UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Les Pronoms y et en (pronouns y and en)

Video

Notes

  • Y and en are adverbial pronouns that are used in French. 
  • We have already learned about direct and indirect object pronouns, and y and en function in similar ways.
  • The pronoun "y" is used to replace prepositions that are followed by places or things. Y is NEVER used for people, you will only use indirect object pronouns for prepositions followed by people.
  • Prepositions are words like à (to), pour (for), sur (on). Here is a list of more French prepositions of location.
  • Y will translate  to there or [preposition] + it.
    Ex: Le livre est sur la table. > Le livre y est.
    The book is on the table. > The book is there.

    Ex: Elle dort dans la voiture. > Elle y dort.
    She is sleeping in the car. > She is sleeping there.

  • If the preposition à is followed by a thing (NOT  a person), or a place, you will replace both the preposition and the noun with y.
    Ex: Est-ce que tu téléphones au restaurant?
    Oui, j'y téléphone.

    Ex: Est-ce que tu penses aux examens?
    Non, je n'y pense pas.

  • Rappelez: Y will follow the same rules as object pronouns:
    1) Y will ALWAYS go before the verb giving its action to the thing or location.
    2) To make a sentence negative using y, you will place the ne... pas around both the verb and y.
  • The pronoun "en" is used to replace the preposition de/du/des (of) followed by people or things.
  • En will translate to some, or about/from/of + if/him/her/them/us/you/me.
  • Whenever you see the word "de," you will use en to replace both de and the noun that follows it.
    Ex: Est-ce qu'il parle de son livre? > Oui, il en parle.
    Is he talking about his book? > Yes, he is talking about it.

    Ex: Qu'est-ce que vous pensez du président? > Je n'en pense rien.
    What do you think of the president? > I don't think anything.

  • Note that there is no difference between people and things with the use of "en."
  • En is also used to replace the expressions of quantity, and the partitive article use of de/du/des.
    Ex: Est-ce que tu mange des frites? > Non, je n'en mange aucunes.
    Are you eating some fries? > Non, I'm not eating any.

    Ex: Tu as deux chiens, non? > Oui, j'en ai deux.
    You have two dogs, right? > Yes, I have two (of them).

    Ex: Est-ce que les devoirs ont beaucoup de problèmes? > Non, ils n'en ont pas beaucoup.
    Does the homework have a lot of problems? > No, it doesn't have a lot (of them).

  • Note that when using expressions of quantity, you will replace the quantity and restate the expression.
    Ex: Est-ce que tu veux un morceau de pain?
    Oui, j'en veux un morceau.

Activities

Je Veux
Use the song "Je Veux" by Zaz to help students to see indirect object pronouns in action.
  1. Give the students the song lyrics in French.
  2. Have the students watch the video, then write a prediction of what they think the song is about.
  3. Have students go through and highlight any known vocabulary or cognates.
  4. Play the video again and ask the students to write another prediction as to what they think the song is about the second time around.
  5. Have students define unknown vocabulary by using context clues and a dictionary.
  6. Next, ask the students to underline any instances of the pronouns y and en that they see in the song and identify what it replaced as well as what it means.
  7. Finally, watch the video one last time and have the students write a summary of what they think the song is about now.
  8. If your students are curious, give them the opportunity to look at the lyrics in English and watch the video one last time.

Additional Sites

Tex's French Grammar - Y
An explanation of the usage of y with many examples and a practice activity.

Tex's French Grammar- En
An explanation of the usage of en with many examples ans a practice activity.

Videos

Video courtesy of Parapluie French.