当你有重要事要打断别人的谈话或工作，最好先礼貌地问句：May I have a word with you?　（我可以和你谈一会吗？）。虽然是a word，但不是只说一个字而已，而是一段很简短的对话，或可以说：May I have a quick word with you? / May I have a word in your ear? 通常有这样的要求，谈话内容可能比较私人或秘密，或者也可以用A word if you don't mind.（只是一句话，如你不介意）。

对话
A: Julie, may I have a word with you, please?

A：茱莉，我可否和你谈一会吗？
B: Sorry, I'm a bit tied up at the moment. Can we talk later?

B：对不起，我现在很忙，可否迟些再谈？
A: You said that earlier and I've been waiting all afternoon. I only need 5 minutes to go over this. A：你较早前已这样说过，而我已等了整个下午，我只需要5分钟就足够了。

B:OK , please take a seat.
B：好吧，请坐。

May I have a word with you?即我可否和你谈谈吗？A word两字可不可以改作words? 改作words，意思就完全不同了。

To have a word with somebody. 是和某人谈谈，To have words with somebody. 则是‘和某人吵架’。

例如：He had words with his wife last night.

他昨晚和妻子吵架。