Learn French: J'étais sur le point de m'éclipser, sans compter que le repas devenait insupportable. - I was about to slip away, not to mention that the meal was becoming unbearable.

J'étais sur le point de m'éclipser, sans compter que le repas devenait insupportable.

I was about to slip away, not to mention that the meal was becoming unbearable.

Breakdown of J'étais sur le point de m'éclipser, sans compter que le repas devenait insupportable.

Questions & Answers about J'étais sur le point de m'éclipser, sans compter que le repas devenait insupportable.

Why does sans compter que take the indicative (devenait) here instead of the subjunctive?

Even though phrases with sans often trigger the subjunctive (like sans que), sans compter que introduces a solid, undeniable fact to strengthen an argument. Because it translates closer to 'besides the fact that', it takes the indicative. The meal actually was becoming unbearable, so we use the imperfect devenait.

How does s'éclipser differ from just using partir (to leave)?

S'éclipser literally means 'to eclipse oneself'. It is a colorful, advanced way to say 'to slip away' or 'to sneak out'. It emphasizes leaving quietly and unnoticed, which makes sense if the speaker is trying to escape an awful meal without drawing attention.

Why use j'étais sur le point de rather than j'allais (I was going to)?

The expression être sur le point de means 'to be on the verge of' or 'to be about to'. It highlights extreme immediacy. Using j'allais m'éclipser just means 'I was going to slip away' at some point, whereas j'étais sur le point de means the escape was happening right that very second.

Why is devenait in the imperfect tense instead of the passé composé (est devenu)?

The imperfect tense is used for ongoing background situations in the past. The meal didn't suddenly become unbearable in a single, completed flash. It was an ongoing, gradual process ('was becoming') that was happening at the exact same time the speaker was preparing to sneak out.