Breakdown of Извините за опоздание, мы вышли из дома слишком поздно.
дом
house
мы
we
поздно
late
извините
excuse me, sorry (polite)
Questions & Answers about Извините за опоздание, мы вышли из дома слишком поздно.
In извините за опоздание, why are we using за? Doesn't it usually mean 'behind'?
За followed by the instrumental case does mean 'behind', but here you are seeing за + the accusative case. This combination is used to express an exchange, gratitude, or an apology. It works just like saying 'sorry for' or 'thank you for' in English.
If за takes the accusative case here, why didn't the ending of опоздание change?
Опоздание (lateness/delay) is a neuter noun. For all neuter nouns, as well as inanimate masculine nouns, the accusative case form looks exactly the same as the dictionary (nominative) form.
Why does the sentence use вышли rather than ушли to mean 'left'?
Вышли comes from выйти, which emphasizes the specific action of exiting or stepping out of an enclosed space (thanks to the prefix вы-, meaning 'out'). Ушли focuses more on the fact that someone has departed and is completely gone. Since the sentence talks about stepping out of the house, вышли is the most natural fit.
Why is there an -а at the end of дома in the phrase из дома?