How to change plans or cancel an arrangement in English without ruining the relationship will be taught at the British Skylines school
In any case, when you have to talk about changing your plans, you may offend another person. As in any other language, English also has phrases that can soften the situation. You can learn all about them by signing up for individual English lessons in Kyiv, and some of them will be discussed below.
«I'm sorry, I have to cancel» – «Sorry, I have to cancel». This simplest phrase carries the biggest secret. Start with an apology. Always. Be assured, if you start with an apology, then saying that you have to cancel the meeting will be much easier. But such a wording may seem harsh to your friend or business partner. It is better to inform them of the change of plans with a degree of formality, slightly detached – as your secretary would put it: «I'm sorry, I have to cancel my appointment tomorrow» – «I'm very sorry, but I have to cancel my meeting tomorrow».
«I'm sorry, I can't make it» – essentially, this phrase has the same meaning as the previous one – «I have to cancel» but it is more informal. It is better to use it when you are talking about changing an arrangement with a friend or colleague. For example, if you were planning to meet for dinner, you can say: «I'm sorry, I can't make it tonight» – «I'm very sorry, but I can't do it tonight». At the same time, you should be ready to give reasons why you cannot do what you had previously agreed upon. Because after your apology, a question like «Really? Why can't you?» will usually follow. And you will have to come up with something.
If you do not want to be asked «why?», you can cancel the arrangement using the phrase «I'm sorry, I can't make it» – «I'm very sorry, I can't do it», and then add – «Something has come up» – «Something has come up». This phrase means that something has happened that you cannot talk about, which made your plans impossible. Most native English speakers know: when you say this phrase, they should not ask questions about the reason for the cancellation.
«I was really looking forward to seeing you, but...» – «I was really looking forward to seeing you, but...» – this phrase is a good informal way to tell someone that you cannot be where you promised without offending them. Saying «I was really looking forward to our meeting» means that you are very serious. After all, no one would want to feel that the other person does not care. Then you can finish this phrase with any of the above statements: «I was really looking forward to seeing you, but… something came up» (or give any other explanation).
«Can we reschedule?» – «Can we reschedule?». After you have canceled a meeting, it is important to try to set a new time. This is especially important when you have canceled a business meeting. Since you are the one asking to cancel the meeting, now it is your responsibility to try to arrange it at another time. Therefore, after cancellation, it is better to immediately ask about the possibility of rescheduling. This is not only polite but also convenient.
The English language courses at our school British Skylines will always help you navigate business negotiations correctly and be not only smart but also polite.
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