Language/French/Grammar/y-and-en-in-French-where-the-English-translation-has-no-preposition
The pronouns EN and Y[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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
Video: Practise your French pronouns EN vs Y[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- 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