Language/French/Grammar/y-and-en-in-French-where-the-English-translation-has-no-preposition

y and en in French where the English translation has no preposition

The pronouns EN and Y

Pronouns replace nouns that you don't want to repeat. What do the pronouns en and y replace? When can we use them?

The pronoun replaces a noun introduced by de or by a partitive or indefinite article which expresses an indefinite quantity. The pronoun y replaces a name introduced by à or a place name. To know which pronoun to use, we must then know the structure of the verb. So when you learn a verb, also learn the prepositions that go with it.

Use of EN and Y

The foreign learner of French should remember that the use of y and en is determined by the presence of à or de in the French verb phrase, and should not be misled by an English equivalent which does not have a preposition, e.g.:

• to use something BUT se servir de qch

I often use it = Je m'en sers souvent

• to need something BUT avoir besoin de qch

I need it = J'en ai besoin

• to give something up BUT renoncer à qch

1 will give it up = J'y renoncerai

• to enter/join BUT entrer dans qch

I joined the firm when I was twenty

Je suis entré dans l'entreprise quand j'avais vingt ans

J'y suis entré quand j'avais vingt ans

• to doubt something BUT douter de qch

I doubt it = J'en doute

Other Lessons

• Possessive determiners
• Simple arithmetic (le calcul)
• Cardinal Numbers — When to use figures and when to use words
• Prepositions
• Gender of the noun indicated by its final letter
• Reflexive use of me, te, se, nous, vous
• When Use à or a
• Common Mistakes
• Plurals of nouns ending in –al
• Direct object quantifiers and « en »
• Omission of the article in compound nouns linked by à
• ensuite VS puis
• Agreement of past participles with preceding direct objects in questions
• Location of adverbs modifying sentences
• How to use falloir