The French Pronoun EN Usually Replaces a Quantity
Scroll down to watch my video lesson on the French pronoun EN, and you can download a free PDF of this lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
EN refers to a noun that has been 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…
👉 EN is normally translated to mean “some”, “any” or “one” in English.
👉 We don’t always need to say SOME or OF THEM in English, but you can’t avoid it in French.
Examples
In these examples the pronoun EN replaces a QUANTITY.
👉 Nous voudrions 2 baguettes. / We would like 2 baguettes.
👉 Nous en voudrions 2. / We would like 2 (of them).
- EN goes right before the verb in the present tense.
- Note that the quantity needs to be repeated.
👉 Je ne mange pas de frites. / I am not eating (any) fries.
👉 Je n’en mange pas. / I am not eating (any of them).
- Note the placement of EN when using negation.
- Note that DE is also replaced by the pronoun.
👉 Tu vas servir du champagne? / Are you going to serve (some) champagne?
👉 Tu vas en servir? / Are you going to serve some (of that)?
- Note that when there is an infinitive in the sentence, EN is placed right before it. The infinitive is the verb that the pronoun is linked to in context and meaning.
👉 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 in this example, EN goes right before the conjugated verb.
- Note that you need 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. / I drank 8 glasses (of it).
- Note that in the passé composé, EN comes right before the helping verb.
👉 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 negation when using EN in the passé composé. Put the pronoun after NE and before the helping verb.
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 + NOUN
EXAMPLES
Avoir peur de quelque chose – To be afraid of something
👉 J’ai peur des serpents. – I’m afraid of snakes.
👉 J’en ai peur. – I’m afraid of them.
Avoir besoin de quelque chose – To need something
👉 Tu as besoin d’argent? – Do you need some money?
👉 Tu en as besoin? – Do you need some?
Avoir envie de quelque chose – To desire or want something
👉 Il a envie de manger une pizza. – He wants to eat a pizza.
👉 Il a envie (d’en manger). – He wants to (eat some of it)
Avoir l’intention de quelque chose – To have the intention of doing something
👉 Nous avons l’intention de partir en vacances. – We intend to go on vacation.
👉 Nous en avons l’intention. – We intend (to do that).
S’excuser de faire quelque chose – To excuse oneself for doing something
👉 Vous vous excusez d’arriver en retard. – You excuse yourself for arriving late.
👉 Vous vous en excusez. – You excuse yourself (for it).
Rêver de faire quelque chose – To dream of doing something
👉 Elles rêvent de faire le tour du monde. – They dream of going around the world.
👉 Elles en rêvent. – They dream of it.
Se souvenir de faire quelque chose – To remember something
👉 Je me souviens de ce restaurant. – I remember this restaurant.
👉 Je m’en souviens. – I remember it.
Profiter de faire quelque chose – To take advantage of something
👉 Tu profites de tes vacances. – You are enjoying your vacation.
👉 Tu en profites. – You are enjoying it.
Se servir de quelque chose – To use something
👉 Elle se sert de ma voiture. – She is using my car.
👉 Elle s’en sert. – She is using it.
