Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-en

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: https://nathaliefle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Pr%C3%A9position-EN.png