On a packed bus or in a busy café, you often need to ask before sitting down. The standard question is one short line: Is this seat taken?
The phrase: Is this seat taken?
This is how English speakers ask whether a seat is free. Taken is the past participle of take, used as an adjective meaning “occupied”. It is the direct equivalent of «Це місце зайняте?».
- Excuse me, is this seat taken?A polite opener before you sit down.
- Is anyone sitting here?A more casual alternative, common on trains.
Word order follows any yes/no question: is comes before this seat. The word taken never changes: Are these seats taken? Only the verb changes for plural.
How to answer: yes or no
Short answers work well:
- No, go ahead. — the seat is free, so the answer is “no”, it is not taken.
- Yes, it’s taken. — add Sorry or a reason to sound more polite.
- Yes, it’s taken. My friend is coming back.A polite refusal with a reason.
- No, please, have a seat.Friendly and natural.
Similar questions and phrases
- Is this seat free? — asks whether the seat is empty.
- Is this seat reserved? — used in theatres or on transport with booked seats.
- Do you mind if I sit here? — very polite. The usual answer is Not at all.
If you are also ordering at a café, the phrases in Are you ready to order? will come in handy.
A common mix-up: busy
Learners who translate word for word often reach for busy. But Is this seat busy? sounds odd: busy describes people and schedules (I’m busy), lines or phones. For a seat, say taken or occupied.
Check yourself
Say it in English, then reveal the answer:
1.Politely ask a stranger if the seat next to them is taken.
Answer
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
2.Tell someone the seat is free and invite them to sit down.
Answer
No, it’s free. Go ahead.
3.Say the seat is taken because your friend is coming back.
Answer
Yes, it’s taken. My friend is coming back.
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