Why is en used before retard and avance

Question

Thank you very much

Answer

Hi Advika - there's no logic to which prepositions are used in most cases I'm afraid. You just have to learn them by heart. Best wishes, Gruff

Answer

Thank you very much for you timing and help .

Answer

Does this include the use of "de" in the example Je suis d'être en retard"?  I was wondering why there needs to be the "de" before the verb être.  Thank you.

Answer

Hi Robin, I think you missed reading the word désolé in the example with 'de':

"Je suis désolé d'être en retard"

An alternative translation in English might be "I'm sorry about being late" where 'about' is playing a similar role to 'de' (but notice in French the infinitive, être, follows, whereas in English we follow with the present participle in this example).