1. The pronouns y and en
The pronoun y often represents a location. In this case, it usually means there.
Nous allons en Côte d’Ivoire.
We go to the Ivory Coast.
Mon sac est dans ma chambre.
My purse is in my room.
J’habite à Ouagadougou.
I live in Ouagadougou.
Nous y allons.
We go there.
Mon sac y est.
My purse is there.
J’y habite.
I live there.
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2. The pronouns y and en
The pronoun y can stand for these common prepositions of location and their objects.
à in or at
chez at the place or home of
dans in or inside
derrière behind
devant in front of
en in or at
sur on
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3. Y can stand for non-human objects of the preposition à.
The pronouns y and en
Y can stand for non-human objects of the preposition à.
Tu penses toujours à l’examen?
Are you still thinking about the test?
Il a répondu à la question?
Did he answer the question?
Oui, j’y pense toujours.
Yes, I’m still thinking about it.
Oui, il y a répondu.
Yes, he answered it.
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4. —Avez-vous répondu à Danielle? —Non, je ne lui ai pas encore répondu.
The pronouns y and en
ATTENTION!
Remember, the indirect object pronouns me, te, lui, nous, vous, and leur stand for human objects of the preposition à.
—Avez-vous répondu à Danielle?
—Non, je ne lui ai pas encore répondu.
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5. The pronouns y and en
You already know that the preposition à can be used in contractions. The pronoun y can represent the contraction and its object.
Vous assisterez au cours de maths?
Will you attend math class?
Tu vas aux États-Unis?
Are you going to the U.S.?
Oui, nous y assisterons.
Yes, we will attend.
Oui, j’y vais.
Yes, I’m going there.
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6. —Réponds tout de suite à Danielle! —Answer Danielle right away!
The pronouns y and en
ATTENTION!
The prepositions used in English do not necessarily translate literally into French. Notice that sometimes no preposition is
used at all in English.
—Réponds tout de suite à Danielle!
—Answer Danielle right away!
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7. The pronoun en stands for the preposition de and its object.
The pronouns y and en
The pronoun en stands for the preposition de and its object.
Ils n’ont pas de villes surpeuplées.
They don’t have overpopulated cities.
Ils n’en ont pas.
They don’t have any.
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8. En can replace a partitive article and its object.
The pronouns y and en
En can replace a partitive article and its object.
Voudriez-vous de la charcuterie?
Would you like some cold cuts?
Nous en voudrions.
We would like some.
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9. The pronouns y and en
En can replace a noun that follows an expression of quantity. In this case, omit the noun and the preposition de/d’, but retain the expression of quantity.
Les jeunes ont beaucoup d’idéaux.
Young people have a lot of ideals.
Ils en ont beaucoup.
They have a lot (of them).
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10. The pronouns y and en
En can replace a noun that follows a number. In this case, omit the noun, but retain the number.
Ils veulent trois tomates?
Do they want three tomatoes?
Non, ils en veulent cinq.
No, they want five (of them).
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11. Remember, the indefinite articles un and une are also numbers.
The pronouns y and en
ATTENTION!
Remember, the indefinite articles un and une are also numbers.
J’ai un frère.
I have one brother.
You can use en to represent the object of un or une. In an affirmative sentence, retain the number.
J’en ai un.
I have one.
As with other numbers, in a negative sentence, the number is not retained.
Je n’en ai pas.
I don’t have one.
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12. In a negative sentence, the number is not retained.
The pronouns y and en
In a negative sentence, the number is not retained.
Nathalie a acheté deux litres de lait?
Did Nathalie buy two liters of milk?
Non, elle n’en a pas du tout acheté.
No, she didn’t buy any at all.
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13. The pronouns y and en
En can represent de plus a location. In this case, it usually means from there.
Ils reviennent de Lomé.
They are returning from Lomé.
Ils en reviennent.
They are returning from there.
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14. The pronouns y and en
En can also stand for a verbal expression with de. In this case, en often means about it, for it, or from it.
Avez-vous la force de supporter ce chaos?
Are you strong enough to stand this chaos?
Tu es capable de manger tout le gâteau?
Are you capable of eating the whole cake?
Non, je n’en ai pas la force.
No, I am not strong enough for it.
Non, je n’en suis pas capable.
No, I am not capable of it.
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