Tu vas à la bibliothèque ? Oui, j'y vais.
English: Are you going to the library? Yes, I'm going (there).
- Language
- French
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Pronoms et leurs emplois
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In French, 'y' and 'en' are pronouns used to replace certain words or groups of words in a sentence. They help avoid repetition and make sentences smoother.
When to use it
Use 'y' to refer to a place or something introduced by 'à'. Use 'en' to talk about a quantity or something introduced by 'de'. Both pronouns usually come before the verb.
Key forms
- 'y' replaces a place or things introduced by 'à', 'chez', 'dans', etc.
- 'en' replaces a quantity or things introduced by 'de', 'du', 'de la', 'des', etc.
Examples
Il pense à son avenir. Il y pense souvent.
English: He thinks about his future. He thinks about it often.
Tu veux du pain ? Oui, j'en veux.
English: Do you want some bread? Yes, I want some.
Nous avons trois enfants. Nous en avons trois.
English: We have three children. We have three (of them).
Elle revient de Paris. Elle en revient demain.
English: She is coming back from Paris. She is coming back (from there) tomorrow.
Tips
- Place 'y' or 'en' before the verb in most sentences.
- Never use 'y' or 'en' to replace people.
- 'En' is also used to replace quantities, so always keep the number if mentioned.
Exceptions and edge cases
- With affirmative commands, 'y' and 'en' come after the verb: Va-t'en !
- With two verbs (like 'je veux y aller'), 'y' and 'en' go before the infinitive.