Learn French: L'historien est absorbé par cette découverte au point qu'il oublie la notion du temps. - The historian is absorbed by this discovery to the point that he loses track of time.

L'historien est absorbé par cette découverte au point qu'il oublie la notion du temps.

The historian is absorbed by this discovery to the point that he loses track of time.

Breakdown of L'historien est absorbé par cette découverte au point qu'il oublie la notion du temps.

Questions & Answers about L'historien est absorbé par cette découverte au point qu'il oublie la notion du temps.

Why is oublie in the indicative mood here? Shouldn't a phrase ending in que take the subjunctive?

The phrase au point que (to the point that) expresses a consequence or a result that is an actual, established fact. Because it describes something that is really happening, it triggers the indicative mood. You would only use the subjunctive if the consequence were a hypothetical goal, such as with pour que (so that).

Could I use à tel point que instead of au point que in this sentence?

Absolutely. You could say ...à tel point qu'il oublie... and the meaning remains exactly the same. À tel point que is just slightly more emphatic, translating closer to "to such a point that." Both are consequence connectors that require the indicative mood.

The translation says "loses track of time," but literally oublie la notion du temps means "forgets the notion of time." Is this the standard idiom?

Yes! While English uses "to lose track of time," French typically uses oublier la notion du temps or perdre la notion du temps. Both are completely natural ways to describe being so engrossed in something that time slips your mind.

Why do we use par in absorbé par cette découverte instead of de?