français · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
The pronouns y and en
Replace à + thing or a place with y, and de + thing or a quantity with en.
Understand the choice
Y and en package preposition plus complement. Preserve any stated quantity after en, and generally use stressed pronouns rather than y/en for people. Their position is before the conjugated verb.
Core rule: Y replaces a place or à + non-person; en replaces de + noun, a partitive phrase, or a quantity expression.
Notice it in context
Tu vas à la bibliothèque ? Oui, j’y vais après le travail.
Are you going to the library? Yes, I am going there after work.
Y replaces à la bibliothèque and precedes vais.
Vous avez besoin de ce document ? Oui, j’en ai besoin.
Do you need this document? Yes, I need it.
En replaces de ce document inside avoir besoin de.
Elle achète trois pommes et j’en prends deux.
She buys three apples and I take two.
En replaces the noun, while deux preserves the quantity.
What to remember
- Y can mean there without a visible à phrase: on y va.
- En appears in fixed expressions such as s’en aller and en vouloir à.
Common trap: Do not drop the number after en: j’en prends deux, not simply j’en prends when “two” matters.