Everyday English · Read, listen and speak
Asking for a Short Break
Ask to pause a shared activity, agree how long to stop and return to the right place afterwards.
Your speaking goal
Request a short break and clearly agree when and where to resume an activity.
Before you start: Imagine studying with a friend at a library table. Choose a short break length and a clear point to return to in the task.
Your six-step practice plan
- Understand: Read the goal and check the useful phrases.
- Listen or read: Follow both roles. Audio is optional.
- Repeat: Say one short line at a time, then join the words smoothly.
- Change details: Replace two details with imaginary ones.
- Role-play: Read the other person’s question, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles.
- Review: Use the “I can” checks below. Repeat any part that still needs help.
Work at your own pace. A clear message matters more than copying a particular accent.
Listen, read and notice
Roles: Noor and Daniel
Browser-generated English voice; availability and sound vary by device. Use the written dialogue if audio is unavailable.
Noor: Could we take a five-minute break? I need a moment to rest.
Daniel: Of course. It’s twenty past three now. Shall we start again at three twenty-five?
Noor: Yes, that works. I’ll get some water.
Daniel: I’ll stay here and finish this sentence.
Noor: Which exercise shall we do when I get back?
Daniel: Exercise four. We’ve finished exercise three.
Noor: Great. I’ll be back at three twenty-five.
Daniel: See you in a few minutes.
Noor: I’m back. Ready to continue with exercise four?
Daniel: Yes. Let’s start with the first question.
Useful phrases and what they do
- Could we take a five-minute break? — Request a short pause with a clear length.
- Shall we start again at ___? — Agree on a return time.
- Where shall we pick up? — Ask at which point to continue.
- Ready to continue with ___? — Check that you can resume the agreed activity.
Say it clearly
Make the return time clear: ‘THREE TWENTY-FIVE’. ‘Break’ sounds like ‘brake’, the device used to slow a vehicle, but the meanings and spellings differ. Pause after the request so the other person can respond.
Build your own replies
Could we take a ___-minute break? → Of course. Let’s start again at ___.
Ask and check
Are we returning to exercise three or starting exercise four? → Starting exercise four.
Common mistakes and alternatives
Use ‘a five-minute break’, with singular ‘minute’ before the noun, but ‘a break for five minutes’, with plural ‘minutes’ after ‘for’. ‘Take a break’ and ‘have a break’ are both natural. Taking a short break pauses the activity; it does not mean cancelling it. In this context, ‘pick up’ means continue from a particular point.
Check what you understood
Answer aloud before revealing each explanation. Natural replies with the same meaning also count.
Question 1
How long is the planned break?
Show answer 1 and explanation
Five minutes, from 3:20 to 3:25. The speakers agree a specific time to resume.
Question 2
Which exercise will they do afterwards?
Show answer 2 and explanation
Exercise four. They have already finished exercise three, so they do not need to restart it.
Question 3
Which is correct: ‘a five-minute break’ or ‘a five-minutes break’?
Show answer 3 and explanation
‘A five-minute break’. In this description before the noun, ‘minute’ stays singular. ‘Can we have a break for five minutes?’ is another natural way to ask.
Your turn: make it a real exchange
Practise alone: read the other person’s line, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles. No partner is needed.
Role A
Ask to pause an imaginary shared activity. Agree a break length and check which part of the task comes next.
Role B
Respond to the request, confirm a return time and help the other person resume at the agreed point.
Make it easier: Keep the model visible and change one detail at a time.
Add a challenge: You need longer than first agreed. Tell the other person before the agreed return time if possible, and discuss a new plan rather than leaving them guessing.
Ready to move on?
Try again with less reading. Use these checks and repeat any part that needs more practice.
- I can ask for a short break.
- I can agree a clear time to return.
- I can confirm where to resume the activity.