Etre en retard versus Avoir de retard

Question

I was asked to write "I am 10 minutes late" and I wrote "Je suis dix minutes en retard". I was told that this is incorrect, and the correct answer is "J'ai dix minutes de retard". Don't they both mean the same thing? Was I wrong?

Accepted Answer

Check the lesson. It is either one of the two options:
"Je suis en retard de dix minutes" or "j'ai dix minutes de retard".

Answer

Hi Claude,I think that you may find it helpful to consider what être means and that is, a "state of being".So "Je suis en retard (a state of being late) de (by) dix minutes."With "avoir" you have (J'ai) a measurable degree (dix minutes) of lateness (de retard).This works for me, it might help you?Jim

Answer

Commented in the wrong place

Answer

Just had the same thing happen to me! I believe both are correct.