tard et retard

Question

hello,
what's the difference between etre en tard, and etre en retard

Answer

Hi Nim - "etre en tard" doesn't exist.

'Tard' expresses the quality of lateness usually with with respect to time of the day or some other event, whereas the 'retard' means late in the sense of being behind a schedule, delayed or dropping behind.

Compare these French expressions with 'tard' with these French expressions with 'retard'.

Notice that 'tard' is an adjective, whereas the expression 'en retard' functions as adverb ('retard' on its own is a noun).

Hope that helps!