{"id":24788,"date":"2016-10-04T12:09:49","date_gmt":"2016-10-04T10:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/?p=24788"},"modified":"2018-02-22T15:50:57","modified_gmt":"2018-02-22T14:50:57","slug":"pesky-pronouns-y-and-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/pesky-pronouns-y-and-en\/","title":{"rendered":"Pesky Pronouns: Y and En"},"content":{"rendered":"

In French, the most well known pronouns, of course, are\u00a0je<\/em> (I),\u00a0tu\u00a0<\/em>(you singular),\u00a0il\/elle\/on\u00a0<\/em>(he\/she),\u00a0nous (we)<\/em>,\u00a0vous\u00a0<\/em>(you plural\/formal),\u00a0ils\/elles\u00a0<\/em>(they). But there are many other–and more confusing–pronouns as well. The peskiest of these–and the most difficult for many French learners to master–is\u00a0y\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0en.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

These pronouns are called, more precisely, adverbial pronouns because they actually act as adverbs, too.\u00a0They replace both nouns in a sentence, as pronouns do, and replace quantities, relationships, and quantities, just as adverbs do. **They are typically used once the noun has already been used in a previous sentence to refer back to the previously-noted noun.**<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at each pronoun:<\/p>\n

y<\/em> typically is used to replace words that follow the preposition\u00a0\u00e0<\/em><\/p>\n

while\u00a0en\u00a0<\/em>is used to replace words that follow the preposition\u00a0de<\/em><\/p>\n

(A good way to remember this is one letter (y<\/em>) replaces one letter (\u00e0)<\/em>, while two letters (en<\/em>) replaces two letters (de<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Most typically,\u00a0y\u00a0<\/em>replaces a location that follows the preposition\u00a0\u00e0<\/em>. For example:\u00a0Je vais \u00e0 la banque.\u00a0<\/em>Je ne sais pas \u00e0 quelle heure je vais y aller.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

In the previous example, notice how the noun (la banque<\/em>) is previously noted. In the second sentence, the\u00a0y<\/em> replaces the noun (la banque<\/em>) and acts as if it is modifying the verb\u00a0aller<\/em>.<\/p>\n

**It is important to note that\u00a0y<\/em> can replace almost any noun EXCEPT for a person. This means that you would never say\u00a0Je parle \u00e0 Georges. J’y parle.\u00a0<\/em>This is incorrect.**<\/p>\n

While\u00a0y\u00a0<\/em>can typically replace locations or a non-animate thing (Je\u00a0pense \u00e0 ma voiture. J’y pense),\u00a0<\/em>en\u00a0<\/em>typically replaces a quantity of something and can mean “some,” “any,”or even “it.”<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Tu veux manger de la viande?<\/em><\/p>\n

Non, j’en ai d\u00e9j\u00e0 mang\u00e9.<\/em><\/p>\n

This literally translates to: “Do you want to eat some meat? No, I already ate some.”<\/p>\n

Here,\u00a0en\u00a0<\/em>replaces the noun\u00a0de la viande\u00a0<\/em>and modifies the verb\u00a0avoir mang\u00e9<\/em>.<\/p>\n

However, like with\u00a0y,\u00a0<\/em>en\u00a0<\/em>can never replace\u00a0a person. For example, you could not say:\u00a0Jean parle de moi. Il en parle.\u00a0<\/em>This is incorrect.<\/p>\n

Also, don’t mix up the pronoun\u00a0en\u00a0<\/em>with the preposition\u00a0en<\/em>, which means “in.” They are spelled the same but have completely different meanings!<\/p>\n

Can you think of sentences using either\u00a0y\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0en<\/em>? Write them in the comments below!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In French, the most well known pronouns, of course, are\u00a0je (I),\u00a0tu\u00a0(you singular),\u00a0il\/elle\/on\u00a0(he\/she),\u00a0nous (we),\u00a0vous\u00a0(you plural\/formal),\u00a0ils\/elles\u00a0(they). But there are many other–and more confusing–pronouns as well. The peskiest of these–and the most difficult for many French learners to master–is\u00a0y\u00a0and\u00a0en.\u00a0   These pronouns are called, more precisely, adverbial pronouns because they actually act as adverbs, too.\u00a0They replace both nouns…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[408498,284,346,127],"class_list":["post-24788","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-grammar","tag-adverbial-pronouns","tag-free-french-lessons","tag-french-grammar","tag-pronouns"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t