1.apologize的意思是因做事不周或不当而表示歉意。可指提出掩饰性的情况，以免见怪；也可指坦率承认错误，以作弥补。
2.apologize通常用作不及物动词,表示“向某人道歉”,接to sb; 表示“因某事道歉”,接for sth; 表示“因某事向某人道歉”,则接to sb for sth。
3.apologize也可接that从句,这时用作及物动词,意思是“道歉说…”。apologize还可引出直接引语。
4.apologize在英式英语中也常写作apologise。

apologize for(v.+prep.)
为…道歉,替…道歉 say that one is sorry about (sth or doing sth)
▲apologize for sb/sth
Mrs. Moss apologized for her husband.莫斯太太替她丈夫表示歉意。
He apologized for his mistake.他为自己的错误而道歉。
▲apologize for v-ing
I apologized for stepping on her toes.我因踩了她的脚趾而向她道歉。
He apologized for having kept us waiting for hours.他为让我们等待数小时而向我们道歉。
I must apologize for not answering your letter in time.我为我延误回信向您道歉。

apologize to(v.+prep.)
向某人道歉 say that one is sorry to (sb)
▲apologize to sb
You must apologize to your sister.你必须向你姐姐道歉。
▲apologize to sb for sth/v-ing/wh-clause
He apologized to her for the delay in replying to a letter.他因没有及早回信而向她表示歉意。
She apologized to her teacher for coming to school late.她因迟到向老师道歉。
You must apologize to her for having kept her waiting.让她等了这么久,你应该为此向她表示歉意。
He apologized to her for stepping on her foot.他因踩了她的脚而向她道歉。
I felt constrained to apologize to you for what I had said.我为我所说的话非向你表示歉意不可。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
Did he apologize? 他道歉没有?
You forgot to apologize.你忘记道歉了。
You needn't apologize,Mr. Johnson.约翰逊先生,你没有必要道歉。
If I have made any mistakes,I'm ready to apologize.如有什么错误,我愿意道歉。
The least you can do is to apologize.你至少可以道歉呀。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+that-clause
I must apologize that if I offended you I didn't mean to.我必须向您道歉,如果我冒犯了你,我不是有意的。
▲引出直接引语
“Sorry I haven't called you yet,”Tom apologized.“对不起,我没有叫你,”汤姆道歉说道。

1.我过会儿再向他道歉。
［误］  I'll apologize him later.
［正］  I'll apologize to him later.
［析］  apologize是不及物动词。表示“向某人道歉”要用apologize to sb 的形式,而不能在apologize后直接跟sb。
2.那小孩因打破了我的眼镜而道歉。
［误］  The child apologized to me at breaking my glasses.
［正］  The child apologized to me for breaking my glasses.
我因弄错了这件事而向你道歉。
［误］  I apologized to you to be mistaken about it.
［正］  I apologized to you for my being mistaken about it.
服务员为自己的无礼向顾客道歉。
［误］  The waiter apologized to the customer in being so rude.
［正］  The waiter apologized to the customer for being so rude.
［析］  apologize是不及物动词,表示“因…而道歉”,应该用for引出道歉的原因。

［词源］＜希腊语apologos＜中古法语apologie(因过错而说话)