In a writing challenge - I'll be five minutes at most.

BarbaraC1Kwiziq community member

In a writing challenge - I'll be five minutes at most.

In "I can't find my shirt!" this sentence -I'll be 5 minutes at most.- was translated as - J'en ai pour 5 minutes maximum.-

Can someone explain this translation? Is it an expression?  I am not familiar with this construction. My translation was "Je reviens dans cinq minutes au maximum." Would this translation be acceptable? 

Asked 5 years ago
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CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Barbara,

En avoir pour, + time

is an idiomatic expression meaning how long it will take you to do something.

Je passe chez elle, j'en ai pour une heure = I am popping to hers, I'll be about an hour/ it will take about an hour

Je n'en ai pas pour longtemps = I won't be long 

A French person would not use what you suggest to convey the same thing. People would understand what you mean however...

Hope this helps!

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BarbaraC1Kwiziq community member
Merci pour votre explication, Cécile. J’aime beaucoup cette expression, en avoir pour, et je l’ajouterai à ma liste personnelle de vocabulaire.
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Barbara asked:View original

In a writing challenge - I'll be five minutes at most.

In "I can't find my shirt!" this sentence -I'll be 5 minutes at most.- was translated as - J'en ai pour 5 minutes maximum.-

Can someone explain this translation? Is it an expression?  I am not familiar with this construction. My translation was "Je reviens dans cinq minutes au maximum." Would this translation be acceptable? 

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« I'll be 5 minutes at most.If I from Bangalore, India then I would say, "J'habite à Bangalore, en Inde" ? »
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