LiramiLirami

Pronouns · y / en

y replaces 'à + place/thing': J'y vais (I go there). en replaces 'de + thing' or a quantity: J'en veux (I want some). Both go BEFORE the verb.

Examples

  • J'y vais.I'm going there.
  • J'en ai trois.I have three of them.

How it works

Two one-letter pronouns, each of which swallows a whole prepositional phrase. Both sit BEFORE the verb, like other object pronouns.

Y — replaces à / dans / chez / sur / en + a place, thing or idea:

Je vais à Paris.I'm going to Paris.
J'y vais.I'm going there.
Tu es chez toi ?Are you at home?
Tu y es ?Are you there?
Il est dans le parc.He's in the park.
Il y est.He's there.
Je pense à mon voyage.I'm thinking about my trip.
J'y pense.I'm thinking about it.
Tu réponds à la question.

You answer the question.

Tu y réponds.You answer it.

It usually comes out as "there" for a place, or "about it / to it" for an idea.

En

replaces de + a thing, or a quantity:

Je parle de mon voyage. I'm talking about my trip.
J'en parle.I'm talking about it.
Tu reviens de Paris.You're back from Paris.
Tu en reviens.You're back from there.
Je veux du café.I want some coffee.
J'en veux.I want some.
J'ai des amis.I have friends.
J'en ai.I have some.
Tu as trois livres.You have three books.
Tu en as trois.You have three of them.

Note the number survives

J'en ai TROIS. en only swallows the noun.

Position

same rules as other object pronouns:

before the verb
J'y vais.J'en veux.
before the AUXILIARY (helper verb ai / suis) in the passé composé
J'y suis allé.J'en ai pris.
before the INFINITIVE (dictionary form) when there is one
Je vais y aller.Je veux en prendre.
after the verb with a hyphen, in a command
Vas-y !Go on!
Prends-en ! Take some!
(-er verbs add an -s before y/en for sound:
vas-y, manges-en)
back in front, in a negative command
N'y va pas.N'en prends pas.

IDIOMS worth knowing

Allons-y !Let's go!
Vas-y !Go for it!
J'en ai marre !I'm fed up!
J'en ai assez.I've had enough.

What you'll practise

  1. 1. y for a place

    Replaces 'à/dans/chez + place'. Translates as 'there'.

    • Tu vas à Paris ? — Oui, j'y vais.Are you going to Paris? Yes, I'm going there.

  2. 2. y for à + thing

    Replaces 'à + thing/idea'. Often translates as 'about it' / 'of it'.

    • Je pense à mon voyage. → J'y pense.I think about my trip → I think about it.

  3. 3. en for de + thing

    Replaces 'de + thing'. Translates as 'of it / about it / from it'.

    • Je parle de mon voyage. → J'en parle.I talk about my trip → I talk about it.

  4. 4. en for quantity

    Replaces du/de la/des + noun OR a number. Translates as 'some / any / X of them'.

    • Tu veux du café ? — Oui, j'en veux.Want some coffee? Yes, I want some.
    • J'en ai deux.I have two (of them).

Practise it until it sticks

Short drills built on these 4 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.

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