Je suis dix minutes en retard?

alison g.C1Kwiziq community member

Je suis dix minutes en retard?

Can you tell me what is incorrect : Je suis dix minutes en retard? Should it be "je suis en retard de dix minutes"?
Asked 6 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

It is either: 

1) J'ai dix minutes de retard.
I have 10 minutes of delay.

2) Je suis en retard de dix minutes. 
I am in delay of 10 minutes.

Please note that the English translations are only meant as a mnemonic and not real translations.

In French, you either "have xx minutes of delay" or "you are in delay of xx minutes."

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

alison g.C1Kwiziq community member
Thanks Chris but you haven’t really answered my question- is “ je suis dix minutes en retard “ incorrect? Ii is marked down as being so.
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Sorry, I wasn't being entirely clear, I guess. Yes, "je suis dix minutes en retard" is incorrect. The only two possibilites are the ones I cited in my first reply. -- Chris.

Je suis dix minutes en retard?

Can you tell me what is incorrect : Je suis dix minutes en retard? Should it be "je suis en retard de dix minutes"?

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