Adverbial pronouns in French can seem very challenging for the learners. Let us explain them in plain English.
French
English
J'y suis allé.
I went there.
Usage of the Adverbial Pronouns
Rule 1: The adverbial pronouns en, y come:
- before the conjugated verb
French
English
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
French
English
Il en a trop mangé.
He ate too much of it.
Vous y avez participé.
You took part in it.
- before the infinitive
French
English
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.
French
English
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, ...).
French
English
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.
French
English
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.
French
English
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).
French
English
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.
French
English
Je pense à mes cadeaux. J’y pense.
I'm thinking about my gifts. I'm thinking about it.
Quiz
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Je vais chez mes amis. J'_ vais.
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correct answers.