Your goal
Offer an alternative when you cannot keep an appointment
Acknowledge the difficulty and offer another available time. Do not stop at an apology or confirm a new appointment without a reply.
Before you start
- 죄송하지만
- a polite way to introduce an apology and continue
- 대안
- another option when the original is difficult
- 대신
- instead; as an alternative
- 사과하다
- apologize for a mistake or inconvenience
- 어렵다
- be difficult or not workable
- 모레
- the day after tomorrow
Explore the situation
| Model information | Details |
|---|---|
| 원래 약속 | 오늘 오후 두 시 · 한국어 공부 |
| 현재 상황 | 오늘 그 시각에 회의가 있어요. |
| 내가 가능한 대안 | 내일 오후 두 시 |
| 상대방 가능 여부 | 아직 모름 |
The role explicitly cannot keep today’s meeting. Tomorrow works for the speaker, but the other person’s availability is still unknown.
Learn the expressions
| Step | Short expression |
|---|---|
| 사과와 어려움 | 죄송하지만 오늘은 갈 수 없어요. |
| 필요한 이유 | 회의가 있어요. |
| 대안 제안 | 대신 내일 오후 두 시는 괜찮아요? |
| 답을 확인한 뒤 | 네, 내일 오후 두 시에 만나요. |
Use 죄송하지만 to introduce the difficult news. You can also split it as 죄송해요. 오늘은 갈 수 없어요. This lesson practises the joined introduction.
| Reply | Next response |
|---|---|
| 내일 오후 두 시 좋아요. | 네, 내일 오후 두 시에 만나요. |
| 내일은 어려워요. | 언제 괜찮아요? |
| 아직 시간을 모르겠어요. | 괜찮은 시간을 다시 말해 주세요. |
Read the conversation
Apology and alternative
죄송하지만 오늘은 갈 수 없어요. 회의가 있어요. 대신 내일 오후 두 시는 괜찮아요?
Show meaning
I’m sorry, but I can’t come today. I have a meeting. Would tomorrow at 2 p.m. work instead?
네, 내일 오후 두 시 좋아요.
Show meaning
Yes, tomorrow at 2 p.m. is fine.
When another option is needed
미안해요. 내일은 어려워요.
Show meaning
Sorry, tomorrow does not work for me.
언제 괜찮아요?
Show meaning
When would work for you?
모레 오후 세 시는 괜찮아요.
Show meaning
The day after tomorrow at 3 p.m. works.
Build a sentence
Change the card details and try a sentence before revealing the example. Then assemble the sentence pieces.
Change the facts and express them
From apology to proposal
- Today’s conflict
- 회의 때문에 갈 수 없어요.
- My alternative
- 내일 오후 두 시
- Reply
- No reply yet
Example and explanation
죄송하지만 오늘은 갈 수 없어요. 대신 내일 오후 두 시는 괜찮아요?
Apologize, offer another option, and ask.
Response to the alternative
Works
- Other person
- 내일 오후 두 시 좋아요.
Example and explanation
네, 내일 오후 두 시에 만나요.
Confirm the same time they accepted.
Does not work
- Other person
- 내일은 어려워요.
Example and explanation
언제 괜찮아요?
Negotiate another alternative.
Not sure yet
- Other person
- 아직 시간을 모르겠어요.
Example and explanation
괜찮은 시간을 다시 말해 주세요.
Wait for the information; do not confirm yet.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Use 죄송하지만 to say you cannot come today.
Sentence pieces
- 오늘
- 갈 수 없어요.
- 죄송하지만
- 은
2. Ask whether an alternative time works.
Sentence pieces
- 내일
- 두 시
- 괜찮아요?
- 대신
- 오후
- 는
Practice
Choose a response that fits the situation using the expressions you learned.
1. Which apologizes while stating you cannot come?
- 죄송하지만 어제 갔어요.
- 죄송하지만 오늘은 갈 수 없어요.
- 오늘은 갈 수 있어요.
2. What does this alternative-time question do?
- confirm alone
- report the other person refused
- ask whether another time works
3. Tomorrow does not work. What is the next response?
- 언제 괜찮아요?
- 그럼 내일 만나요.
- 내일로 바꿨어요.
4. Original Friday; alternative Saturday. Which phrase fits?
- 금요일 때문에 토요일을 만나요.
- 금요일 대신 토요일에 만나요.
- 토요일 대신 금요일에 만나요.
Try a new situation
Use the new role information. Write the required details in Korean and try saying them.
Tasks
Try the tasks first, then compare with the answers and examples in step 10.
1. New situation: you cannot come Friday. Introduce the news with 죄송하지만.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
2. Offer Saturday at 4 p.m. Use 대신 and ask if it works.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
3. Saturday also does not work. Ask for another suitable time.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
4. The other person offers Sunday at 2 p.m., which works for you. Agree and confirm.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
Check your learning
Read the new conditions and distinguish the key information.
1. The person only says sorry. What information is still missing?
- an apology
- that speaking has begun
- the difficulty and an alternative
2. The reply accepts Saturday at 4 p.m. Choose the confirmation.
- 토요일 오후 네 시에 만나요.
- 금요일 오후 네 시에 만나요.
- 토요일 오전 네 시에 만나요.
3. Today is impossible because of a meeting. Which keeps the facts?
- 오늘은 회의가 없어서 만나요.
