Questions & Answers about Pardon, geç kaldım.
Why does the sentence use kaldım (I stayed) instead of a form of 'to be'?
In English, you say 'I am late' using the verb 'to be'. In Turkish, the fixed expression for being late uses the verb kalmak (to stay or remain). So geç kaldım literally translates to 'I stayed late'.
Why is kaldım in the past tense if the English translation is 'I am late' (present tense)?
Turkish often uses the definite past tense (-dı) for a state that has already been reached. Since the delay has already happened by the time you arrive, Turkish treats it as a completed action, even though you are still late in the present moment.
When should I use pardon instead of özür dilerim?
Pardon is an everyday word used for minor apologies, like arriving a few minutes late, trying to get someone's attention, or accidentally bumping into someone. For deeper, more serious apologies, you should use özür dilerim (I apologize).
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