A Supplementary Question

William C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

A Supplementary Question

I know that the exercise is about conjugating "devoir" but the second clause is unusual.

You were supposed to go and see her, but something came up. Will there be an separate exercise for this construction?

 ".... but something came up"   .... " ..... mais tu as eu un empéchement"

Asked 5 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi William,

'Avoir un empêchement' means to, have an obstruction, hindrance that stopped you doing something ...

So it can be translated in English by

' to have an emergency''to be unable to do something', or 'something came up' as in the example you quote.

Hope this helps!

 

William C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Is "mais elle a eu un empéchement" also possible here? 

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Tout à fait, William ...

A Supplementary Question

I know that the exercise is about conjugating "devoir" but the second clause is unusual.

You were supposed to go and see her, but something came up. Will there be an separate exercise for this construction?

 ".... but something came up"   .... " ..... mais tu as eu un empéchement"

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