Why is je me levée en retard wrong when je suis déjà en retard is righ?

Julia M.A2Kwiziq community member

Why is je me levée en retard wrong when je suis déjà en retard is righ?

This question relates to:French lesson "late"
Asked 5 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

You would probably choose one of these examples if you wanted to say that you got up behind of schedule:

Je me lève tard. -- I got up late.Je me lève avec du retard. -- I get up behind schedule.

The construction Je suis déjà en retard means I am already behind schedule. It is a different construction: être en retard. Here the verb is être. In the example you ask about, the verb is se lever, which requires a slightly different way of phrasing.

Julia M.A2Kwiziq community member

Hmmm. Not real clear but I sort of get it.  To be late is different then to get up late in French. 

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I don't think there's anything wrong with "Je me suis levée en retard". On the other hand, "avec du retard" sounds more like "with a delay", which doesn't seem to fit here.

Why is je me levée en retard wrong when je suis déjà en retard is righ?

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