Everyday Situations
At School — May I come in, Ma’am?
These are the most common things you say at school every single day! From asking permission to enter the classroom to talking about homework — master these 5 dialogues and feel confident in school.
Indian schools have special phrases like ‘May I come in, Ma’am?’ and ‘Present, Ma’am!’ — learn them all here!
💬 Dialogue 1: Aarav is late to class
📍 Aarav is late to class. He stands at the door and asks permission.
👦 Aarav:May I come in, Ma’am?
क्या मैं अंदर आ सकता हूँ, मैडम?
👩🏫 Teacher:Yes, Aarav. Come in. Why are you late today?
हाँ, आरव। अंदर आओ। आज देर क्यों हुई?
👦 Aarav:I am sorry, Ma’am. My school bus was late.
मुझे माफ़ी चाहिए, मैडम। मेरी स्कूल बस देर से आई।
👩🏫 Teacher:Alright. Please take your seat. Don’t be late again.
ठीक है। कृपया अपनी सीट पर बैठो। दोबारा देर मत करना।
👦 Aarav:Yes, Ma’am. Thank you, Ma’am.
जी, मैडम। धन्यवाद, मैडम।
👩🏫 Teacher:Open your textbook to page 25. We are reading a story today.
अपनी किताब का पेज 25 खोलो। आज हम एक कहानी पढ़ रहे हैं।
👦 Aarav:Yes, Ma’am!
जी, मैडम!
✏️ Your Turn — Fill in the Blanks
May I in, Ma’am?
I am , Ma’am.
Please take your .
💬 Dialogue 2: During class, Priya needs to go to the washroom
📍 During class, Priya needs to go to the washroom.
👧 Priya:Excuse me, Ma’am. May I go to the washroom?
मैडम, क्या मैं washroom जा सकती हूँ?
👩🏫 Teacher:Yes, Priya. But please come back quickly.
हाँ, प्रिया। लेकिन जल्दी वापस आना।
👧 Priya:Yes, Ma’am. I will be quick. Thank you!
जी मैडम। मैं जल्दी आऊँगी। धन्यवाद!
👩🏫 Teacher:Take the washroom pass with you.
Washroom pass लेकर जाओ।
👧 Priya:Yes, Ma’am.
जी, मैडम।
👩🏫 Teacher:And Priya — please walk, don’t run in the corridor.
और प्रिया — कृपया गलियारे में चलो, दौड़ो मत।
👧 Priya:Okay, Ma’am. I will walk.
ठीक है, मैडम। मैं चलूँगी।
✏️ Your Turn — Fill in the Blanks
May I go to the ?
Please come back .
Please , don’t run.
💬 Dialogue 3: The teacher takes attendance at the start of the day
📍 The teacher takes attendance at the start of the day.
👩🏫 Teacher:Good morning, class! Let me take the attendance. Aarav?
सुप्रभात, बच्चों! चलो हाज़िरी लेते हैं। आरव?
👦👧 Students:Present, Ma’am!
उपस्थित, मैडम!
👩🏫 Teacher:Priya?
प्रिया?
👦👧 Students:Present, Ma’am!
उपस्थित, मैडम!
👩🏫 Teacher:Rahul? … Rahul? He is absent today.
राहुल? … राहुल? वो आज अनुपस्थित है।
👦👧 Students:Ma’am, Rahul is not well. He has a fever.
मैडम, राहुल की तबियत ठीक नहीं है। उसे बुखार है।
👩🏫 Teacher:Oh, I hope he gets well soon. Thank you for telling me.
अरे, मुझे उम्मीद है वो जल्दी ठीक होगा। बताने के लिए धन्यवाद।
👦👧 Students:Yes, Ma’am.
जी, मैडम।
💬 Dialogue 4: Meera doesn’t understand something in the lesson
📍 Meera doesn’t understand something in the lesson.
👧 Meera:Ma’am, I have a question.
मैडम, मेरा एक सवाल है।
👩🏫 Teacher:Yes, Meera? What is your question?
हाँ, मीरा? तुम्हारा क्या सवाल है?
👧 Meera:Ma’am, I did not understand this word. What does ‘enormous’ mean?
मैडम, मुझे ये शब्द समझ नहीं आया। ‘Enormous’ का मतलब क्या है?
👩🏫 Teacher:‘Enormous’ means very, very big. Like — the elephant is enormous!
‘Enormous’ का मतलब है बहुत बड़ा। जैसे — हाथी enormous है!
👧 Meera:Oh! So my school building is also enormous?
ओह! तो मेरी स्कूल की इमारत भी enormous है?
👩🏫 Teacher:Yes, exactly! Very good, Meera! You learn fast.
