57592
I understand that しまう means unintended action, or the completion of an action.
However, recently I came across this usage in the comment section on a
website:

```

    遅くなってしまいすみません。
    
```

While I understand this sentence perfectly, one part of it puzzles me greatly.
So far, I've only seen ています, or てます where the い is omitted. Nonetheless, I've
never see a case where ます is omitted. Here's how I'd parse this sentence:

```

    遅い=>遅く
    なる=>なって
    しまう=>しまい（ます）
    +すみません
    
```

After some homework done, I believe てしまい/しまって+すみません/ごめんなさい/etc. is a common
usage. However, I still can't figure out how ます is missing here. Could it be
that some other entirely different grammar is at play here? Please enlighten
me. Thank you. (*Am I allowed to say thank you here?)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-29T11:00:45.503
57590
2018-03-29T12:01:44.203
27674
question
set-phrases keigo
Is ます omitted in "てしまいすみません"
> 「遅{おそ}くなってしまいすみません。」

is a perfectly grammatical and natural-sounding sentence. Nothing is omitted.

In fact, it is ungrammatical to say:

> 「遅くなってしまい **ます** すみません。」

「しま **い** 」 is the 連用形{れんようけい} ("continuative form") of the subsidiary verb
「しま **う** 」.

So, why is the 連用形 used? That is because the sentence does not end there. It
still continues on to say 「すみません」.

As you stated, there are a few ways to say "Excuse me for (verb phrase)."

1) 「Verb + Subsidiary Verb in 連用形 + すみません」

2)「Verb + Subsidiary Verb in te-form + すみません」

3) 「Verb in te-form + すみません」

There is no difference in meaning between those three, but 1) sounds the most
formal, followed by 2) and 3) in that order. The actual sentences will be:

1) 「遅くなって **しまい** すみません。」

2) 「遅くなって **しまって** すみません。」

3) 「遅くなっ **て** すみません。」
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-29T11:40:34.570
57592
2018-03-29T12:01:44.203
2018-03-29T12:01:44.203
57590
answer