Pronouns: y and en

Question 1

What does ‘y’ mean?

Answer 1

There

Il y a = there are (or literally ‘it there has’)

Question 2

What does ‘y’ replace?

hint: there are 2 circumstances

Answer 2

‘à’ that comes after a verb

‘en’ that comes after a verb

Question 3

Below is an example of ‘y’ replacing ‘à’.

I went to Paris
I went there

Translate both.

Answer 3

Je suis allée à Paris
J’y suis allée

(there is an -e on the end of allée because I am female - always remember gender agreements with etre)

Question 4

Below is an example of ‘y’ replacing ‘en’.

I am going to France
I am going there

Translate both.

Answer 4

Je vais en France

J’y vais

Question 5

What does ‘en’ mean (as a pronoun)?

What does ‘en’ replace?
hint: there are 2 circumstances

Answer 5

Some

‘de’ that comes after a verb
‘de’ that means a quantity (e.g. some of / of them / of it)

Question 6

Where does ‘y’ go in a sentence?

Answer 6

Before all parts of the verb.

Question 7

Where does ‘en’ go in a sentence?

Answer 7

Before all parts of the verb.

Question 8

Below is an example of ‘en’ replacing ‘de’.

I drank some coffee
I drank some of it

Translate both.

Answer 8

J’ai bu du café

J’en ai bu

Question 9

Below is an example of ‘en’ replacing ‘de’.

I tried some wine
I tried some of it

Translate both.

Answer 9

J’ai essayé du vin

J’en ai essayé

Question 10

Below is an example of ‘en’ replacing ‘de’.

They have some pets
They have some

Translate both.

Answer 10

Ils ont des animaux

Ils en ont