Pronouns: Y, EN & Relative Basics
Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of sentence flow by replacing repetitive nouns with elegant pronouns and connectors.
- Replace places and abstract ideas with the tiny powerhouse 'y'.
- Manage quantities and partitive articles using the versatile 'en'.
- Combine simple sentences into complex ones using qui, que, and où.
What You'll Learn
Using y, en, and basic relative pronouns qui, que, où.
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Using the 'Y' Pronoun (There / About It)Use
yto replace locations and objects followingàto sound like a fluent, natural French speaker. -
French Pronoun Y: Replacing Places (Pronom y)Use
yto replace places preceded by prepositions (exceptde) to sound like a natural, efficient French speaker. -
The Pronoun EN: Replacing 'Some' and Quantities (`en`)Use
ento replace anything starting withdeor a number to avoid sounding repetitive in conversation. -
French Pronoun 'EN': How to talk about quantities (some, of it)Use 'en' to replace 'de' + noun phrases to talk about quantities without being repetitive.
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French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject ConnectorUse
quito replace a subject noun and connect it directly to a following verb without elision. -
Connecting Sentences with 'Que' (Direct Object)Use
queto link a noun to a subject/verb clause when that noun is the direct object. -
French Relative Pronoun: 'Où' (Where/When)Use
oùto connect a place or time to a description, even when English uses 'when'.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to replace prepositional phrases starting with 'à' using 'y' in spoken responses.
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2
By the end you will be able to answer questions about quantities correctly using 'en' and specific numbers.
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3
By the end you will be able to join two related sentences into one cohesive statement using relative pronouns.
Key Examples (8)
Tu vas à la salle de sport ? Oui, j'y vais maintenant.
Are you going to the gym? Yes, I'm going there now.
Using the 'Y' Pronoun (There / About It)Tu penses à ton avenir ? Oui, j'y pense souvent.
Do you think about your future? Yes, I think about it often.
Using the 'Y' Pronoun (There / About It)Tu veux du gâteau ? Oui, j'en veux !
Do you want some cake? Yes, I want some!
The Pronoun EN: Replacing 'Some' and Quantities (`en`)J'ai besoin de mon chargeur. J'en ai besoin tout de suite.
I need my charger. I need it right now.
The Pronoun EN: Replacing 'Some' and Quantities (`en`)J'ai pris deux cafés ce matin, donc j'en ai pris deux.
I took two of them.
French Pronoun 'EN': How to talk about quantities (some, of it)Je mange des frites, tu en veux ?
Do you want some?
French Pronoun 'EN': How to talk about quantities (some, of it)Tips & Tricks (4)
Check the preposition
Placement
The Quantity Rule
The 'En' Sandwich
Key Vocabulary (6)
Real-World Preview
At the Local Market
Planning a Trip
Review Summary
- Sujet + y + Verbe
- Sujet + en + Verbe (+ Nombre)
- Nom + qui + Verbe
- Nom + que + Sujet + Verbe
Common Mistakes
Use 'qui' when the pronoun is the subject of the following verb (habite). 'Que' is for objects.
In French, you cannot leave a number 'hanging' without a pronoun. You must use 'en' to mean 'of them'.
Always use elision with 'je' before 'y' or 'en' to maintain the flow of the language.
Rules in This Chapter (7)
Next Steps
You've just unlocked a major level of fluency. These pronouns are the 'glue' of the French language. Keep practicing and you'll sound like a native in no time!
Look at a photo of your kitchen and describe what you have using 'en' (e.g., 'J'en ai trois').
Write 5 sentences about your favorite movie using qui and que.
Quick Practice (10)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector
L'année ___ j'ai fini mon diplôme.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun: 'Où' (Where/When)
C'est la maison ___ j'habite.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun: 'Où' (Where/When)
Le livre ___ je lis est bon.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Connecting Sentences with 'Que' (Direct Object)
Find and fix the mistake:
J'ai besoin de ça. -> J'ai besoin en.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Pronoun EN: Replacing 'Some' and Quantities (`en`)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using the 'Y' Pronoun (There / About It)
Les gens ___ travaillent ici sont gentils.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector
L'homme ___ mange est mon père.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun 'Qui': The Subject Connector
Find and fix the mistake:
La ville que j'habite est grande.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Relative Pronoun: 'Où' (Where/When)
Find and fix the mistake:
Je pense à Marie. J'y pense.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using the 'Y' Pronoun (There / About It)
Score: /10
