Be Sorry To Do vs. Sorry About Something
Cambridge directly records sorry + to-infinitive and sorry about + noun/event, supporting a comparison of the two attested complement patterns.
Use “sorry to do/say/hear…” when the adjective is completed by an infinitive action or event. Use “sorry about something” when the complement names the matter or situation that causes regret or sympathy.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| regret, sympathy, or politeness expressed through an infinitive event/action | sorry + to-infinitive | use the infinitive construction |
| regret or sympathy concerning a named matter or situation | sorry about + noun phrase | use “about” to name the matter |
Quick tests
Action-or-matter test
Is “sorry” followed by an action/event, or are you naming what you are sorry about?
If yes: Use “sorry to + verb.”
If no: Use “sorry about + noun phrase.”
Caveat: Meaning can range from regret to sympathy or polite formula; context still controls the precise interpretation.
Examples
I am sorry to hear about the delay.
The infinitive presents the event connected with the speaker’s reaction.
I am sorry about the delay.
“About” directly names the matter.
She was sorry to cancel and sorry about the inconvenience.
The sentence distinguishes action from matter.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge documents sorry + to-infinitive and sorry about + noun/event as standard patterns.
Style Boundary
Keep about before a noun/event complement; the “to” in sorry to do introduces an infinitive, not the preposition about.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Sorry (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for sorry about + noun/event and sorry + to-infinitive.