Part One: Key words for the person interrupting
Try to think of at least one phrase for interrupting including each of the words below. You shouldn’t need to change the words at all (although you can if you like). You may be able to use the same sentence in more than one place below, but please try to think of at least one different one for each key word.
Interrupt
Sorry
Stop
Before
May
If
Just
Minute
Finish
Here
————————————————-
Part Two: Key words for the person who has the turn (Stopping other people interrupting/ Refusing interruption/ Taking the turn back/ Getting back on track)
Just
Say
Can
Finish
Before
Point
Off
On
Any
Where
Compare your phrases with the answer key. Other answers may be possible, so if there are any differences please check if yours is also okay with your teacher.
Test each other in pairs, reading out phrases with one of the words missing until your partner guesses the key word.
Elicit all the phrases for one of the key words above from your partner, helping them if they get stuck.
—————————-
Make turn taking phrases from key words
Part One: Key words for the person interrupting
Suggested answers
Interrupt – Could I interrupt you (for a minute/ moment/ second)?/ Excuse me for interrupting, but…/ I don’t like to interrupt, but…/ I hate to interrupt you, but…/ I’ll interrupt you there./ If I can just interrupt you for a moment, I’d like to…/ Sorry to interrupt, but…/ I know it’s rude to interrupt, but…/ I don’t mean to interrupt, but…/ If it’s okay to interrupt,…/ If you don’t mind me interrupting,…/ Excuse the interruption, but…
Sorry – Sorry for interrupting, but…/ Sorry for butting in, but…/ Sorry for not letting you finish, but…/ Sorry to butt in, but…/ Sorry to interrupt, but…/ Sorry to stop you in full flow, but…/ Sorry, can I just…?
Stop – I’ll stop you there./ Can I stop you there?/ I’m afraid I have to stop you there./ Sorry to stop you in full flow, but… – (NOT Can you stop (talking)?)
Before – Before I forget,…/ Before you go on,…/ Before you move on,…
May – If I may…/ May I interrupt?/ May I(…)?/ This may be a good point to…/ This may be the right time to say…
If – If you think that sounds frightening,…/ If you will allow me to say something,…/ If I may,…/ If it’s okay to interrupt,…/ If you don’t mind me interrupting,…
Just – Can I just say something here?/ Could I just…?/ If I can interrupt for just a second,…/ Just wait until you hear…/ Before you continue, can I just say…
Minute – I’ll let you finish in a minute, but…/ If I can interrupt for just a minute,…
Finish – I’ll let you finish in a minute, but…/ Sorry for not letting you finish, but…
Here – Could I just say something here?/ Can I come in here?/ I’d like to make a point here if I can.
——————————-
Make turn taking phrases from key words
Part Two: Key words for the person who has the turn (Stopping other people interrupting/ Refusing interruption/ Taking the turn back/ Getting back on track)
Suggested answers
Just – (I have) just one more point (to make)./ (Please) just let me finish./ I just want to make one more point before you have your say./ Just one more thing (before you interrupt)./ Can I just finish this point?
Say – I just want to make one more point before you have your say./ I know what you’re going to say./ You probably want to say…, but…/ As I was saying (before I was interrupted),…/ To get back to what I was saying,…/ What was I saying?
Can – I can see that you want to interrupt, but…/ I can see that you want to say something about this, but…/ If I can just finish what I wanted to say,…/ If I can return to the original topic,…/ Perhaps we can talk about that later, but…
Finish – (I’m/ I’ve) nearly finished./ (Please) (just) let me finish./ (Please) allow me to finish./ Can I just finish (my sentence/ this point/ what I was saying)?/ I haven’t (quite) finished (quite) finished what I was saying./ If I can just finish this one point,…/ If you’d allow me to finish…/ That is the next point I want to get to, once I’ve finished…
Before – Before you interrupt,…/ Before you reply,…/ Before you have your say,…
Point – (I have) just one more point (to make)./ I haven’t (quite) finished my point (yet)./ I’ll come on to that point later./ To get back to the point at hand,…/ We seem to be getting off the point.
Off – We seem to be getting off the point./ Carrying on from where I left off,…/ That’s a bit off topic.
On – Shall I carry on?/ To get back on topic,…/ Carrying on from where I left off,…/ Getting on with the point at hand,…
Any – Anyway,…/ Anyhow,….
Where – Where was I?/ Where were we? Oh yes,…
——————————————
PDF for easy saving and printing: Turn taking key words
Related pages
TEFLtastic 