Adverbial Pronouns

CONTENT
  1. Usage of the Adverbial Pronouns
  2. Adverbial Pronoun En
  3. Adverbial Pronoun Y

Adverbial pronouns in French can seem very challenging for the learners. Let us explain them in plain English.

Native

Translation

J'y suis allé.

I went there.

Usage of the Adverbial Pronouns

Rule 1: The adverbial pronouns en, y come:

- before the conjugated verb

Native

Translation

J’en veux.

I want it.

Nous y pensons.

We are thinking about it.

- before the conjugated auxiliary verb in passé composé or plus que parfait

Native

Translation

Il en a trop mangé.

He ate too much of it.

Vous y avez participé.

You took part in it.

- before the infinitive

Native

Translation

Il peut en prendre.

He can take it.

Je vais y aller.

I will go there.

Adverbial Pronoun En

Rule 2: The adverbial pronoun en replaces:

- a place that begins with the preposition de.

Native

Translation

Je reviens de la boulangerie. J’en reviens.

I am back from the bakery. I am back from it.

- an object, a thing preceded by du, de la, de l’, des or a quantity (e.g. un, deux, un peu de, beaucoup de, ...).

Native

Translation

Je joue du piano. J’en joue.

I play the piano. I play it.

Avez-vous des chats? Oui j’en ai trois.

Do you have cats? Yes, I have three.

- elements of the group when they are divided.

Native

Translation

J'ai trois chats. J'en ai trois.

I have three cats. I have three of them.

Note! Be careful, you cannot replace people with en - you have to use the personal pronoun in that case.

Native

Translation

Je me souviens de lui.

I remember him.

Adverbial Pronoun Y

Rule 3: The adverbial pronoun y replaces:

- a place that begins with a preposition other than "de" (e.g. à, dans, chez, en, sur).

Native

Translation

Je vais à la boulangerie. J’y vais.

I am going to the bakery. I’m going there.

- an object or a thing preceded by à.

Native

Translation

Je pense à mes cadeaux. J’y pense.

I'm thinking about my gifts. I'm thinking about it.

Quiz

1/4

Je vais chez mes amis. J'_ vais.

0

correct answers.