Spanish grammar
Turn-taking: perdone que le interrumpa, déjeme terminar, si me permite…
Take the floor, interrupt politely and hold on to your turn.
From the scene Perdone que le interrumpa (Sorry to interrupt you)
In short
Take turns politely: perdone que le interrumpa, déjeme terminar, si me permiten, vayamos al grano, a eso iba.
Your turn
Which one goes with let me finish (usted)?
Options: déjeme terminar · perdone que le interrumpa · si me permiten
Show answer
let me finish (usted) → déjeme terminar
How it works
Perdone que le interrumpa (sorry to interrupt you) takes the subjunctive because you apologise for an action.
Good to know
Déjeme terminar is an usted command and vayamos al grano a "let's" command.
Good to know
Si me permite(n) asks politely for the floor, and a eso iba means "I was just getting to that".
sorry to interrupt you (usted) perdone que le interrumpa
Elena
Perdone que le interrumpa. Tiene ciento doce.
Sorry to interrupt you. It's a hundred and twelve.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Tiene ciento doce.
Options: Si me permiten · Perdone que le interrumpa · Déjeme terminar
Show answer
Elena
Perdone que le interrumpa. Tiene ciento doce.
Sorry to interrupt you. It's a hundred and twelve.
let me finish (usted) déjeme terminar
Ramón
Doña Elena, déjeme terminar, por favor.
Doña Elena, let me finish, please.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Doña Elena, (blank), por favor.
Options: si me permiten · déjeme terminar · perdone que le interrumpa
Show answer
Ramón
Doña Elena, déjeme terminar, por favor.
Doña Elena, let me finish, please.
if you (all) will allow me si me permiten
let's get to the point vayamos al grano
Ramón
Bueno, vayamos al grano. La pregunta es: ¿vendo o no vendo?
Right, let's get to the point. The question is: do I sell or not?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Bueno, (blank). La pregunta es: ¿vendo o no vendo?
Options: vayamos al grano · perdone que le interrumpa · déjeme terminar
Show answer
Ramón
Bueno, vayamos al grano. La pregunta es: ¿vendo o no vendo?
Right, let's get to the point. The question is: do I sell or not?
I was just getting to that a eso iba
Elena
¡A eso iba! Si me permite...
I was just getting to that! If you'll allow me...
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¡(blank)! Si me permite...
Options: A eso iba · Perdone que le interrumpa · Déjeme terminar
Show answer
Elena
¡A eso iba! Si me permite...
I was just getting to that! If you'll allow me...
Common mistake
Not interrumpir or interrumpirá here. Yo (Elena) → usted (Ramón).
Perdone que le interrumpa. Tiene ciento doce.
Sorry to interrupt you. It's a hundred and twelve.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| sorry to interrupt you (usted) | perdone que le interrumpa |
|---|---|
| let me finish (usted) | déjeme terminar |
| if you (all) will allow me | si me permiten |
| let's get to the point | vayamos al grano |
| I was just getting to that | a eso iba |
More lines from the story
- ElenaPerdone que le interrumpa otra vez, pero lo compró su abuela.Sorry to interrupt you again, but your grandmother bought it.
- NuriaLo siento, Don Ramón. Se le ha acabado el tiempo.Sorry, Don Ramón. Your time is up.