Signification
To arrive or do something before the expected or scheduled time.
Contexte culturel
The 'quart d'heure de politesse' means you should arrive 15 minutes late to a social dinner, so being 'en avance' is actually discouraged. Punctuality is extremely strict. Being 'en avance' is seen as a sign of great respect and reliability. Business culture is very North American; being 'en avance' for a meeting is expected and appreciated. Social time is more flexible, but formal administration and business increasingly value being 'en avance'.
The 'De' Rule
Always use 'de' when specifying the amount of time you are early. 'En avance de 5 minutes'.
Avoid 'Je suis tôt'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. Remember: People are never 'tôt', they are 'en avance'.
Signification
To arrive or do something before the expected or scheduled time.
The 'De' Rule
Always use 'de' when specifying the amount of time you are early. 'En avance de 5 minutes'.
Avoid 'Je suis tôt'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. Remember: People are never 'tôt', they are 'en avance'.
Dinner Party Rule
In France, being 'en avance' for a home dinner is often considered a bit awkward for the host.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'être en avance'.
Nous _______ de dix minutes pour le film.
We use 'être' + 'en avance' + 'de' [time].
Which sentence is correct for 'I arrived early at the station'?
Choose the best option:
'En avance' is used for punctuality relative to a schedule.
Match the French phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are common variations of the core phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Le train part à 14h. B: Il est 13h30. Nous ________.
Since it's 30 minutes before departure, they are early.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You finished your homework on Monday, but it's due on Friday.
You are ahead of the deadline.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
En Avance vs Tôt
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesNous _______ de dix minutes pour le film.
We use 'être' + 'en avance' + 'de' [time].
Choose the best option:
'En avance' is used for punctuality relative to a schedule.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are common variations of the core phrase.
A: Le train part à 14h. B: Il est 13h30. Nous ________.
Since it's 30 minutes before departure, they are early.
Situation: You finished your homework on Monday, but it's due on Friday.
You are ahead of the deadline.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, you should say 'Je me suis levé tôt'. Use 'en avance' only if you had an appointment.
The opposite is 'être en retard' (to be late).
It is always 'en avance'. No article is used in this fixed phrase.
Yes, you can say 'Le projet est en avance sur le planning'.
Say 'Je suis en avance de dix minutes'.
It is neutral. It can be used in any context, from slang to formal business.
It means someone has ideas or a style that is more advanced than the current era.
Yes, 'arriver en avance' is very common and focuses on the arrival.
In business, yes. In social life, it depends on the region and the event.
In this phrase, no. It is always 'en avance'.
Expressions liées
À l'heure
contrastOn time
En retard
contrastLate
De bonne heure
similarEarly (in the day)
Prendre de l'avance
builds onTo get a head start
En avance sur son temps
specialized formAhead of one's time
