[Grammar] in the middle

[vpkannan]

Hi,

'Don't speak in the middle.'

Is the above sentence correct?

Thanks.

 

[Tarheel]

I think you need more words there. In the middle of what?

 

[Tdol]

Don't interrupt might work here.

 

[vpkannan]

The situation is like this:

A person is seriously trying to explain something to his boss; and his co-worker frequently interrupts and says something else to the boss. Now, the first person says the following to his co-worker:

1. Don't speak in the middle.
2. Don't speak in the middle of my talk with the boss.
3. Don't speak in between (my talk with the boss).
4. Don't interrupt my talk with the boss.
5. Don't interrupt/disturb while I am talking to the boss.

Which one is natural English?

Thanks.

 

[Tarheel]

Don't interrupt me!
Don't talk while I'm talking.

 

[Tdol]

Which one is natural English?

5 is natural and the only one of these that I would use. 1 is the worst.

 

[Rover_KE]

5 is good with interrupt, but not with disturb.

 

[Tdol]

I think it could work with disturb if the person is speaking to the boss in an office and doesn't want the other person to come in.

 

[GoesStation]

Anybody who said that at my company would be at risk of being fired on the spot.