Question 1

Why is soit arrivé used here instead of the standard passé composé (est arrivé)?

Accepted Answer

The phrase Je suis soulagé que expresses an emotion, which automatically triggers the subjunctive mood for the verb that follows. Because the action of arriving happened before the feeling of relief, you must use the past subjunctive (le subjonctif passé) to show that anteriority, rather than the present subjunctive.

Question 2

Why is the auxiliary verb soit instead of ait?

Accepted Answer

The past subjunctive is formed exactly like the passé composé, just with the auxiliary verb conjugated in the subjunctive mood. Because arriver is a verb of movement that requires être as its auxiliary, you must use the subjunctive form of être (soit) combined with the past participle (arrivé).

Question 3

Would it be wrong to translate 'on time' literally as sur le temps instead of à l'heure?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it would be incorrect. In French, à l'heure is the fixed expression for being punctual or arriving 'on time'. Translating the English phrase word-for-word as sur le temps sounds unnatural and does not mean 'on time' to a French speaker.

Question 4

I've seen the word interview used in French. Why does this sentence use entretien?

Accepted Answer

In French, une interview is strictly used for media or journalistic interviews, such as a reporter speaking with a celebrity. For a job interview or a formal professional meeting, the correct term is un entretien (which is often short for un entretien d'embauche).

Je suis soulagé qu'il soit arrivé à l'heure pour l'entretien.

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