Learn Hardcore French: Puisque nous sommes en avance, nous prenons un café. - Since we are early, we’re having a coffee.

Both express cause, but puisque means “since/given that” and assumes the reason is already known or obvious to both speakers. Parce que is a neutral “because,” giving a new explanation. Your sentence uses puisque to justify a decision based on an accepted fact (being early).

Can puisque mean “since” in the time sense (from a point in time)?

No. Temporal “since” is depuis or depuis que. Use puisque only for causal “since/given that.” For time: Depuis que nous sommes arrivés, nous attendons.

Is the comma after the puisque-clause required?

When the reason clause comes first, a comma is common and recommended: Puisque nous sommes en avance, … If the main clause comes first, a comma is usually not used: Nous prenons un café puisque nous sommes en avance.

Could I replace puisque with comme here?

Yes. Comme at the start of a sentence also means “since/as” (cause already understood): Comme nous sommes en avance, nous prenons un café. It’s very natural.

What about car?

Car means “for/because” and is more formal. It typically follows the main clause: Nous prenons un café, car nous sommes en avance. Starting with car is uncommon in modern style.

Does puisque trigger the subjunctive?

No. Puisque takes the indicative because it states a real, known reason: puisque nous sommes (not subjunctive).

Why is it the present tense nous prenons and not a future form?

French simple present often covers English present progressive: “we’re having/grabbing.” You could also say a near future: Nous allons prendre un café (“we’re going to have a coffee”) if it’s about an immediate plan.

Can I use on instead of nous?

Yes. In speech, on is the usual “we”: Puisque on est en avance, on prend un café. In writing or formal contexts, nous is preferred.

Why être en avance and not something with avoir?

French says “to be early” with être: être en avance; and “to be late” with être en retard. You can also say avoir de l’avance (“to be ahead / have a head start”), but that’s a different nuance.

What’s the difference between en avance, tôt, and à l’avance?

En avance: early relative to a specific time/appointment (you arrived earlier than planned).
Tôt: early in the day/clock time (it’s early).
À l’avance: beforehand/in advance (you did something ahead of time).
Also note Merci d’avance (“thanks in advance”).

Why prendre un café and not boire un café?

Both exist. Prendre un café is the idiomatic way to say “have/grab a coffee,” often implying the social act or a quick stop. Boire du café focuses on the act of drinking coffee (possibly quantity/habit).

Why is it un café and not du café?

Un café refers to one serving/cup. Du café is partitive (“some coffee,” an unspecified amount). Compare: Nous prenons un café (each has a coffee) vs. Nous buvons du café (we drink coffee, in general or some amount).

Is café masculine, and does the accent matter?

Yes, café is masculine: un café. The acute accent on the final é is required. It refers to both the drink and, by context, a café (the place): On se voit au café ?

Could I make it a suggestion like “Let’s have a coffee”?

Yes. Use the 1st person plural imperative: Puisque nous sommes en avance, prenons un café. Colloquially: On prend un café ?

Is the word order reversible?

Yes. Both are fine:

Puisque nous sommes en avance, nous prenons un café.
Nous prenons un café puisque nous sommes en avance. Fronting the reason with puisque gives it more emphasis.

Any pronunciation tips for the sentence?

puisque: [pɥisk(ə)]—the “u” + “i” makes a glide [ɥ]; you may hear a faint schwa at the end.
nous sommes en has a liaison: sommes en → [sɔm‿zɑ̃].
prenons: [pʁə.nɔ̃] (final -s silent, nasal -on).
un: [œ̃] (nasal).
café: [ka.fe] (accented é).

How do you spell and conjugate prendre here?

Present tense (note the stem change):

je prends / tu prends / il prend
nous prenons / vous prenez
ils prennent
Your form is nous prenons (one “n”).

Can I specify how early we are?

Yes: Puisque nous sommes en avance de dix minutes, … or Nous avons dix minutes d’avance, alors…

Any register or style notes?

Puisque and comme (initial) are natural in both speech and writing; car is more written/formal.
In casual speech, switch to on: Puisqu’on est en avance, on prend un café.
The comma after an initial reason clause aids readability.