63 Expressing sympathy
To tell people we are sorry or glad about something which has happened to them, for
example, the loss of a job or a promotion, we can do so by using one of several set
phrases without referring to the event as such, as one would in English, with set
phrases such as ‘I’m so sorry’, ‘I’m glad’. Alternatively, we can refer to the event for
which we are expressing sympathy, in which case we need a construction where
some of the elements will vary according to the context, as in ‘I’m very sorry you
lost your job’ or ‘I’m glad you got that promotion’. This chapter considers both types
of expressions.63.1 Saying one is sorry about something
18.1.4 (p. 85)
63.1.1 Set phrases
¡Lástima!
What a pity!, what a shame!¡Qué pena!
What a pity!, what a shame!¡Qué lástima!
What a pity!, what a shame!¡Es una pena/lástima!
It’s a pity!¡Lo siento (mucho)!
I’m (very) sorry!¡Qué pena tan grande!
What a great pity!¡Lo siento tanto!
I’m so sorry!¡Cuánto lo siento!
I’m so sorry!Lo siento en el alma.
I’m terribly sorry, I’m so sorry.