Look at these uses of en:
En as a pronoun can replace a noun when given a quantity of it = I bought twenty of them / I have three of them...
Note the order is as such:
Simple tense : en + [verb] + [number]
Close Future : aller + en + [infinitive] + [number]
Compound tense : en + [auxiliary] + [past participle] + [number]
This also applies to un / une (one):
as well as un autre / une autre (another one):
See also En can replace de + phrase (adverbial pronoun)
and Replacing nouns with le, la, l', les = it, him, her, them (direct object pronouns)
One of the examples given here is "Mon stylo s'est cassé alors j'en ai acheté un autre".
It seems to me that "Mon stylo s'est cassé alors j'ai acheté un autre" would work just as well, because "un autre" implies "un stylo". So would the second version (i.e. without "en") be: a) OK; b) clumsy; or c) just plain wrong?
Thanks
Hi Chris,
No, in French you have to have 'en' or repeat the word stylo which wouldn't be very elegant.
A French person will automatically use the 'en' so it is plain wrong not to do so.
Hope this helps!
Hi
My understanding when it comes to either en or y is that they are always required. I think your version would be understood -but incorrect.
One of the examples given here is "Mon stylo s'est cassé alors j'en ai acheté un autre".
It seems to me that "Mon stylo s'est cassé alors j'ai acheté un autre" would work just as well, because "un autre" implies "un stylo". So would the second version (i.e. without "en") be: a) OK; b) clumsy; or c) just plain wrong?
Thanks
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Please could please explain to me more on how ''en'' is used to replace plural items
Please could please explain to me more on how ''en'' is used to replace plural items
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I put t'en for a question and it said it was wrong
I see what you mean -
e.g.
Tu en veux? can be
T'en veux
but only in every day speech and it is very informal ....
I don't think context is needed. Can you contract "Tu en" to be "t'en" as a general rule?
I put t'en for a question and it said it was wrong
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3. Nous donne-t-il des billets d'avion ?
Varsha,
1. J'en ai envie une.
2. Il y en a dix sur la table.
3. Nous en donne-t-il ?
Non-native speaker so apologies in advance if I get corrected on any of these!
3. Nous donne-t-il des billets d'avion ?
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I would say "As-tu un examen sur ce sujet?"
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Chris's sentence refers to a topic. If you mean a school subject, I'd use the word "une matière" instead:
"As-tu un examen dans cette matière ? Oui, j'en ai un fin mars."
Bonne journée !
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