why use du?

T. T.C1Kwiziq community member

why use du?

Bonjour,

I noticed that in the video attached above, sometimes du is used rather than de with retard, for example - J'ai eu du retard / Le train a du retard.

While in this lesson, it mentions that "avoir (5 minutes) de retard". 

Is it when   "avoir ... de retard" uses with no specific time, the "de" can change to "du" ?  

Merci d'avance!

Tecla

Asked 4 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Yes, your observation is correct. Let's have a look at those two constructions:

J'ai du retard. -- I am late. (literally: I have some lateness) This sentence uses the partitive article, just like you would in j'ai du pain (I have some bread).

J'ai 5 minute de retard. -- I am 5 minutes late. (literally: I have 5 minutes of lateness). Specifying an amount of "lateness" doesn't require the partitive article. Just like you would say, j'ai une tranche de pain (I have 1 slice of bread).

T. T.C1Kwiziq community member

Thanks Chris! It's very helpful!

T. T. asked:View original

why use du?

Bonjour,

I noticed that in the video attached above, sometimes du is used rather than de with retard, for example - J'ai eu du retard / Le train a du retard.

While in this lesson, it mentions that "avoir (5 minutes) de retard". 

Is it when   "avoir ... de retard" uses with no specific time, the "de" can change to "du" ?  

Merci d'avance!

Tecla

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