usage of le jour suivant

Question

HiThe English translation of the sentence "Le jour suivant, Ali Baba retourna à la grotte" is Ali Baba returned to the cave the following day. I don't understand why you used future simple instead of passe compose? Thank you.

Accepted Answer

Hi Evelyne,
The form "suivant" is the present participle of the verb suivre.
The conjugation "retourna" is the simple past (third-person singular) of retourner
Le Passé Simple
The simple past is in common usage in speech as an alternative to passé composé.
Not sure if this answers your query or not?
Please repost if you need further support.
Bonne continuation,
Jim

Answer

Probably a direct quote from the story as written in French - passé simple is/was common in literary works (less common in modern works, but still used). It is essentially not used in speech at all.

The lesson you are referencing is B2 level, at which awareness, if not comprehensive knowledge, of passé simple and its use in written French would be expected. If you are truly at A1 level, you are going to come across a lot of grammar and language you don’t know if you go so far out of sequence in learning.