Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-y
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Use of y
Rule and Examples
y usually plays the same role in sentences as phrases which follow the verb and are introduced by prepositions like à, en, dans, sur, sous, etc.:
- Je vais à Paris demain J'y vais demain
7 am going to Paris tomorrow I'm going there tomorrow
- Elle vit dans une grande maison Elle y vit
She lives in a large house She lives there
- Il a écrit son nom sur le cahier II y a écrit son nom
He wrote his name on the book He wrote his name there
Although y can generally replace any phrase of this type, both concrete and abstract (as in the examples below), it is usually restricted to non-animate entities:
- Je pense souvent à la retraite
I often think about retirement
J'y pense souvent
- Elle est fidèle à ses principes
She is faithful to her principles
Elle y est fidèle
- Nous sommes entrés dans le débat
We joined in the debate
Nous y sommes entrés