- 회의 때문에 오늘은 만날 수 없어요.
- 비가 와서 오늘은 만날 수 없어요.
4. The other person does not yet know tomorrow’s availability. Choose a response.
- 내일은 무조건 괜찮아요.
- 이미 만났어요.
- 괜찮은 시간을 다시 말해 주세요.
5. You still want to meet; only today is difficult. Which offers an alternative?
- 대신 내일은 괜찮아요?
- 다시는 만나지 않아요.
- 오늘도 괜찮다고 했어요.
6. Which continuation fits the apology in this situation?
- 상대방이 답하지 않았으니 거절이에요.
- 오늘은 갈 수 없어요. 대신 내일은 괜찮아요?
- 이미 동의했으니 오늘로 바꿨어요.
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. Which apologizes while stating you cannot come?
Answer: 죄송하지만 오늘은 갈 수 없어요.
It combines apology and current inability.
- 죄송하지만 어제 갔어요. — A past event does not state the present problem.
- 오늘은 갈 수 있어요. — It says you can come.
2. What does this alternative-time question do?
Answer: ask whether another time works
It is a proposal awaiting an answer.
- confirm alone — A question alone does not confirm it.
- report the other person refused — No refusal is stated.
3. Tomorrow does not work. What is the next response?
Answer: 언제 괜찮아요?
Ask for another possible time.
- 그럼 내일 만나요. — This ignores the refusal.
- 내일로 바꿨어요. — It claims an unagreed change is completed.
4. Original Friday; alternative Saturday. Which phrase fits?
Answer: 금요일 대신 토요일에 만나요.
Put the original before 대신, the alternative after it.
- 금요일 때문에 토요일을 만나요. — This does not express the replacement.
- 토요일 대신 금요일에 만나요. — The original and alternative are reversed.
Learning check
1. The person only says sorry. What information is still missing?
Answer: the difficulty and an alternative
Add the situation and a workable alternative.
- an apology — The apology is already expressed.
- that speaking has begun — The conversation began, but the relevant details are missing.
2. The reply accepts Saturday at 4 p.m. Choose the confirmation.
Answer: 토요일 오후 네 시에 만나요.
Keep the accepted day and p.m. time.
- 금요일 오후 네 시에 만나요. — Wrong day.
- 토요일 오전 네 시에 만나요. — A.m./p.m. differs.
3. Today is impossible because of a meeting. Which keeps the facts?
Answer: 회의 때문에 오늘은 만날 수 없어요.
Keep the stated meeting and inability.
- 오늘은 회의가 없어서 만나요. — The meeting status and result are reversed.
- 비가 와서 오늘은 만날 수 없어요. — Rain is not the stated cause.
4. The other person does not yet know tomorrow’s availability. Choose a response.
Answer: 괜찮은 시간을 다시 말해 주세요.
Ask them to confirm the missing information.
- 내일은 무조건 괜찮아요. — You cannot assert their availability.
- 이미 만났어요. — No meeting has been completed.
5. You still want to meet; only today is difficult. Which offers an alternative?
Answer: 대신 내일은 괜찮아요?
Ask about another day to continue planning.
- 다시는 만나지 않아요. — This contradicts wanting to meet again.
- 오늘도 괜찮다고 했어요. — Today was not available.
6. Which continuation fits the apology in this situation?
Answer: 오늘은 갈 수 없어요. 대신 내일은 괜찮아요?
State the difficulty and alternative, then ask.
- 상대방이 답하지 않았으니 거절이에요. — Silence is not refusal.
- 이미 동의했으니 오늘로 바꿨어요. — Agreement and completion are not given.
Example answers
Written responses are examples. Other wording can also meet the same conditions.
1. New situation: you cannot come Friday. Introduce the news with 죄송하지만.
죄송하지만 금요일에는 갈 수 없어요.
죄송하지만 금요일은 갈 수 없어요.
죄송하지만 금요일에 갈 수 없어요.
Give the apology and unavailable day.
2. Offer Saturday at 4 p.m. Use 대신 and ask if it works.
대신 토요일 오후 네 시는 괜찮아요?
대신 토요일 오후 네 시 괜찮아요?
대신 토요일 오후 네 시에 만날 수 있을까요?
The alternative still needs the other person’s answer.
3. Saturday also does not work. Ask for another suitable time.
언제 괜찮아요?
언제 시간이 있어요?
언제 만날 수 있어요?
Negotiate rather than confirm the refused time.
4. The other person offers Sunday at 2 p.m., which works for you. Agree and confirm.
네, 일요일 오후 두 시에 만나요.
일요일 오후 두 시 좋아요. 그때 만나요.
네, 좋아요. 일요일 오후 두 시에 만나요.
Confirm the newly workable Sunday plan.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Use 죄송하지만 to say you cannot come today.
죄송하지만 오늘은 갈 수 없어요.
Follow the apology with the difficulty.
2. Ask whether an alternative time works.
대신 내일 오후 두 시는 괜찮아요?
Give a specific time after 대신.
Review and continue
Come back to these
Recall with the example closed
Offer an alternative when you cannot keep an appointment
Change one detail
Change a person, action or time and make two sentences.
Combine with earlier expressions
Make a short exchange with a question and response.
Review what felt difficult
Review this expressionApologize and offer an alternative →Earlier learningReconnect the foundation →Look separately at activity completion and core learning results.