Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-y-in-constructions-where-à-does-not-introduce-an-indirect-object

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.

Other Lessons

• Use of the definite article with seasons
• Reciprocal se and cases of potential ambiguity
• Adverbs ending in —ment derived from nouns
• Types of adverbs
• Optional use of neutral le
• Categories of Nouns in French
• Present Tense
• Adjectives which normally follow the noun but can also precede, without significant changes in meaning
• Quand utiliser QUAND et QUANT
• Adjectives used as nouns
• Coordination of stressed pronouns
• Mass nouns used countably
• Masculine and feminine forms of adjectives — A change in the final consonant or syllable
• tard versus en retard
• Often Mistaken Gender of Nouns