En - un objet pronom En replaces du, de la, de l’ or des + noun. En is an object pronoun that has lots of different meanings. It can mean: any, some, of them, of it, some of it, any of it En is used to replace phrases that begin with du, de la, de l’ or des. En replaces du, de la, de l’ or des + noun. En normally goes BEFORE the conjugated verb. If there is an infinitive, it goes right before the infinitive. Since en is an object pronoun, it is used in conversation or in writing when a specific noun has already been mentioned. Often, in English, we leave out the English word for en. You can NOT do that in French. Here is an example of what a conversation with en would look like in English. Do you want some fries with that? Yes, I want some. Do you have any ice cream? Yes, we have some. Do you want some? Yes, I want some.

Voici la conversation en français. Tu veux des frites avec ça? Oui, j’en veux. Vous avez de la glace? Oui, nous en avons. Vous en voulez?

There are specific categories where en is most often used. 1. food: Tu veux des frites avec ça? Do you want some fries with that? Oui, j’en veux. Yes, I want some (of them). Non, je n’en veux pas. No, I don’t want any (of them). Tu manges des escargots? Do you eat snails? Non, je n’en mange pas. No, I don’t eat them. 2. drinks: Tu bois (drink) du jus d’orange? Do you drink orange juice? Oui, j’en bois. Yes, I drink it ( literally, some of it). Non, je n’en bois pas. No, I don’t drink any(of it). Tu bois du café? Do you drink coffee? Oui, j’en bois. Yes, I drink it (literally some of it) Non, je n’en bois pas. No, I don’t drink any (of it).

3. quantities Tu as des oeufs? Do you have any eggs? J’en ai six. I have six (of them). Elle a des CDs? Does she have some CDs? Oui, elle en a cent. Yes, she has 100 (of them). Non, elle n’en a pas. No, she does not have any. 4. activities: Tu fais de la natation? Do you swim? Oui, j’en fais. Yes, I swim. Non, je n’en fais pas. No, I do not swim. Vous faites du jogging? Do you guys jog? Oui, nous en faisons. Yes, we do (it, as in jogging) Non, nous n’en faisons pas. We do not jog.

La position Notice that je + en becomes j’en. 1. En normally comes before the conjugated verb J’en veux. I want some. Je n’en veux pas. I don’t want any. Tu en as? Do you have any? Notice that je + en becomes j’en. 2. If there is an infinitive, en comes directly before the infinitive. Je vais prendre des escargots. --> Je vais en prendre. (I am going to have some) Tu ne vas pas prendre des escargots. --> Tu ne vas pas en prendre. (You are not going to have any)

Restate these sentences, using en to replace the form of de + noun. Il prend du café. Je veux de la glace. Tu manges des oeufs. Nous voulons du riz. Now do the same thing with these sentences in the negative. Il ne prend pas de café. Je ne veux pas de glace. Tu ne manges pas d’oeufs Nous ne voulons pas de riz.

Faites une traduction Here are some questions and answers using en. See if you can translate them into English!!! Tu fais du jogging? J’en fais. Tu veux de l’eau minérale? Oui, j’en veux bien. Marc a trois frères. Et toi? J’en ai deux. Jean Luc vient de Paris? Oui, il en vient. Cosette a besoin d’amis? Oui, elle en a besoin. Tu as des CDs? Non, je n’en ai pas. Il parle de ses vacances? Oui, il en parle.

Révision En is an object pronoun that is used to REPLACE an object that is in this form: any form of de + NOUN (forms of de = du, de la, de l’, des) En means any of these words: some, any, it, some of it, any of it, them, of them En comes BEFORE THE CONJUGATED VERB. If there is an infinitive, en comes BEFORE THE INFINTIVE. EN is most often used when you are talking about things you eat or drink, quantities, and activities where you use faire + de + activity.