French 5.1. The Pronouns “Y” and “En” in French

The two pronouns “y” and “en” are a constant source of confusion to many learners of French. We will look at the most common uses of these pronominal particles in different contexts.

Uses of “Y”

Here we discuss three important uses of the pronoun “y”:

1. Meaning “there” when referring to a place.

For example, in the sentence: “Je vais à ce café tous les matins” (I go to that coffee shop every morning), we can eliminate “à ce café” (to that coffee shop) and say: “J’y vais tous les matins” (I go there every morning).

Notice that “y” is placed before the verb. Here are more examples:

2. Some verbs are usually followed by the preposition “à,” “en,” or “sur,” such as: “penser à” (to think about), “croire en” (to believe in), “compter sur” (to count on), etc. In this case, the pronoun “y” can replace the preposition and the following noun.

For example, in the sentence “Vous pensez au travail?” (Are you thinking about work?), we can replace “au travail” (about work) with “y” before the verb, that is, “Vous y pensez?” (Are you thinking about it?).

Notice that “y” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “about it.” The inanimate noun (thing or idea) that “y” replaces is considered an indirect object because it is preceded by a preposition.

Here are some more examples:

Notice that “y” is always placed before the verb. The only exception is if the verb is in the affirmative imperative. In this case, the “y” is attached to the end of the verb. For example:

3. The pronoun “y” is used in the expression “il y a” which can mean “there is/are,” as we have encountered in Level III, Lesson 6. For example:

The expression “il y a” has the equivalent meaning of “ago” when referring to events that happened in the past, for example:

Uses of “En”

The pronoun “en” often precedes the verb unless the verb is in the affirmative imperative. The pronoun “en” has the following uses in French:

1. Some verbs and expressions are followed by the preposition “de,” such as: “parler de” (to talk about), “avoir besoin de” (to need), “content de” (happy about), “sûr de” (sure of), etc. In these expressions, “en” can replace the preposition and the following noun.

For example, in the sentence “Je suis content du résultat” (I am happy about the result), we can replace “du résultat” (about the result) with “en” and place it before the verb, that is, “J’en suis content” (I am happy about it).

Notice that “en” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “about it.” The inanimate noun (thing or idea) that “en” replaces is also considered an indirect object.

Here are some more examples:

There are also some idiomatic expressions that use the pronoun “en,” even though it may sometimes seem redundant. For example:

2. The pronoun “en” is used with quantities and amounts, and is often translated as “of it” or “of them.” It usually replaces a number or a partitive such as “some” or “a little.”

For example, in the sentence “Je veux du lait” (I want some milk), we can replace “du lait” (some milk) with “en” and place it before the verb, that is, “J’en veux” (I want some of it). Notice that “en” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “some of it.”

Similarly, in the sentence “J’ai deux biscuits” (I have two cookies), we can replace “biscuits” (cookies) with “en” and place it before the verb, that is, “J’en ai deux” (I have two “of them”). Notice that “en” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “of them.”

Here are some more examples:

Notice that the noun that “en” replaces can be countable or uncountable.

In case there is a reflexive or indirect pronoun in the sentence, the reflexive or indirect pronoun is placed before “en.” For example:

The pronoun “en” comes after the verb in the case of the affirmative imperative, for example:

The pronoun “en” is also used in some pronominal verbs, which we cover in Level VI, Lesson 4.

Next: Imperative Mood & Giving Commands

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