Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-y-in-constructions-where-à-does-not-introduce-an-indirect-object
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Use of y in constructions where à does not introduce an indirect object
y is normally used to refer to non-human objects which occur with verbs like penser à where à does not introduce an indirect object:
- Je pense à la guerre I'm thinking of the war
With a pronoun:
- J'y pense
I'm thinking of it
- Je tiens à mes idées
I'm sticking to my ideas
- J'y tiens
I'm sticking to them
- Je ferai très attention à vos affaires
I'll look after your belongings very carefully
- J'y ferai très attention
I'll look after them carefully
y can also be found on rare occasions referring to people with such verbs:
- J'y pense
I'm thinking of him
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Possessive determiners, Omission of the article, ils with arbitrary reference & Pronominal verbs used reciprocally.
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