French exercises / B1 / PronounsWhich one replaces à + thing, and which one replaces de + thing.
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Y vs en
Y replaces a phrase introduced by à: a place you are going to, or a thing you are thinking about. En replaces a phrase introduced by de, and it also replaces any quantity: some of it, three of them, none at all. Both sit directly in front of the verb.
Read the full explanationLes pronoms y et en: worked examples
Five from the set, with the answer filled in and the rule that decides it.
- 01
Oui, elle y va tous les mardis.
y stands in for à + a place, and sits in front of the verb.
- 02
Oui, il en vient.
Coming from somewhere is de + place, so en, not y.
- 03
Elle y pense tout le temps.
y stands in for à + a thing, not only for places.
- 04
Elle en a besoin ce week-end.
avoir besoin de: the de is what en replaces.
- 05
Il en parle sans arrêt.
parler de quelque chose gives en; parler à would give y or lui.