You've already learned that the pronoun y is used to mean there (See Y = There (adverbial pronoun)).
Here is another usage of y.
Look at these sentences:
Nous pensons à faire nos devoirs. Nous y pensons.
We're thinking about doing our homework. We're thinking about it.
Il pense à ses vacances. Il y pense.
He's thinking of his holidays. He's thinking of it.
Elle répond à une lettre. Elle y répond.
She's answering a letter. She's answering it.
Nous nous intéressons au sport. Nous nous y intéressons.
We're interested in sport. We're interested in it.
Note that the pronoun y can also replace a group introduced by the preposition à + [thing(s)]/[object(s)]/[location(s)] (but not a person), particularly with verbs that require à.
In such cases, you cannot replace the noun alone with a pronoun, you must replace the whole à + [noun] group with y.
ATTENTION:
In the case of people, the group à + [people] will be replaced by an indirect pronoun. See Replacing people with lui, leur = him, her, them (indirect object pronouns) and Me, te, nous, vous = Me, you, us, you (direct and indirect object pronouns).
Also see En can replace de + phrase (adverbial pronoun)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
penser à
Nous pensons à faire nos devoirs. Nous y pensons.
We're thinking about doing our homework. We're thinking about it.
Il pense à ses vacances. Il y pense.
He's thinking of his holidays. He's thinking of it.
répondre à
Elle répond à une lettre. Elle y répond.
She's answering a letter. She's answering it.
s'intéresser à
Nous nous intéressons au sport. Nous nous y intéressons.
We're interested in sport. We're interested in it.
Q&A
Michael
Kwiziq community member
5 May 2018
2 replies
The pronoun Y
I am not clear on these two examples even after rereading the lesson. I can't see the exact phrase or object that is being replaced (assuming its introduced by à or a prepositional verb). Is there another situation where "en" can be used.
- Tu te rappelles quand Luc a perdu à Donkey Kong à deux secondes de la fin ? J'ai les boules à chaque fois que j'y pense !
- Quand j'ai vu le “Game Over”, je n'arrivais pas à y croire ! Il me reste quatre tickets, et toi ?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
5/05/18
Bonjour Michael !
Here you have to look at the verbs used in the clauses with "y":
- "à chaque fois que j'y pense !"
-> here the verb is penser à [quelque chose]
- "je n'arrivais pas à y croire !"
-> here the structure is croire à/en [quelque chose]
I hope that's helpful!
Bonne journée !
Michael
Kwiziq community member
6/05/18
Of course! Thank you Aurélie,
I had only been looking in the first sentence for 'y' candidates, but the answer is obvious now that you have pointed it out.
Am I correct to also assume that , under most circumstances, if the verb was verb + de [quelque chose] then the adverbial pronoun would be en.
Also, under the right conditions( I have read your lessons an à and de), if it was a non prepositional verb the pronoun would be le.
Leah
Kwiziq community member
29/04/18
Ron
Kwiziq community member
9/09/17
I understand your question; however, I am unable to locate the lesson relating to "le" or " l' " in a response as a substitute for an idea in a previous statement. I do recall this lesson; however, it would be quite beneficial to all users, if you would consider re-posting your question along with the related lesson for that precise usage.
Bonne chance,
Ron
Kwiziq community member
9/09/17
Please know that I was able to locate the lesson you spoke of:
https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/my-languages/french/view/706
I do see your point and agree with you that in English we do use «so» quite frequently. Perhaps, the team will consider the inclusion of «so» in the list with «that» and «it»
A very good observation.
Bonne chance en votre continuation,
John
Kwiziq community member
9/09/17
Ron
Kwiziq community member
24/08/17
With the lesson here, «y» is replacing a group of words, i.e. a clause, etc. that begins with «à». Here is the part of the lesson that explains this:
Note that the pronoun y can also replace a group introduced by the preposition à + [thing(s)]/[object(s)]/[location(s)] (but not a person), particularly with verbs that require à.
In such cases, you cannot replace the noun alone with a pronoun, you must replace the whole à + [noun] group with y.
You are correct that y precedes the verb and it does in your sentence, it precedes the verb reflechir meaning the locuteur is going to reflect on something and that something is a phrase or group of words that begins with à.
J'espère que cela vous aiderait.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
16/01/17
In this case, it's actually a variant of the expression "il y a" (there is/are) which is used:
"il n'y a qu'à + infinitif" meaning "It's enough to + verb" (Literally "there is only/just to + infinitif).
In this context, the best alternative with "vous" would actually be:
"Vous n'avez qu'à regarder tous les films." (I've now added it to the test answers)
I hope that's helpful!
Andy
Kwiziq community member
16/01/17
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
7/01/16
Good question. While "family" refers a group of people, in French the fact that it's a group is more important than what that group is comprised of. Y replaces the "group" not "people," if that makes sense.
You can't use y when referring to specific people by name, relationship, occupation, etc. I hope that makes sense.
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
18/11/15
Bonjour C,
Penser can be followed by à or not, with a very slight difference in meaning.
Penser faire = to consider doing, hope to do
Penser à faire = to have in mind to do
I left About nearly a year and a half ago, but I will keep your question in mind for when I write a new lesson on this topic. (To find my new site, just search for my name and French).
C
Kwiziq community member
19/11/15
Louis
Kwiziq community member
10 August 2018
1 reply
The pronoun Y: Il y a (there is), il y a (he has there) – confusion
Hello all,
I understand the basics of using Y as a pronoun but i’m confused about when to use it in certain cases. Especially when it can look like the fixed expression il y a (there is).
Please look at these examples
1: Il y a une fille – There is a girl
2: Il a une fille à Paris – He has a girl in Paris
3: Il Y a une fille – He has a girl THERE (in Paris)
1 & 3 look the same as both have « il y a », but il y a translates as « there is » in example 1 and « he has there » in example 3
How do you know when Il y a means « there is » or « he has there »
I have been told by a friend that you can’t use “il y a” for “he has there” not for sentence number 3
My question is: Why not ? Y replaces à Paris (one of the main uses of the Y pronoun) – I thought this was a simple logical rule.
My friend said “in french the sentence 3 in english it’s : il a une fille là. missing the “Y” ”
What is the rule around this?
because you can say
il a mangé à Paris > il y a mangé
but obviously in this situation, there cannot be any confusion with il y a (there is)
So my next question is now for ELLE
As above, I have been told that for Il y a une fille (he has a girl there (in Paris)) , you should in fact write
Il a une fille là
This prevents any confusion between il y a (there is) and il y a (he has there)
But for ELLE there is not confusion because « there is » is always « IL y a)
So for
Elle a un garçon à Paris
Can you write…
Elle y a un garçon – she has a boy there (in Paris)
As there is no confusion between il y a (there is) and elle y a (she has there)
Or do you still have to use là instead ?
Elle a une garçon là
I have also been told that elle y a doesnt exist, but surely the following example does.
Elle a mangé à Paris
Elle y a mangé
None of the french people i know can give me a rule or a straight answer, so if there is anyone who can answer these questions, I would be very grateful.
Best wishes,
Louis
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
13 August 2018
13/08/18
Hi Louis,
In my opinion, you would know the difference in meaning by the context .
I do agree that you would probably say:
"Il a une fille là-bas. "(rather than là) for, "He has a girl there (in Paris)." but I think you could use, "Il Y a une fille." if the context was clear, stressing the Y when speaking.
Same thing applies to your examples with Elle.
"Elle a un garçon là-bas." or " Elle Y a un garçon."
(I would probably use 'copain' or 'petit ami' instead of garçon)
Hope this helps!