeply/truly sorry to hear about your grandmother. I understand what you're going through right now.
B: Thank you very much. I'm deeply moved/touched.
- A: I was sorry/shocked/upset to hear you didn't win the scholarship. I know how disappointed you must feel.
B: I appreciate your sympathy/kindness. I hope I'll do better next year.
- A: How shocking/awful to hear about your accident. Are you OK?
B: It's very nice/kind of you to be so concerned but really, I'm fine now.
- A: Too bad you didn't get the raise. I was hoping you would!
B: Thanks for your support. Sometimes things don't go the way we want, do they?
See also:
- Greeting People and Responding to Greetings
- Making and Responding to Introductions
- Saying Goodbye
- Making, Accepting and Refusing Invitations
- Thanking People and Responding to Thanks
- Apologizing and Responding to Apologies
- Complimenting and Responding to Compliments
- Getting Attention and Interrupting a Conversation
- Asking for Information and Giving Directions
- Making and Responding to Requests
- Offering to Help and Responding
- Expressing Opinions
- Agreeing and Disagreeing
