Le bus arrive à quinze heures.

The bus arrives at three p.m.

Breakdown of Le bus arrive à quinze heures.

• le bus: the bus
• à: at
• arriver: to arrive
• l'heure: the hour

Questions & Answers about Le bus arrive à quinze heures.

Why is the present tense arrive used for a scheduled future event?

French often uses the present for fixed schedules and timetables. Le bus arrive à quinze heures can refer to a timetable fact (today or generally). You could also use the future (arrivera) without changing the basic meaning; the present just sounds natural for timetables.

Can I say Le bus arrivera à quinze heures? What’s the difference?

Yes. Le bus arrivera à quinze heures is perfectly correct and emphasizes the future. The present (arrive) is common for timetables or habitual facts; the future can feel a bit more like a one-off future plan.

How do I ask what time the bus arrives?

Two common ways:

• À quelle heure arrive le bus ?
• Le bus arrive à quelle heure ? (more conversational) You can also ask: Quand arrive le bus ?

Why is it le bus and not un bus?

Le bus uses the definite article to refer to a known, specific bus (for example, the one on a schedule or the next bus you’re expecting). Un bus would mean some bus or any bus. You could also say ce bus (this bus) if you want to point one out specifically.

Why use for time? Could I use , , or ?