Je suis en advance de cinq minutes

Question

I thought I’d sorted this out already but evidently not. I believe that the answer I gave in the heading is, according to the lecture notes, correct. Correction welcome. So why was it marked wrong and the correct answer given as “je suis avec cinq minutes d’avance”? I’m fine with this answer too but why was my answer marked as incorrect?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Richard,
"Je suis en avance de cinq minutes" / "Je suis arrivé avec cinq minutes d'avance / cinq minutes en avance" are indeed correct. Without the full test question, it is rather difficult to answer as to why you were marked incorrect. 
This sort of query is best posted via the Helpdesk using the "Report it" button on your Correction board. I will transfer your query directly to the Helpdesk this time though ;-)
Merci et bonne journée !

Answer

Not sure without the full question - but with 'avec' in the correct response, it looks like the answer that would be expected with être arriver or être venir.

The other correct alternative, if listed as an option, then would have been "Je suis arrivé/venu cinq minutes en avance", - different word order required to the response you used.

Are you sure it wasn't one of these 2 verbs - arriver or venir - in passé composé being tested ?

You have writen 'advance' in your question, but guessing this was a multi-choice question, and that is just a typo above rather than a potential reason for being marked incorrect ?