French Pronouns Y and EN
Do you ever think it’s easier just to avoid these pronouns altogether because you can still make your point without using them? That can be a tempting solution! However, you’ll soon find that every native French speaker uses them consistently throughout their conversations.
Here are three of the main reasons why it’s important to learn how to use these pronouns:
1. They are commonly used in French: The pronouns Y and EN are very common in the French language and are used in a variety of situations, especially when talking about places, quantities, and things.
2. They can replace entire phrases: Y and EN can be used to replace entire phrases in French, making your speech more concise and efficient.
3. They will improve your fluency: Mastering the use of Y and EN can help improve your French fluency and make your speech more natural.
Check out my video lesson on the pronouns Y and EN, where I go into more detail about how to use them correctly.
To help you practice and master this tricky grammar topic, I’ve created a set of 75 practice cards to accompany my video lesson. These cards will provide you with ample opportunities to practice using Y and EN correctly in a variety of tenses and contexts.
TOP 5 RULES FOR USING THE PRONOUN Y
1. Y is used to replace a prepositional phrase that indicates a place. For example, “Je vais à Paris” can be replaced with “J’y vais.”
2. Y can also be used to replace an entire phrase that begins with “à” or “chez.” For example, “Je vais à la bibliothèque” can be replaced with “J’y vais” and “Je vais chez mon ami” can be replaced with “J’y vais.”
3. Y can also be used to replace expressions like “à cela” or “à ce sujet.” For example, “Je n’ai pas pensé à cela” can be replaced with “Je n’y ai pas pensé.”
4. Y can be placed before the verb or attached to an infinitive. For example, “Je vais y aller” or “J’y vais.”
5. Y can never be used to replace a person.
TOP 5 RULES FOR USING THE PRONOUN EN
1. EN is used to replace a prepositional phrase that indicates a quantity. For example, “Je veux trois pommes” can be replaced with “J’en veux trois.”
2. EN can also be used to replace an entire phrase that begins with “de.” For example, “Je parle de mon travail” can be replaced with “J’en parle.”
3. EN can also be used to replace expressions like “du” or “de la.” For example, “Je bois du café” can be replaced with “J’en bois.”
4. EN can be placed before the verb or attached to an infinitive. For example, “Je vais en acheter” or “J’en achète.”
5. EN can sometimes replace places when they are preceded by “de”. For example, “Je reviens de la banque” can be replaced by “J’en reviens.”