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Dialogue 2 Interrupting in a Group Conversation · American English

Joining a group conversation politely: interruptions, turn-taking, and softening words.

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Campos: 0/0 Ejercicios: 0/0 Completado: 0%
Vocabulary Warm-Up: Before you start, warm up with these three quick games. They use words and phrases from this dialogue, so playing them first will help the reading and exercises below feel more familiar.

Vocabulary Warm-Up

Game Vocabulary

All the vocabulary from this lesson's "Vocabulary Ideas" boxes. The games below pick words from this list at random.

Game 1: Memory MatchVocabulary

Find the matching pairs of identical words. Tap a card to hear it read aloud. Click two cards to flip them.

Moves: 0  |  Pairs found: 0/6
Game 2: HangmanVocabulary

Guess the hidden word from this dialogue. You have 6 lives.

● ● ● ● ● ●
_ _ _ _ _ _
 
Game 3: Word SearchVocabulary

Tap the first letter of a word, then tap its last letter (in a straight line: across, down, or diagonal) to find it.

Found: 0/0

    Dialogue 2: Interrupting in a Group Conversation

    Ana...and that's when we realized the flight was actually canceled.
    BenOh no, that's awful. Wait, can I ask—when was this?
    AnaLike, three weeks ago.
    CodySorry, can I jump in? Did you get a refund?
    AnaEventually, yeah.
    BenThat's good at least. Anyway, go on—
    AnaWell, actually that's pretty much the whole story.
    CodyWow. I like traveling, but stuff like that stresses me out.
    Phrases of the day:
    • "Sorry, can I jump in?" — Most common and neutral way to enter a group conversation.
    • "Wait, can I ask...?" — Politely interrupts to ask for information.
    • "Go on / Go ahead" — Gives the turn back to the speaker.
    • "Anyway" — Signals you're going back to the main thread after an interruption.
    • "Actually" — Softens a correction or unexpected information.
    • "Stuff like that" — Generalizes without giving more detail, very common in informal conversation.
    Exercise 2.1: Identify the speaking turnsComprehension

    Who speaks in each turn? (Ana, Ben, or Cody)

    Correct answers:
    1. Ana   2. Ben   3. Ana   4. Cody   5. Ana   6. Ben   7. Ana   8. Cody
    Exercise 2.1B: Personalize the Group Conversation Speaking & Writing

    Complete the group conversation with your own information. Use the vocabulary below for ideas.

    A: ...and that's when we realized .

    B: Oh no, that's awful. Wait, can I ask—when was this?

    A: ago.

    C: Sorry, can I jump in? Did you ?

    A: Eventually, yeah.

    B: That's good at least. Anyway, go on—

    A: Well, actually that's pretty much the whole story.

    C: Wow. I like , but stresses me out.

    Vocabulary Ideas:
    What happened: the flight got canceled, we missed our connection, the hotel lost our reservation, my phone died, we took the wrong bus
    Time (before "ago"): three weeks, a couple of days, two months, six hours, a year
    Action (after "Did you"): get a refund, find another hotel, call the airline, ask for help, get some sleep
    Activity (after "I like"): traveling, hiking, cooking, reading, gaming
    Stressor (before "stresses me out"): traffic, deadlines, crowded places, waiting in line, last-minute changes
    Example Answer:
    A: ...and that's when we realized we missed our connection.
    B: Oh no, that's awful. Wait, can I ask—when was this?
    A: A couple of days ago.
    C: Sorry, can I jump in? Did you find another hotel?
    A: Eventually, yeah.
    B: That's good at least. Anyway, go on—
    A: Well, actually that's pretty much the whole story.
    C: Wow. I like traveling, but last-minute changes stress me out.
    Exercise 2.2: Interruption functionsMatching

    Match each interruption phrase with its function:

    Correct answers:
    "Wait, can I ask...?" → b) Ask for specific information
    "Sorry, can I jump in?" → a) Enter the conversation
    "Go on / Go ahead" → c) Give the turn back
    "Anyway" → d) Return to the main thread
    Exercise 2.2B: Personalize Interruption Phrases Speaking & Writing

    Write your own interruption phrases for each function. Use the vocabulary below for ideas.

    1. Enter the conversation:
    2. Ask for specific information:
    3. Give the turn back:
    4. Return to the main thread:
    Vocabulary Ideas:
    Enter: Sorry to interrupt, but... / Can I say something? / I'd like to add...
    Ask info: Can I ask you something? / I wonder if... / Could you tell me...?
    Give turn: Please continue. / Go ahead. / You were saying?
    Return: As I was saying... / Back to the topic... / So anyway...
    Example Answers:
    1. Sorry, can I jump in?
    2. Wait, can I ask...?
    3. Go on.
    4. Anyway...
    Exercise 2.3: Backchaining practicePronunciation

    Repeat from back to front:

    → in? → jump in? → can I jump in?
    → "Sorry, can I jump in?"
    → ask? → can I ask? → Wait, can I ask...?
    → on → go on → Anyway, go on
    Exercise 2.4: Interruption timingSpeaking

    Practice "entering" at the exact moment. Listen to the dialogue and practice:

    Ana: "...and that's when we realized the flight was actually canceled."

