Je cours suffisamment vite pour arriver à l'heure.

I run fast enough to arrive on time.

Breakdown of Je cours suffisamment vite pour arriver à l'heure.

• je: I
• courir: to run
• vite: fast
• pour: in order to
• arriver: to arrive
• suffisamment: enough
• à l'heure: on time

Questions & Answers about Je cours suffisamment vite pour arriver à l'heure.

What does suffisamment vite mean in the sentence “Je cours suffisamment vite pour arriver à l'heure”?

It means fast enough. In this sentence, it indicates that the speaker runs at a speed that is adequate to achieve the purpose of arriving on time.

How does the phrase pour arriver à l'heure function grammatically?

The phrase is a purpose clause. The preposition pour is used with the infinitive arriver to express the intended outcome or goal—in this case, to arrive on time. This is similar to saying “in order to arrive on time” in English.

Why is the infinitive arriver used after pour instead of conjugating the verb?

In French, when expressing purpose or intention, you typically use pour followed by the infinitive form of the verb. This structure is equivalent to the English “to + verb” construction, indicating the aim or result of the action.

Can suffisamment be replaced with assez in this sentence, and if so, does it change the meaning?

Yes, suffisamment can be replaced with assez without changing the overall meaning. Both words translate to “enough” in English. While suffisamment vite and assez vite are essentially synonymous, usage might differ slightly depending on formality or regional preference.

Where do the adverbs suffisamment and vite fall in the sentence structure, and why are they placed there?

In French, adverbs generally follow the verb they modify. Here, vite directly follows cours to modify how the action is performed, and suffisamment comes before vite to intensify it. This arrangement—placing the modifying adverb before the main adverb—is typical in French adverbial constructions.