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Lesson 122 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 122 of 238

Can we push it back? in Spanish

The time you agreed on suddenly doesn't work. You don't need to cancel, though: you can explain the problem and suggest meeting later that same day.

You'll learn to say that a time won't work, ask to move it back, and warn someone you might arrive late.

Megan can still come, so the plan survives with a small change.

By the end of this lesson

Say that a time does not work, suggest a later time, and warn that you may be late.

  • A esa hora no puedoI can't do that time.
  • ¿Está bien si nos vemos más tarde?Is it okay if we meet later?
  • ¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?Can we push it back a bit?
  • Puede que llegue un poco tardeI might be a little late.
  • Hoy ya no me queda bienToday doesn't work anymore.
  • Me equivoqué de horaI got the time wrong.

Scene — a changed plan

Justin is messaging Megan from Café Laurel about meeting later today. The original time clashes with something unexpected.

Megan is still available, but Justin may arrive late if they move the plan. They want to keep the plan for today.

Justin sits at a café table, messaging Megan about keeping their meeting today but moving it later.

Learn — move it later

These six chunks help you adjust a plan without canceling it.

Notice how Spanish can make the message softer with phrases like “puede que” and “un poco.”

  1. Justin raises one hand in an apologetic refusal while checking his phone, indicating that the original meeting time does not work for him.

    A esa hora no puedo

    I can't do that time.

    When to use it: Say this when a suggested time does not work for you.

    A esa hora means at that time; learn the whole chunk together.

    Say it: AH EH-sah OH-rah noh PWEH-doh

  2. Justin gently gestures toward a later point on a simple blank timeline while asking Megan to meet later.

    ¿Está bien si nos vemos más tarde?

    Is it okay if we meet later?

    When to use it: Use this to politely suggest meeting later than the planned time.

    Más tarde means later, and nos vemos means we see each other or meet.

    Say it: es-TAH byen see nohs VEH-mohs mahs TAR-deh

  3. Justin slides a coffee cup and his phone slightly to the right, visually suggesting pushing the meeting back a little.

    ¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?

    Can we push it back a bit?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to move an appointment or plan later.

    Pasarlo means move it; un poco makes the change sound small.

    Say it: poh-DEH-mohs pah-SAR-loh oon POH-koh mahs TAR-deh

  4. Justin hurries toward the café entrance while checking his phone, clearly suggesting he may arrive a little late.

    Puede que llegue un poco tarde

    I might be a little late.

    When to use it: Say this when you think you may arrive after the agreed time.

    Puede que introduces a possibility, so it means might rather than definitely will.

    Say it: PWEH-deh keh YEH-geh oon POH-koh TAR-deh

  5. Justin looks at the original plan with a resigned expression and turns his open hands outward, showing that today no longer works in its original form.

    Hoy ya no me queda bien

    Today doesn't work anymore.

    When to use it: Use this when today no longer fits your schedule.

    Me queda bien means it works for me; ya no changes it to no longer.

    Say it: oy yah noh meh KEH-dah byen

  6. Justin taps his forehead in realization while looking at his phone, showing that he got the meeting time wrong.

    Me equivoqué de hora

    I got the time wrong.

    When to use it: Say this when you made a mistake about the scheduled time.

    Me equivoqué is the past form for I made a mistake.

    Say it: meh eh-kee-voh-KEH deh OH-rah

Story — the same day

Justin and Megan adjust their meeting instead of canceling. Watch how he explains the problem, suggests a later time, and gives a warning.

The highlighted chunks are today's lines. Turn on Show English if you need help.

  1. It is late morning, and Justin checks his messages before leaving Café Laurel.
  2. Megan¿Qué hora te queda bien?What time works for you?
  3. JustinMe equivoqué de hora.I got the time wrong.
  4. Megan¿Nos vemos a las seis?Shall we meet at six?
  5. JustinA esa hora no puedo.I can't do that time.
  6. Justin¿Está bien si nos vemos más tarde?Is it okay if we meet later?
  7. MeganSí, está bien. ¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?Yes, that's okay. Can we push it back a bit?
  8. JustinSí, podemos. Puede que llegue un poco tarde.Yes, we can. I might be a little late.
  9. YakoHoy ya no me queda bien, pero más tarde sí.Today doesn't work anymore, but later does.
  10. MeganEntonces quedamos para más tarde.So let's say later.

Practice — adjust the time

You'll listen for the meaning, choose useful replies, fill gaps, and swap one time expression for another.

The final activities ask you to build and answer naturally.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    ¿Está bien si nos vemos más tarde?Drop the English here
    ¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?Drop the English here
    Puede que llegue un poco tardeDrop the English here

    English

  3. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    Today doesn't work anymore.

    Hoy ya no me ____ bien

  4. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You realize you misunderstood the scheduled time and want to explain the mistake.

  5. Swap the word

    Swap the word

    You want to ask whether meeting later is okay.

    ¿Está bien si nos vemos ____?

  6. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    Puede que llegue un poco tarde

  7. Pick the reply

    Megan says:

    Pick the reply

    ¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?

    Can we push it back a bit?

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You want to suggest moving the meeting later by a small amount instead of canceling.

  9. Build the line

    Build the line

    I might be a little late.

    Tap the words in order.

  10. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    Megan suggested six, and you want to find out which time suits her before proposing another time.

  11. Build the line

    Build the line

    I'm staying late today

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — keep the plan

Now you're Justin, and Megan will help adjust the plan. Follow the exchange and say each highlighted line when prompted.

Tap ▶ to hear the model line first, then tap the microphone. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Megan¿Nos vemos a las seis?Shall we meet at six?
  2. Justin (you)Say that you can't do six.

    Say that you can't do six.

    A esa hora no puedo

    I can't do that time.

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
SpanishEnglishPlay
A esa hora no puedoI can't do that time.
¿Está bien si nos vemos más tarde?Is it okay if we meet later?
¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?Can we push it back a bit?
Puede que llegue un poco tardeI might be a little late.
Hoy ya no me queda bienToday doesn't work anymore.
Me equivoqué de horaI got the time wrong.
Next: lesson 123What did you do this weekend

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these scheduling chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

Review the cards when you need to adjust a plan without canceling it.

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