    Ben: "Oh no, that's awful. Wait, can I ask—when was this?" (1-beat pause)

    Your turn: "Sorry, can I jump in?" (practice entering on the beat)

    Record yourself practicing the interruption timing. Don't interrupt mid-word.

    Exercise 3.1: Complete the interruption phrasesGrammar

    Use the words: jump, ask, in, go, anyway, actually

    1. "Wait, can I _______ ? When was this?"
    2. "Sorry, can I _______ in?"
    3. "_______ , go on."
    4. "_______ , that's pretty much the whole story."
    5. "That's good at least. _______ , go on—"
    6. "Well, _______ that's pretty much it."
    Correct answers:
    1. "Wait, can I ask ? When was this?"
    2. "Sorry, can I jump in?"
    3. "Actually , go on."
    4. "Anyway , that's pretty much the whole story."
    5. "That's good at least. Anyway , go on—"
    6. "Well, actually that's pretty much it."
    Exercise 3.1B: Personalize Complete Phrases Speaking & Writing

    Complete each interruption phrase with your own words.

    1. "Wait, can I ask...?"
    2. "Sorry, can I jump in?"
    3. "Actually..."
    4. "Anyway..."
    Vocabulary Ideas:
    Ask: What happened? / When did this happen? / How did it end?
    Jump in: I have a question. / Can I add something? / I'd like to say something.
    Actually: that's not quite right. / I disagree. / I think you're wrong.
    Anyway: as I was saying... / back to the topic... / let's move on...
    Example Answers:
    1. What happened?
    2. I have a question.
    3. that's not quite right.
    4. as I was saying...
    Exercise 3.2: Order the interruptionGrammar

    Put the phrases in the correct order for a polite interruption:

    ___ "Did you get a refund?"
    ___ "Sorry, can I jump in?"
    ___ "Go on, sorry about that."
    Correct order:
    1. "Sorry, can I jump in?"
    2. "Did you get a refund?"
    3. "Go on, sorry about that."

    Grammar: Interruption Structures

    Structures for interrupting politely:
    • "Wait, can I ask...?" — Ask permission to ask a question.
    • "Sorry, can I jump in?" — Enter the conversation.
    • "Go on / Go ahead" — Give the turn back.
    • "Anyway" — Return to the main thread.
    • "Actually" — Softens a correction.

    Vocabulary: Turn-taking

    Interruption Phrases

    • Wait, can I ask...? Ask permission
    • Sorry, can I jump in? Enter the conversation
    • Go on / Go ahead Give the turn back
    • Anyway Return to the thread

    Softening Words

    • Actually Softens a correction
    • Well Pause to think
    • Like Informal filler
    • Stuff like that Generalize

    Reactions

    • Oh no, that's awful Sympathy
    • That's good at least Relief
    • Wow Surprise
    • Stresses me out It stresses me out
    Writing ExerciseWriting

    Task: Write a short paragraph (5-6 sentences) about a time you had to interrupt a group conversation politely. Try to use at least 3 expressions: "Sorry, can I jump in?", "Wait, can I ask...?", "Anyway", "Actually".

    Example:
    My friends were talking about their trip to the mountains. Sorry, can I jump in? I asked, wait, can I ask how long the hike was? It was about six hours, someone said. Wow, I said, actually I went hiking there last year too. Anyway, go on with your story, I told them, and they continued.

    Personalization & Production

    Exercise: Personal Introduction Speaking

    Task: Write a short introduction to present yourself to someone new.

    Include: your name, what you do, something you like to do, a follow-up question.

    Example:
    1. Hi! I'm Carlos. I don't think we've met.
    2. So, how do you know the host?
    3. I'm in software development.
    4. What about you?
    5. I like traveling to new places.
    Bonus: My Personal Vocabulary Tracker Extra Practice

    Write 5 new words or phrases from this unit that you want to start using. Then write a sentence for each one.

    Save this as your personal dictionary!

    Conversation Questions

    Practice Speaking: Interruptions & Group ConversationsSpeaking

    Discuss these questions with a partner, a study group, or out loud on your own. Try to use the interruption phrases and vocabulary from this lesson ("Sorry, can I jump in?", "Wait, can I ask...?", "Anyway", "Actually").

    1. Have you ever interrupted a conversation by accident? What happened?
    2. How do people politely interrupt each other in your first language? Is it different from English?
    3. Do you find it easy or hard to jump into a group conversation? Why?
    4. Tell a short story about something that went wrong on a trip or at work. Have a partner practice interrupting with "Wait, can I ask...?"
    5. What do you usually say when you want someone to keep talking after a pause?
    6. Have you ever been in a conversation where people kept talking over each other? How did it feel?
    7. In what situations do you feel comfortable enough to interrupt someone?
    8. With a partner: one person tells a short story, the other practices jumping in politely to ask a question.
    9. What's something that "stresses you out" in daily life? Try using "actually" or "anyway" in your answer.
    10. Is it considered rude to interrupt someone in your culture? How does that compare to what you learned today?
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    Last updated: August 2026
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