English course

Lesson 206 of 240

New here? This is lesson 206 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Start hereHow this works

Taking a day off in English

Ana needs Friday off. Mr. Kowalski is coming to fix the faucet at her apartment, so she has to be home.

She walks into Marcus's office at the studio downtown. He likes a short plan. She keeps it clear.

By the end, you'll ask for a day off, give a reason, and say who will take the work.

I'd like to take Friday off is the polite way to start.

By the end of this lesson

Ask your boss for a day off and give a reason.

  • I'd like to take Friday off.I want Friday as a free day.
  • I have an appointment that morning.I need to be somewhere that morning.
  • I'll finish my work before I go.I'll complete the work first.
  • Who should I hand this off to?Who can take this work while I'm out?
  • I already told the team.The others already know the plan.
  • Thanks for letting me take it.Thank you for approving my day off.

Scene — a short plan at the desk

Same downtown studio. Ana stands by Marcus's desk. He has a rolled set of drawings under one arm.

She needs Friday off. Mr. Kowalski is coming for the faucet on Larch Street, and she has to be home.

Marcus looks up and waits. He wants a short plan.

Ana stands beside Marcus's desk as he looks up from his work.

Learn — asking for a day off

Six short lines cover asking for Friday off, giving a reason, and asking who can take the work.

You'll also thank your boss after they say yes.

  1. Ana makes a polite open-palm request while Marcus listens.

    I'd like to take Friday off.

    I want Friday as a free day.

    When to use it: Say this to your boss when you want a free day.

    I'd like is a polite start, said as one piece.

    Say it: Stress like, not I'd.

  2. Ana gestures toward her plain wristwatch as she explains she has a morning commitment.

    I have an appointment that morning.

    I need to be somewhere that morning.

    When to use it: Give this as your reason for the day off.

    Appointment is a planned time to meet someone.

    Say it: The stress is on point.

  3. Ana arranges work papers into a neat stack as she plans to finish them first.

    I'll finish my work before I go.

    I'll complete the work first.

    When to use it: Tell your boss the work will be done first.

    I'll is I will, said as one piece.

    Say it: I'll sounds like one short word.

  4. Ana gestures toward the drawings and asks who can take the work while she is away.

    Who should I hand this off to?

    Who can take this work while I'm out?

    When to use it: Ask who can take your work while you are out.

    This is about work, not moving a thing.

  5. Ana indicates the team workstations as she confirms the others know the plan.

    I already told the team.

    The others already know the plan.

    When to use it: Say this to show your coworkers already know.

    Told is the past tense of tell.

  6. Ana offers Marcus a quiet, appreciative thank-you after he approves her day off.

    Thanks for letting me take it.

    Thank you for approving my day off.

    When to use it: Say this after your boss says yes to the day off.

    Letting me take it thanks them for the yes.

Story — friday is yours

Watch Ana ask Marcus for Friday off. She keeps her plan short, the way he likes.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Marcus looks up from the desk. The whiteboard behind him is blank.
  2. MarcusGood morning.hello before noon
  3. AnaGood morning.hello before noon
  4. MarcusGo ahead. Keep it short.He wants a short plan.
  5. AnaI'd like to take Friday off.I want Friday as a free day.
  6. MarcusOkay. Why Friday?He wants the reason.
  7. AnaI have an appointment that morning.I need to be somewhere that morning.
  8. She means Mr. Kowalski is coming for the faucet.
  9. MarcusAnd the library drawings?He asks about her work.
  10. AnaI'll finish my work before I go.I'll complete the work first.
  11. MarcusCan you make that deadline?He asks if she can finish on time.
  12. AnaI can make that deadline.I can finish it on time.
  13. MarcusDo you know who can take the work?He asks if she has someone for the work.
  14. AnaNo. Who should I hand this off to?She says no, then asks who can take the work.
  15. MarcusSam.He names the person who can take the work.
  16. He sets the drawings down and looks at her.
  17. MarcusDoes the team know?He checks if her coworkers already know.
  18. AnaI already told the team.The others already know the plan.
  19. MarcusFriday is yours.He says yes to the day off.
  20. AnaThanks for letting me take it.Thank you for approving my day off.

Practice — ask and explain

Ten 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 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    I have an appointment that morning.

  3. What do you say?

    You walk into the studio before noon. Marcus looks up and waits for a hello.

  4. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Sam can take it. Friday is yours.

    He names who takes the work, then says yes.

    And you reply with:

  5. Build the line

    Who can take this work while I'm out?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Fill the gap

    The others already know the plan.

    I ____ told the team.

  7. Swap the word

    Tell your boss the work will be done first, not after you leave.

    I'll finish my work ____ I go.

  8. Match the pairs

    English

    I have an appointment that morning.Drop the Simple English here
    Who should I hand this off to?Drop the Simple English here
    I already told the team.Drop the Simple English here
    Thanks for letting me take it.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  9. True or false?

    This line means you will not finish on time.

  10. What do you say?

    You need the finish day for a drawing. Ask Marcus.

Say it — tell marcus

Now you're Ana at Marcus's desk. 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.

  1. MarcusGo ahead. Keep it short.He wants a short plan.
  2. Ana (you)Ask him for Friday as a free day.

    I'd like to take Friday off.

    I want Friday as a free day.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I'd like to take Friday off.I want Friday as a free day.
I have an appointment that morning.I need to be somewhere that morning.
I'll finish my work before I go.I'll complete the work first.
Who should I hand this off to?Who can take this work while I'm out?
I already told the team.The others already know the plan.
Thanks for letting me take it.Thank you for approving my day off.
Next: lesson 207I heard

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these day-off lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your time-off lines ready for work.

Open Yak Cards