Untitled Lesson

Les Pronoms d'objets directs/indirects et les pronoms adverbiaux "y" et "en"

y

Pronom adverbial

The adverbial pronoun y can replace a place or the object of the preposition à. Y is most commonly equivalent to "there" or "here," but may also be translated by a preposition plus "it."

Par exemple…

J’y vois douze pommes.		I see twelve apples here.
Le travail sera terminé, tu peux y compter.		The work will be done, you can count on it.

using y

Using y

1) Y replaces preposition + place

Y most often replaces a preposition of place, such as à, chez, dans, en, or sur, as well as the place itself.

Par exemple…

Je veux retourner en France. J’y étais l’année dernière.		I want to go back to France. I was there last year.
Il est chez le médecin, il y va le mardi.		He’s at the doctor’s; he goes there on Tuesdays.

Y with verbs

Y with verbs

Y is also used with verbs that require the preposition à plus an indirect object.

Par exemple…

Je pense à ta décision. J’y pense tout le temps.		I’m thinking about your decision. I think about it all the time.
Répondez au téléphone, répondez-y !		Answer the phone, answer it!

Open Ended

Tu vas au cinéma ce soir? Oui...

En

The adverbial pronoun en can replace a quantity, a place, or the object of the preposition de. This little word has many possible translations:

• any

• one

• some

• about it / them

• from it / them

• of it / them

Par exemple…

Voulez-vous une orange ? Je vais en manger une.		Do you want an orange? I’m going to eat one.
– Combien d’enfants as-tu ? – Je n’en ai pas.		– How many kids do you have? – I don’t have any.

Using En

En most commonly replaces de plus a noun, though in certain constructions it can replace just a noun or even a phrase.

1. En with indefinite and partitive articles

En replaces an indefinite or partitive article plus a noun.

Par exemple…

Il cherche des idées. Il en cherche. J’en ai une.		He’s looking for ideas. He’s looking for some (of them). I have one (of them)
Tu manges des épinards ? Tu en manges ? J’en veux aussi.		Are you eating spinach? Are you eating some (of it) / (some of) it? I want some too.

En with quantities

En most commonly replaces de plus a noun, though in certain constructions it can replace just a noun or even a phrase.

1. En with indefinite and partitive articles

En replaces an indefinite or partitive article plus a noun.

Par exemple…

Il cherche des idées. Il en cherche. J’en ai une.		He’s looking for ideas. He’s looking for some (of them). I have one (of them)
Tu manges des épinards ? Tu en manges ? J’en veux aussi.		Are you eating spinach? Are you eating some (of it) / (some of) it? I want some too.

En with places

4. En with places

En can replace de + a place or an adverb of place.

Par exemple…

Je rentre de Paris. J’en rentre.		I’m returning home from Paris. I’m returning home from there.
Il vient de là. Il en vient.		He’s coming from there.

Open Ended

Au théâtre : Reste-t-il encore des places ? / Oui, il