54.1.3 ¿Se puede?
On its own, the expression¿Se puede? is used when seeking permission to enter a
room, as in ‘May I (come in)?’¿Se puede? – Sí, pase.
May I/we (come in)? – Yes, come in!
¿Se puede? – ¡Adelante!
May I/we (come in)? – Come in!54.1.4 Dejar+ infinitive
This expression with dejar, ‘to let’, is also very frequent when seeking permission to do
something, especially in an informal context, with a verb in the familiar form, but it is
also heard in formal situations. There are two alternative ways of using this
construction:54.1.4.1 Imperative form of dejar, with an object pronoun attached to it:
Déjame usar tu bicicleta.
Let me use your bicycle.
Por favor, déjeme llamar a casa.
Please, let me call home.Dejadnos pasar.
Let us go through.16.1.1.6 (p. 62); 8.2 (p. 36)
54.1.4.2 Present of dejar with an object pronoun preceding the verb, normally in an
interrogative sentence with a rising intonation. This construction is as common as the
preceding one, but it is regarded as more polite than the first. Compare these sentences
with the ones above, and note the way in which they translate in English.
¿Me dejas usar tu bicicleta?
Will you let me use your bicycle?
Por favor, ¿me deja llamar a casa?
Will you let me call home please?¿Nos dejáis pasar?
Will you let us go through?54.1.5 Importar/molestar que+ subjunctive
This construction with importar/molestar, ‘to mind’, is less common than the
previous ones, and it tends to be used more in formal than in informal contexts. In this
context, importar and molestarare used in the third person singular (i.e. importa/
molesta), normally in the present, and they must be preceded by an object pronoun,
signalling the person one is seeking permission from. The sentence is interrogative,
as it corresponds to a request.68.1.6 (p. 383)
Seeking permission 54.1