The idea
Dürfen asks permission and is the politest modal for interrupting. Nachfragen bei means to ask a follow-up question about something; in “bei der Reihenfolge” bei takes the dative. Erfolgen is a formal verb meaning to take place, typical in workplace German. Sonst introduces the risk: “Sonst plane ich die Bestellung womöglich zu früh”; womöglich means possibly. “Klären wir …” with the verb first is a suggestion to the group.
Other ways to say it
“Entschuldigung, dass ich kurz unterbreche.” – Neutral and polite; a common opener before your question.
“Eine kurze Zwischenfrage, bitte.” – Neutral; Zwischenfrage is a question asked mid-discussion.
“Kurz zum Verständnis: Kommt die Freigabe vor der Bestellung?” – Neutral and efficient; signals a clarification, not an objection.
Examples
- Darf ich kurz bei der Reihenfolge nachfragen?May I briefly ask about the sequence?
- Ja, welcher Schritt ist noch unklar?Yes, which step is still unclear?
- Muss die Freigabe vor der Bestellung erfolgen?Does approval have to happen before the order?
- Das sollten wir ausdrücklich festhalten.We should record that explicitly.
- Sonst plane ich die Bestellung womöglich zu früh.Otherwise I might schedule the order too early.
- Gut, klären wir diese Abhängigkeit sofort.Good; let us clarify that dependency immediately.
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Watch out
“Kann ich kurz unterbrechen dich?” → “Darf ich dich kurz unterbrechen?”: With a modal verb, the infinitive goes to the end and the object pronoun comes early, right after the subject. Dürfen is also more polite than können when asking permission.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: May I briefly ask about the sequence?
Show answer or example answer
Darf ich kurz bei der Reihenfolge nachfragen?
Darf ich opens the yes-no question, kurz softens it, “bei der Reihenfolge” (dative) names the topic, and the separable infinitive nachfragen stays whole at the end.
Put the words in order: Bestellung / der / die / erfolgen / Freigabe / Muss / vor
Show answer or example answer
Muss die Freigabe vor der Bestellung erfolgen?
Muss with the formal verb erfolgen asks whether an order of steps is required. Vor der Bestellung is vor plus dative for time.
Write this sentence in German: Good; let us clarify that dependency immediately.
Show answer or example answer
Gut, klären wir diese Abhängigkeit sofort.
“Klären wir” with the verb first is a group suggestion, like let us. Gut acknowledges the point before the decision.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: May I briefly ask about the sequence?
Darf ich kurz bei der Reihenfolge nachfragen?
Put the words in order: Bestellung / der / die / erfolgen / Freigabe / Muss / vor
Muss die Freigabe vor der Bestellung erfolgen?
Write this sentence in German: Good; let us clarify that dependency immediately.
Gut, klären wir diese Abhängigkeit sofort.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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In a meeting about a move, you are unsure whether the IT must be set up before the furniture arrives. Interrupt politely and ask the question in two sentences.