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| Two tricky pronouns: en and y |
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| Tuesday, 27 May 2008 | |||
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So tiny, you might think you can ignore them. But they have an important place in the French language. So how are en and y used? 1) En Let’s first start by defining en. As a pronoun, it is used for many reasons and in many contexts. Mostly, it replaces de, du, de l’, de la or des + a noun. En can be translated as ‘some’ or ‘of it’, or ‘not any’ in a negative context. It is most often used for indefinite quantities of something, but can also be used to replace de + a noun (but not a person) in many expressions where verbs are followed by de. Note: en is placed in front of the verb. Examples: Voulez-vous du café? = Would you like some coffee? Oui, j’en veux! = Yes, I would like some! Est-ce que vous vous souvenez du dernier café que vous avez pris avec moi? = Do you remember the last coffee you had with me? Oui, je m’en souviens! = Yes, I remember! When using en with the imperative (command form), en is placed after the verb, as in this example: Prenez du café! Prenez-en = Have some coffee! However, if the command is negative, en goes back in front of the verb: Ne m’en parle plus! = Don’t talk to me about it any more! If there is an expression of quantity like beaucoup de (a lot of ), peu de (a little of ) or a number, then en will replace the noun. Examples: Veux-tu un peu de crème dans ton café? = Do you want some cream in your coffee? Oui, j’en veux bien un peu, merci! = Yes, I would like some, thank you! Note: En usually can’t replace de + verb. Examples: J’ai décidé de prendre ce travail – J’ai décidé de le prendre = I decided to take this work – I decided to take it. Finally, you will find en in some everyday expressions – these are very useful to learn as the French use them all the time: Examples: Je m’en vais! = I’m leaving! J’en ai marre! = I’m fed up! Je n’en peux plus! = I can’t handle this anymore! Ne vous en faites pas! = Don’t you worry about it! (a negative command) 2) Y What about Y? Y is a pronoun that replaces a place, usually a phrase beginning with à, chez, dans, etc. You can translate y by ‘there’. Even though you don’t need to add ‘there’ systematically in English, you will need it in French. Examples: Est-ce que tu vas chez Annick aujourd’hui? – Oui j’y vais! = Are you going to Annick’s place today? – Yes I’m going (there). Nous allons au marché. Vous voulez y aller? = We’re going to the market. Would you like to go (there)? The other use of y is when a verb is followed by à + a noun (not a person though). This is tricky, as this means that you have to know which verbs are normally followed by à. To start with, begin by just learning a few of the verbs you are most likely to use. Examples: Penser à = to think of/to think about Je pense à mes vacances ! – J’y pense = I’m thinking about my holidays – I’m thinking of them. Répondre à = to respond to Je réponds à mes e-mails. – J’y réponds = I’m replying to my emails – I’m replying to them. Note: Y usually cannot replace à + verb! Examples: Je pense à faire ce travail – Je pense à le faire = I’m thinking about doing this job – I’m thinking about doing i Practice time! Let’s place en and y in context in this short conversation, first in French, then in English.
And now, a little test... Answer the following questions by replacing the noun or place with en or y: 1) Est-ce que vous voulez une bière ? Oui, _________________________ 2) Est-ce que tu vas au cinéma ce soir ? Non, ________________________ 3) Est-ce que vous apportez un dessert ? Oui, _________________________ Answers: 1) Oui j’en veux une ; 2) Non, je n’y vais pas ; 3) Oui j’en apporte un This language corner was brought to you by Céline Anthonioz and www.learnfrenchathome.com |
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