Unit 7g - Pronouns Y and EN Flashcards
In the negative imperative, the pronouns y and en precede the verb.
Ne pense pas à ces choses!
Do not think about these things!
N’y pense pas!
Don’t think about it!
In the negative imperative, the pronouns y and en precede the verb.
Ne parlez pas de ces choses!
Do not talk about these things!
N’en parlez pas!
Do not talk about it!
In the positive imperative, the pronouns y and en follow the verb, with a hyphen between the verb and pronoun.
Pensez à leur dire bonjour!
Don’t forget to say hello to them!
Pensez-y!
Don’t forget about it!
In the positive imperative, the pronouns y and en follow the verb, with a hyphen between the verb and pronoun.
Parlez de vos nouvelles idées!
Talk about your new ideas!
Parlez-en!
Talk about it!
A slight spelling modification is made to facilitate pronunciation. Generally, in the tu form of the imperative of -er verbs, the -s ending is dropped: parle, pense, achète. But the -s is restored when followed by y or en.
Penses-y!
Think about it!
A slight spelling modification is made to facilitate pronunciation. Generally, in the tu form of the imperative of -er verbs, the -s ending is dropped: parle, pense, achète. But the -s is restored when followed by y or en.
Parles-en!
Talk about it!
A slight spelling modification is made to facilitate pronunciation. Generally, in the tu form of the imperative of -er verbs, the -s ending is dropped: parle, pense, achète. But the -s is restored when followed by y or en.
Achètes-en!
Buy some!
Another exception that makes grammar all the more fun: En can replace nouns referring to human beings, but only when used in a general sense.
Avez-vous des cousins à Paris?
Do you have cousins in Paris?
Oui, j’en ai.
Yes, I have some.
Another exception that makes grammar all the more fun: En can replace nouns referring to human beings, but only when used in a general sense.
On a toujours besoin d’amis.
One always needs friends.
On en a toujours besoin.
One always needs some.
Expressions of quantity also use the pronoun en. The number is repeated at the end of the sentence, as is a modifier such as beaucoup, trop, and assez. The noun it modifies, however, is replaced by en.
J’ai besoin d’un livre.
I need a book.
J’en ai besoin d’un.
I need one.
Expressions of quantity also use the pronoun en. The number is repeated at the end of the sentence, as is a modifier such as beaucoup, trop, and assez. The noun it modifies, however, is replaced by en.
J’ai acheté quatre pamplemousses.
I bought four grapefruit.
J’en ai acheté quatre.
I bought four.
Expressions of quantity also use the pronoun en. The number is repeated at the end of the sentence, as is a modifier such as beaucoup, trop, and assez. The noun it modifies, however, is replaced by en.
Nous n’avons pas beaucoup vacances.
We do not have a lot of vacation.
Nous n’en avons pas beaucoup.
We do not have a lot.
Rewrite each sentence, replacing the noun or phrase in boldface with en.
- Nous mangeons beaucoup de poisson.
- Nous en mangeons beaucoup.
Rewrite each sentence, replacing the noun or phrase in boldface with en.
- Elle a deux voitures.
- Elle en a deux.
Rewrite each sentence, replacing the noun or phrase in boldface with en.
- Je voudrais une demi-livre de beurre.
- J’en voudrais une demi-livre.
