Language/French/Grammar/Position-of-y-and-en-with-negative-infinitives
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Position of y and en with negative infinitives
When y and en appear with negative infinitives, they normally appear directly adjacent to the infinitive, just as all other object pronouns do, but in formal written French they can split the negative:
Most frequent
- Il vaudrait mieux ne pas en parler
It would be better not to speak of it
Formal written French
- Il vaudrait mieux n'en pas parler
Most frequent
- Elle avait décidé de ne plus y penser
She had decided not to think about it any more
Formal written French
- Elle avait décidé de n'y plus penser