Tu veux venir à la piscine? - Oui, je le veux. Y vs Le?

David C.B1Kwiziq community member

Tu veux venir à la piscine? - Oui, je le veux. Y vs Le?

Tu veux venir à la piscine? - Oui, je le veux.


Why would it not be:

Oui, je y veux.


We use venir à?


Asked 4 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

You have to look what exactly is being replaced:

Je veux venir à la piscine. Here, à la piscine is being replaced by y. Therefore the sentence becomes: Je veux y venir.

Je veux venir à la piscine. -- I want to come to the pool.
Je le veux. -- I want it.
Je veux y venir. -- I want to come there.

Kevin W.C1Kwiziq community member

Sam, I was a little confused initially but it occured to me that when you use "y" to replace a phrase beginning with "à" it is because you are talking about an action, wanting "to go" there the emphasis is on the action of going, when you replace a phrase beginning with "à" with "le" or "l'" it is because you are talking about an idea, the emphasis is upon "wanting" to go there, an idea not an action. Also the lesson suggests that "le" or "l'" mean "it" or "that" in English, not "there" which is the suggestion in other lessons with "y".  Would welcome the views of the experts on this perception.

Tu veux venir à la piscine? - Oui, je le veux. Y vs Le?

Tu veux venir à la piscine? - Oui, je le veux.


Why would it not be:

Oui, je y veux.


We use venir à?


Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Let me take a look at that...