Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-en"

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<div style="font-size:300%"> Use of en</div>
<div style="font-size:300%"> Use of en</div>
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==Rules & Examples==
en is the pronoun used to replace phrases introduced by de which follow the verb. Where these include a noun, en can refer to both human and non-human nouns:
en is the pronoun used to replace phrases introduced by de which follow the verb. Where these include a noun, en can refer to both human and non-human nouns:
*Il a déjà parlé de son idée
*Il a déjà parlé de son idée
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*Il le lui a défendu (le means 'to go out this evening')
*Il le lui a défendu (le means 'to go out this evening')
He forbade her to do it
He forbade her to do it
==Mental Card of the EN preposition==
Source: https://nathaliefle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Pr%C3%A9position-EN.png
[[File:Préposition-EN.png]]

Revision as of 21:22, 18 October 2021

French-Language-PolyglotClub.png
Use of en

Rules & Examples

en is the pronoun used to replace phrases introduced by de which follow the verb. Where these include a noun, en can refer to both human and non-human nouns:

  • Il a déjà parlé de son idée

He has already spoken about his idea

  • Il a empêché lean-Pierre de travailler

He stopped jean-Pierre working

  • Mémé s'occupe des enfants

Grandma is looking after the children

  • Christine est fière de son frère

Christine is proud of her brother

  • Il en a déjà parlé

He has already spoken about it

  • Il l'en a empêché

He stopped him doing it

  • Mémé s'en occupe

Grandma is looking after them

  • Christine en est fière

Christine is proud of him


In spoken French, where people are referred to, it is quite likely that a stressed pronoun following de will be used instead:

  • Mémé s'occupe d'eux
  • Christine est fière de lui

NB: An exception to the generalization that en can replace phrases introduced by de is those verbs, such as permettre, défendre and interdire, with a construction using . . . à quelqu'un de faire quelque chose. The infinitive clause is treated as a direct object:

  • Elle a permis à Jean-Marie d'emprunter sa voiture

She allowed jean-Marie to borrow her car

  • Elle le lui a permis (le means 'to borrow the car')

She allowed him to do it

  • Il a défendu à Suzanne de sortir ce soir

He forbade Suzanne to go out this evening

  • Il le lui a défendu (le means 'to go out this evening')

He forbade her to do it


Mental Card of the EN preposition

Source: Pr%C3%A9position-EN.png

Préposition-EN.png