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Lesson 97 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 97 of 238

Can I leave early in Spanish

Justin has a meeting later, but his café shift ends close to that meeting. He needs to explain the time and ask whether he can leave early.

You'll learn to talk about when a meeting starts, say that you can't come in, and ask who is responsible for a task.

Then you'll take responsibility yourself and explain that you'll stay late today. These chunks help you sound clear and dependable at work.

By the end of this lesson

Talk about a meeting time, leaving early, and who is handling a task.

  • La junta es a las ___The meeting is at ___
  • ¿Puedo salir temprano hoy?Can I leave early today?
  • Hoy no puedo ir a trabajarI can't come in today
  • ¿Quién se encarga de ___?Who's handling ___?
  • Me encargo de ___I'm handling ___
  • Hoy me quedo trabajando hasta tardeI'm staying late today

Scene — a busy café

Late afternoon at Café Laurel, with chairs being stacked near the entrance. Justin checks his phone because an important meeting is coming up.

Amanda is heading out for an interview, while Michael needs the café tasks covered before closing.

The Café Laurel team prepares to close while Justin checks his phone, Amanda heads out for an interview, and Michael organizes the remaining café work.

Learn — meetings and responsibilities

These six chunks cover a practical work conversation: a meeting time, an early departure, attendance, and responsibility.

Learn the frame lines as complete pieces, then swap in the task or time you need.

  1. Justin checks his phone and gestures toward an analog wall clock to indicate when the meeting is.

    La junta es a las ___

    The meeting is at ___

    When to use it: Use this to state the scheduled time of a meeting.

    Learn La junta es a las as one piece, then add the time.

    Say it: HOON-tah; a las sounds like ah lahs.

  2. Justin asks permission to leave early with one open hand raised in a polite question.

    ¿Puedo salir temprano hoy?

    Can I leave early today?

    When to use it: Ask permission to leave earlier than usual today.

    Puedo means I can, and salir means to leave or go out.

    Say it: PWEH-doh sah-LEER tem-PRAH-noh oy.

  3. Amanda stands outside the café with an interview portfolio, explaining by phone that she cannot come to work today.

    Hoy no puedo ir a trabajar

    I can't come in today

    When to use it: Say this when you cannot go to work today.

    Ir a trabajar means to go to work; no puedo makes the whole action impossible.

    Say it: oy noh PWEH-doh eer ah trah-bah-HAR.

  4. Michael asks who will handle the remaining café duties while pointing toward several unfinished closing tasks.

    ¿Quién se encarga de ___?

    Who's handling ___?

    When to use it: Ask which person is responsible for a task.

    Se encarga de means is responsible for; add the task after de.

    Say it: kee-EN seh en-KAR-gah deh.

  5. Justin confidently takes responsibility for the remaining work by gathering cleaning supplies and carrying a tray toward the back of the café.

    Me encargo de ___

    I'm handling ___

    When to use it: Use this to accept responsibility for a task.

    Me encargo de means I take care of; add the task after de.

    Say it: meh en-KAR-goh deh.

  6. Michael stays at the café and mops the floor while the chairs are stacked near the entrance.

    Hoy me quedo trabajando hasta tarde

    I'm staying late today

    When to use it: Say this when you will continue working late today.

    Me quedo trabajando means I stay working; hasta tarde means until late.

    Say it: oy meh KEH-doh trah-bah-HAN-doh AH-stah TAR-deh.

Story — an early departure

Justin needs to coordinate his meeting and finish the café work before he leaves today. Listen for each highlighted chunk in a real conversation.

Amanda and Michael already know the situation, and Yako adds one practical question. Turn on Show English if needed when you want extra support.

  1. Late afternoon light crosses the café as Michael checks the closing list.
  2. Michael¿A qué hora es tu junta?What time is your meeting?
  3. JustinLa junta es a las seis.The meeting is at six.
  4. Justin¿Puedo salir temprano hoy?Can I leave early today?
  5. MichaelSí, pero termina la lista antes.Yes, but finish the list first.
  6. Michael¿Vas a trabajar hoy?Are you going to work today?
  7. AmandaHoy no puedo ir a trabajar; tengo una entrevista.I can't go to work today; I have an interview.
  8. Michael¿Quién se encarga de la caja?Who's handling the register?
  9. JustinMe encargo de la caja y las mesas.I'm handling the register and the tables.
  10. Yako¿Te quedas trabajando hasta tarde?Are you staying late working?
  11. MichaelHoy me quedo trabajando hasta tarde.I'm staying late today.
  12. MichaelGracias por tu ayuda, Justin.Thanks for your help, Justin.
  13. JustinMe tengo que ir a las cinco y media.I've got to go at five thirty.
  14. Yako points to the chairs for Michael's late shift.

Practice — schedule the work

Practice starts with listening and matching, then moves into gaps, substitutions, replies, and ordering a short conversation.

Read the English carefully so each answer fits the situation, not just the words.

0 of 12 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    La junta es a las ___Drop the English here
    ¿Quién se encarga de ___?Drop the English here
    Me encargo de ___Drop the English here
    Hoy me quedo trabajando hasta tardeDrop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. Fill the gap

    The meeting is at ___

    La ____ es a las ___

  4. What do you say?

    You have a meeting at six and need permission to leave the café early.

  5. Swap the word

    Change the known task to ask about the register.

    ¿Quién se encarga de ____?

  6. What does it mean?

    Empiezo a trabajar a las ___

  7. Pick the reply

    Michael says:

    ¿Quién se encarga de la caja?

    Who's handling the register?

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    Michael asks who is handling the register, and you accept responsibility for it.

  9. Put the chat in order

    1. MichaelWhat comes first?
    2. Justin…
    3. Michael…
    4. Justin…
    5. Michael…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  10. Build the line

    I can't come in today

    Tap the words in order.

  11. What do you say?

    Michael thanks you after you finish helping with the café tasks.

  12. What do you say?

    The café still needs someone to work late today, and you accept that responsibility.

Say it — ask and answer

Now you're Justin at Café Laurel. Michael asks about the meeting and the remaining tasks, and you answer clearly before leaving the café today.

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

  1. Michael¿A qué hora es tu junta?What time is your meeting?
  2. Justin (you)Tell him the meeting is at six.

    La junta es a las ___

    The meeting is at ___

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
La junta es a las ___The meeting is at ___
¿Puedo salir temprano hoy?Can I leave early today?
Hoy no puedo ir a trabajarI can't come in today
¿Quién se encarga de ___?Who's handling ___?
Me encargo de ___I'm handling ___
Hoy me quedo trabajando hasta tardeI'm staying late today
Next: lesson 98I'm really sorry

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

Review the cards when you need to talk about schedules, tasks, or leaving work.

Open Yak Cards