The French Pronoun EN Replaces a Quantity
| The French pronoun EN refers to a noun that is introduced by: De / de la / du / des / d’ / un, une or any other number Expressions of quantity like: un verre de / un kilo de / une bouteille de.. Adverbs of quantity like: beaucoup de / peu de / assez de… |
| The French pronoun EN is normally translated by “some”, “any” or “one” in English. Many times we don’t need to say “some” or “of them” in English, but you can’t avoid it in French. |
Scroll down to watch my comprehensive video lesson on the French pronoun EN, and here’s a lesson on the pronoun Y.
Examples
In these examples the French pronoun EN replaces a QUANTITY.
| Nous voudrions 2 baguettes. We would like 2 baguettes. | Nous en voudrions 2. We would like 2 of them. *Note that the EN comes right before the verb in the present tense. *Note that the number needs to be repeated. |
| Je ne mange pas de frites. I’m not eating any fries. | Je n’en mange pas. I’m not eating any of them. *Note the placement of ne / pas when using the pronoun EN. *Note that the form of “de” that introduces the noun also gets replaced. |
| Tu vas servir du champagne? Are you going to serve champagne? | Tu vas en servir? Are you going to serve some of that? *Note that when you have an infinitive in the sentence the EN comes right before it. |
| Vous achetiez beaucoup de citrons? Were you buying a lot of lemons? | Vous en achetiez beaucoup? Were you buying a lot of them? *Note that even when using another tense like the imperfect the EN comes right before the verb. *Note that you have to repeat the word beaucoup or any other adverb of quantity. |
| J’ai bu 8 verres d’eau. I drank 8 glasses of water. | J’en ai bu 8 verres. I drank 8 glasses of it. *Note that in the passé composé the EN comes right before the helping verb. *Note that you have to repeat the quantity and the expression of quantity. |
| Il n’a pas voulu de poulet. He didn’t want any chicken. | Il n’en a pas voulu. He didn’t want any of it. *Note the placement of ne / pas when using EN with negation in the passé composé. |
The French pronoun EN can replace a thing
| EN replaces a THING that has been introduced by a verb and that is preceded by: de / de la / du / des / d’ |
| Many French verbs are followed by the preposition DE. |
| Here are just a few of the most common French verbs followed by DE: (here’s a longer list) Avoir peur de quelque chose / to be afraid of something J’ai peur des serpents. J’en ai peur. Avoir besoin de quelque chose / to need something Tu as besoin d’argent? Tu en as besoin? Avoir envie de quelque chose / to desire or want something Il a envie de manger une pizza. Il en a envie. Avoir l’intention de quelque chose / to have the intention of doing something Nous avons l’intention de partir en vacances. Nous en avons l’intention. S’excuser de faire quelque chose / to excuse oneself for doing something Vous vous excusez d’arriver en retard. Vous vous en excusez. Rêver de faire quelque chose / to dream of doing something Elles rêvent de faire le tour du monde. Elles en rêvent. Se souvenir de faire quelque chose / to remember something Je me souviens de ce restaurant. Je m’en souviens. Profiter de faire quelque chose / to take advantage of something Tu profites de tes vacances. Tu en profites. Se servir de quelque chose / to use something Elle se sert de ma voiture. Elle s’en sert. |
