y & en

1. y & en Two pronouns which you cannot do without

2. y You may have been taught thaty means there.

3. y In fact, “there” is only one of a large number of possible meanings.

4. In these examples,y does indeed mean there.

5. y But, as you will see,y is a pronoun…

6. y …and the purpose of a pronoun isto replace something.

7. y The purpose of y is to replaceà + something

8. y = à + T The pronoun y can only be used to refer to inanimate objects, ideas or places.In short, it must refer to Something not Someone.

9. y = à + T Put another way,y can refer toanythingbuta person.

10. y = à + T So think of it as replacingà + a thing (à + T)

11. In this example,y means there. Nous allons à Paris demain.

12. In this example,y means there. Nous allons à Paris demain. becomes y

13. In this example,y means there. Nous allons demain. No! y

14. In this example,y means there. Nous allons demain. Yes! Pronouns are placed before verbs y

15. In this example,y means there. Nous y allons demain. We’re going there tomorrow.

16. But in this example,y means something else. Je pensais à l’examen. I was thinking about the exam.

17. But in this example,y means something else. Je pensais à l’examen. becomes y

18. But in this example,y means something else. J’y pensais.

19. But in this example,y means something else. J’y pensais. I was thinking about it.

20. And in this example,y means something else again. Il s’intéresse au sport. He is interested in sport.

21. And in this example,y means something else again. Il s’intéresse au sport. becomes y

22. And in this example,y means something else again. Il s’y intéresse.

23. And in this example,y means something else again. Il s’y intéresse. He is interested in it.

24. y What does y mean in these examples?

25. Je n’arrive pas à m’y habituer. (where y = au bruit) s’habituer à : to get used to

26. I just can’t get used to it. (to the noise)

27. Le directeur y répondra. (where y = à la lettre)

28. The headmaster will answer it. (the letter)

29. Il y rêve depuis janvier. (where y = à un nouveau téléphone portable) rêver à : to dream about

30. He’s been dreaming about it since January. (about the mobile phone)

31. Elle n’y croit plus. (where y = à l’amour) croire à : to believe in

32. She no longer believes in it. (in love)

33. Nous y avons assisté. (where y = au concert) assister à : to be present at

34. We were present at it. (at the concert)

35. y Y can also replaceen + something

36. Mon oncle habite en France. My uncle lives in France.

37. Mon oncle y habite. My uncle lives there.

38. y In short, y means whatever it needs to mean to make sense!

39. en You may have been taught thaten means of it or of them.

40. en In fact, “of it” and “of them” are only two of a range of possible meanings.

41. In these examples,en does indeed mean of it/them.

42. en But, like y,en is a pronoun…

43. en …and the purpose of a pronoun isto replace something.

44. en The purpose of en is to replacede + something

45. en = de + T The pronoun en can only be used to refer to inanimate objects, ideas or places.In short, it must refer to Something not Someone.

46. en = de + T Put another way,en can refer toanythingbuta person.

47. en = de + T So think of it as replacingde + a thing (de + T)

48. In this example,en means of them. J’ai perdu la moitiéde mes CDs. I’ve lost half of my CDs.

49. In this example,en means of them. J’ai perdu la moitiéde mes CDs. becomes en

50. In this example,en means of them. J’ai perdu la moitié. en No!