Is the example question here correct?

Gilberts I.B2Kwiziq community member

Is the example question here correct?

In example question 1 of this lesson, you say: "Croyez-vous qu’il arrive bientôt ? Oui, ... crois." (Do you believe he'll get there soon? Yes, I believe so.)

Doesn't "Croyez-vous qu’il arrive bientôt?" mean "Do you think it's coming soon?".

Shouldn't it be "Croyez-vous qu'il y arrivera bientôt?"

Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Croyez-vous qu'il arrive bientôt? -- Do you think he'll arrive soon. To which the reply is:
Oui, je le crois. -- Yes, I believe so.

The object of the lesson is to teach the use of le to refer back to a previously mentioned idea. In this case, le (or the "so" in English) refers back to the previously mentioned question of whether he'll arrive soon or not.

Croyez-vous qu'il y arrivera bientôt? -- Do you think he will arrive there soon?

This sentence is grammatically correct but has a slightly different meaning. Using y, it specifically refers to a location which is not the one at which the speaker is. Secondly, using future simple tense (arrivera), it refers to a more distant future than the present tense in French (remember, present tense in French is also used to talk about things about to happen soon).

Dan B.C1Kwiziq community member

Follow up question -- Is the arrive in the present subjunctive, implying doubt that he will arrive soon?

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

HI Dan, 

Sorry I missed your follow-up question. 

The answer is that you are correct in your thinking.

Bonne Continuation !

Is the example question here correct?

In example question 1 of this lesson, you say: "Croyez-vous qu’il arrive bientôt ? Oui, ... crois." (Do you believe he'll get there soon? Yes, I believe so.)

Doesn't "Croyez-vous qu’il arrive bientôt?" mean "Do you think it's coming soon?".

Shouldn't it be "Croyez-vous qu'il y arrivera bientôt?"

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