Questions & Answers about Pyydän anteeksi, että olen myöhässä.
Why is pyydän used here, and what does it literally mean?
Pyydän is the 1st person singular present form of pyytää (to ask/request). In this fixed apology expression, pyytää anteeksi literally means to ask for forgiveness / to ask (someone) to excuse (you), i.e. to apologize.
- pyydän = I ask / I request
- pyydän anteeksi = I apologize / I’m sorry
What exactly is anteeksi—a noun, an adverb, or something else?
In this usage anteeksi functions like an adverb/particle meaning (I ask) forgiveness / excuse me / sorry. It comes from older/related forms connected to ante (forgiveness, pardon) and is used in several set phrases:
- Anteeksi! = Sorry! / Excuse me!
- Pyydän anteeksi. = I apologize.
- Anna anteeksi. = Forgive me. (imperative: give forgiveness)
Why do we need että in the sentence?
Että is the conjunction that, used to introduce a content clause explaining what you’re apologizing for:
- Pyydän anteeksi, että… = I apologize that… / I’m sorry that…
So että olen myöhässä is the reason/content of the apology.
Why is there a comma before että?