The Pronouns Y And En Flashcards
How do y end en behave? What do they refer to?
The pronouns y and en behave like object pronouns. Y refers to places and things; en refers to quantities.
When to use the pronoun y?
The pronoun y can refer to a location (a country, city, building, room, etc.) that has already been mentioned in a conversation. Its English equivalent is there. Y does not refer to people. It replaces a prepositional phrase, such as à Montréal (in/to Montreal), à la pharmacie (at the drugstore), chez Mau- rice (at Maurice’s place), en Australie (in/to Australia).
Where is y in the sentence?
Like direct and indirect object pronouns, y precedes the conjugated verb. This is also true for negative and interrogative sentences.
- Tu vas chez Théophile? (Are you going to Théophile?)
- Oui, j’y vais. Mais Gilberte n’y va pas. (Yes, I’m going there. But Gilberte is not (going there).
- Qu’est-ce qu’on achète à la droguerie? (What do we buy at the hardware store?)
- On y achète des produits ménagers. (There we buy household products.)
*J’achète des vêtements à la friperie. Y trouves-tu aussi des choses? (I buy clothes at the second-hand store. Do you find things there, too?)
What else can the pronoun y replace?
The pronoun y can also replace the preposition à + a previously mentioned object or idea.
1a. ) Nous pensons aux vacancces (We’re thinking about vacation.)
1b. ) Nous y pensons tout le temps! (W think about it all the time!)
2a. ) Je tiens à la vieille voiture de Maman (I’m very attached to Mom’s old car)
2b. ) J’y tiens (I’m very attached to it)
En means what? Replaces what?
Expressed in English by some or any, the pronoun en replaces nouns preceded by a partitive article (du/de la/de l’), by an indefinite article (un/une/ des), or by de/d’, in cases where the rest of the article is omitted.
Where is the pronoun en placed in the sentence
The pronoun en is placed directly before the verb of which it is the object.
1a. ) Tu prends du café le matin? (Do you drink coffee in the morning)
1b. ) Oui, j’en prends le matin. (Yes, I have some in the morning)
2a. ) Y a-t-il des restaurants élégants à Lyon? Are there elegant restaurants in Lyon? (Are there elegant restaurants in Lyon?)
2b. ) Oui, il y en a. (Yes, there are [some])
3a. ) As-tu de l’argent? (Do you have any money?)
3b. ) Hélas, je n’en ai pas. (Alas, I don not have any.)
What happens when a noun following un or une is replaced by en?
When a noun following un or une is replaced by en, the singular indefinite article un or une is repeated in an affirmative answer. Un or une is not repeated in a negative answer.
- Elle a une valise convenable? (Does she have an appropriate suitcase?)
- Oui, elle en a une. (Yes, she has one)
- Non, elle n’en a pas. (No, she does not have [one])
What else does en also replace
En also replaces a noun modified by a number or by an expression of quantity, such as un(e) (one), cinq (five), plusieurs (several, a few), beaucoup de (a lot of, many), un kilo de (a kilo[gram] of), assez de (enough), trop de (too, too much), etc.
When en is used in an affirmative sentence, de/d’ the noun is dropped, and the number or expression of quantity is repeated. In this situation, en is always expressed in French.
- Est-ce que tu as beaucoup de devoirs? (Do you have a lot of homework?)
- Oh, oui, j’en ai beaucoup! (Oh yes, I have a lot [of it])
- Combien de trains voyez-vous? (How many trains do you see?)
- J’en vois plusieurs. (I see a few [of them])
- Benoît suit combien de cours? (Benoît is taking how many classes?)
- Il en suit quatre. (He’s taking four [of them])
- Marina va chercher trois bouteilles de vin. (Marina’s going to get three bottles of wine)
- Elle va en chercher trois? (She’s going to get three [of them])
- Non, elle ne va pas en chercher. (No, she’s not going to get any)
- Tu achètes un kilo d’oranges? (You’re buying a kilo of oranges?)
- Oui, j’en achète un kilo. (Yes, I’m buying a kilo [of them])
Several, a few
Plusieurs
A lot of, many
Beaucoup de
A kilogram of
Un kilo de
Enough
Assez de
Too, too much
Trop de
En can replace _____ + a noun referring to….
En also replaces de/d’ a noun referring to a thing or an idea in sentences with verbal expressions using de: parler de (to speak of, about), avoir besoin de (to need), avoir envie de (to wish for, want), être fier (fière) de (to be proud of), etc.
- Est-ce que François parle des chiens? (Is François talking about the dogs?)
- Oui, il en parle. (Yes, he’s talking about them)
- Avez-vous besoin d’argent? (Do you need money.)
- Oui, nous en avons besoin. (Yes, we need some)
- Marthe est fière de la maison. (Marthe is proud of the house)
- Elle en est fière. (She’s proud of it)