हाँ, बिल्कुल! बहुत अच्छा, मीरा! तुम जल्दी सीखती हो।
👧 Meera:Thank you, Ma’am!
धन्यवाद, मैडम!
💬 Dialogue 5: Arjun forgot to do his homework
📍 Arjun forgot to do his homework.
👦 Arjun:Ma’am, I am sorry. I forgot to do my homework.
मैडम, मुझे माफ़ करें। मैं अपना होमवर्क करना भूल गया।
👩🏫 Teacher:Arjun, this is the second time this week!
अर्जुन, इस हफ्ते ये दूसरी बार है!
👦 Arjun:I am really sorry, Ma’am. I will complete it tonight.
मुझे सच में बहुत खेद है, मैडम। मैं आज रात पूरा कर लूँगा।
👩🏫 Teacher:Please make sure you do. Homework is very important.
कृपया ज़रूर करना। होमवर्क बहुत ज़रूरी है।
👦 Arjun:Yes, Ma’am. I will set a reminder on my notebook.
जी, मैडम। मैं अपनी नोटबुक में याद लिख लूँगा।
👩🏫 Teacher:Good idea! Now please sit down and pay attention.
अच्छा विचार! अब कृपया बैठो और ध्यान दो।
👦 Arjun:Yes, Ma’am. Sorry again.
जी, मैडम। फिर से माफ़ी।
📖 Key Vocabulary
Permission
अनुमति — Approval to do something
Attendance
हाज़िरी — Checking who is present
Present
उपस्थित — Being there, not absent
Absent
अनुपस्थित — Not being there
Homework
गृहकार्य — School work done at home
Textbook
पाठ्यपुस्तक — School study book
Corridor
गलियारा — Hallway in school
Enormous
विशाल — Very very big
Reminder
याद दिलाना — Something to help remember
Understand
समझना — To know the meaning
🗣️ Key Phrases to Remember
- “May I come in, Ma’am?” — Ask permission to enter class क्या मैं अंदर आ सकता/सकती हूँ?
- “May I go to the washroom?” — Ask to use the toilet क्या मैं washroom जा सकता/सकती हूँ?
- “I am sorry, Ma’am.” — Apologize to the teacher मुझे माफ़ी चाहिए, मैडम।
- “I have a question.” — When you want to ask something मेरा एक सवाल है।
- “I did not understand.” — When something is unclear मुझे समझ नहीं आया।
📐 Grammar Spotlight: "May I…?" — Asking Permission Politely
Use ‘May I’ to ask permission politely
‘May I’ is the most polite way to ask permission. It’s more formal than ‘Can I’. In Indian schools, always use ‘May I’ with teachers.
✅ May I come in? (enter class)
✅ May I go to the washroom? (use toilet)
✅ May I ask a question? (ask something)
✅ May I borrow your pen? (use someone’s pen)
✅ May I sit here? (take a seat)
✅ May I go to the washroom? (use toilet)
✅ May I ask a question? (ask something)
✅ May I borrow your pen? (use someone’s pen)
✅ May I sit here? (take a seat)
❌ Can I come in? ❌ (Less polite — use ‘May I’ with teachers)
🎭 School Day Role Play!
- One person is ‘Student’, the other is ‘Teacher’.
- Student knocks and says: ‘May I come in, Ma’am/Sir?’
- Teacher asks why the student is late. Student gives a reason.
- Student asks a question during the lesson. Teacher explains.
- Student asks permission for the washroom. Teacher gives rules.
- Switch roles! Try different situations from the dialogues.
❓ Quiz — Test Yourself!
1. How to ask permission to enter class?
2. What do you say during attendance?
3. How to ask to go to the washroom?
4. If you forgot homework, say:
5. How to ask about a difficult word?
6. Teacher says ‘Don’t run in the corridor.’ You reply:
7. ‘May I ___ in, Ma’am?’
8. Rahul is not in school today. He is:
❓ FAQ
How to ask permission in English at school?
Use ‘May I…?’ — May I come in? May I go to the washroom? May I borrow your pen? ‘May I’ is more polite than ‘Can I’ and preferred in Indian schools.
What to say if you’re late to class?
Say: ‘May I come in, Ma’am? I am sorry I am late. My bus was late / I was not feeling well.’ Always apologize and give a reason.
How to answer during attendance?
Say ‘Present, Ma’am!’ or ‘Present, Sir!’ clearly and loudly. If a friend is absent, you can say ‘Ma’am, [name] is absent today.’
What if I don’t understand something?
Raise your hand and say: ‘Ma’am, I have a question.’ or ‘Ma’am, I did not understand this. Could you please explain again?’
How to apologize for not doing homework?
Say: ‘I am sorry, Ma’am. I forgot to do my homework. I will complete it tonight.’ Be honest and promise to do better.