New here? This is lesson 85 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Excuse me, may I? in English
Ana stops at Danny's food truck on the boulevard. A short line is already there. She needs to wait her turn, and she wants to be polite.
A parent with a stroller comes up. Ana lets them go first.
By the end, you'll interrupt politely, check if you are in line, and take turns.
You say line in the United States, not queue. Do not go in front of people who were there first.
By the end of this lesson
Interrupt politely, wait in line, and take turns.
- Sorry to interrupt.I need to speak while you are talking.
- Are you in line?Are you waiting here for your turn?
- I'll stand behind you.I will wait after you.
- Is it my turn?Am I next?
- You go first.You can speak or go before me.
- Who's next?whose turn is it now?
Scene — the truck window
Saturday on the boulevard. Danny's food truck is open. A short line waits at the window. Ana walks up with her teal tote.
A parent with a stroller stands a little to the side. Murray sits nearby with a black coffee he has not finished. The street is busy, but the truck window is calm.
Learn — line and turns
Six lines help you wait in line and take turns.
You'll also learn a polite way to speak when someone is already talking.
Sorry to interrupt.
I need to speak while you are talking.
When to use it: Say this when you need to speak during a talk.
Use this before you talk, not to skip the line.
Say it: The stress is on the last part.
Are you in line?
Are you waiting here for your turn?
When to use it: Ask this before you wait behind someone.
In the US, people wait in a line, not a queue.
I'll stand behind you.
I will wait after you.
When to use it: Say this after you know they are in line.
I'll is I will, said as one piece.
Say it: I'll is one short sound.
Is it my turn?
Am I next?
When to use it: Ask this when you think you are next.
Use this to check, and do not step up too soon.
Say it: Is and it can link.
You go first.
You can speak or go before me.
When to use it: Say this when you let someone go before you.
This lets them go, and it does not let you cut.
Who's next?
whose turn is it now?
When to use it: Ask this to find whose turn it is.
Who's is who is, said as one piece.
Say it: Who's ends with a z sound.
Story — the stroller
Watch Ana wait at Danny's food truck. She checks the line, then lets a parent go first.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- A short line waits at Danny's truck. A parent with a stroller stands to the side.
AnaExcuse me. Are you in line?She asks for attention, then asks if he is waiting.
MurrayYes. I'm waiting.He is waiting for his turn.- AnaI'll stand behind you.I will wait after you.
- The parent with the stroller rolls closer.
- AnaYou go first.You can speak or go before me.
- StrangerThank you.you say this when someone helps you
- Danny talks to Murray at the window.
DannyTwo with mustard, then.He is finishing Murray's order.- MurrayWell, is it almost ready?He wants his food soon.
- The parent steps up to the window.
- StrangerOne hot dog, please.They order a hot dog.
- Danny keeps talking to the parent.
- AnaSorry to interrupt.I need to speak while you are talking.
- DannyYou're fine. Who's next?She can speak. Then he asks whose turn it is.
- AnaWho is Next? I don't know them.She thinks Next is a person's name.
- DannyI mean, is it your turn?He shortens her mix-up in a kind way.
- AnaIs it my turn?Am I next?
- DannyYeah. For here or to go?Will you eat it here, or take it out.
- AnaFor here, please.I will eat it in this place.
Practice — wait or go
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay short, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Sorry to interrupt.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The person in front says they are in line. You will wait after them.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A person with a stroller is behind you. You offer them your place.
Build the line
Build the line
Am I next?
?
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I need to speak while you are talking.
Sorry to ____.
Match the pairs
English
Sorry to interrupt.Drop the Simple English hereAre you in line?Drop the Simple English hereI'll stand behind you.Drop the Simple English hereWho's next?Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
Swap the word
Swap the word
You work at the truck window. You ask whose turn it is now.
Who's ____?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Danny is looking down at the grill. You need his attention. He is not talking.
Pick the reply
Stranger says:
Pick the reply
You go first.
You can speak or go before me.
And you reply with:
True or false?
True or false?
This asks whose turn it is now.
Say it — your turn to speak
Now you're Ana at Danny's food truck. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- MurrayHi.a friendly hello
- Ana (you)Ask if they are waiting for their turn.
Ask if they are waiting for their turn.
Are you in line?
Are you waiting here for your turn?
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Sorry to interrupt. | I need to speak while you are talking. | |
| Are you in line? | Are you waiting here for your turn? | |
| I'll stand behind you. | I will wait after you. | |
| Is it my turn? | Am I next? | |
| You go first. | You can speak or go before me. | |
| Who's next? | whose turn is it now? |
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