Y can replace à + thing / object / location (adverbial pronoun)

In: Level B1, Pronouns, Préposition, Pronom adverbial
Questions: 35

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.

(Note that y can replace plural things too)

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

Préposition

Pronom adverbial

Examples and resources

penser à

Il pense à ses vacances. Il y pense.
He's thinking of his holidays.  He's thinking of it.

Nous pensons à faire nos devoirs. Nous y pensons.
We're thinking about doing our homework. We're thinking about 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

Max

Kwiziq community member

11 March 2019

1 reply

Family = people?

I was surprised to see on one of my tests that "à ma famille" could be replaced by "y," since I thought you could not use "y" as a pronoun for people. Could you use "y" in place of "à mes amis" as well, for example -- as in "Je pense à mes amis." --> "J'y pense"? Can you please clarify this rule? Thanks!

Marie

Kwiziq language super star

9 April 2019

9/04/19

Hi Max!

A similar question was asked in this thread, here is what Laura wrote:

"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."

Juliette

Kwiziq community member

13 January 2019

5 replies

Commencer à does not work

Bonjour ! 

I have been told by French people that I cannot apply this rule to the verb commencer à. 

For example: 

Je commence à faire mes devoirs. J'y commence. 

I am starting to do my homework. I'm starting it. 

Is it an exception ? Or is it just socially not regularly used ? 

Merci ! 

Alan

Kwiziq community member

13 January 2019

13/01/19

I think the rule is that "à + infinitive" can only be replaced with "y" after verbs that either:

a) also take à before a noun, e.g. penser ("Je pense à mes devoirs")

b) never take a noun object, e.g. arriver.

An example of a) is included in the lesson:

Nous pensons à faire nos devoirs. Nous y pensons.

An example of b) is:

Je n'arrive pas à faire mes devoirs".  Je n'y arrive pas.

Commencer takes a direct noun object ("je commence mes devoirs") so you can't use "y" to replace an infinitive.

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

14 January 2019

14/01/19

Hi Juliette,

Just to add to Alan’s answer you will never hear -

J’y commence...

You have to say =

‘Je commence à les faire’ 

Hope this helps !

 

Bill

Kwiziq community member

17 January 2019

17/01/19

Bonjour, i've read this thread of questions a few times and I can't seem to understand why you can't say "J'y commence" since commencer is followed by à.  Which i also see is the case on another site that indicates you use à after commencer to mean to begin to.

Is it just idiomatic that you can't say J'y commence and is an exception or is this related to a rule?  If so i'm not sure I see how that is explained.  Perhaps someone can help me?  Is it because "y" can only replace a thing or object (which may precede a noun, such as "à faire mes devoirs") and not replace just a verb?

Also, the comment by Alan states that commencer takes a direct object which contradicts Cécile's response that indicates it does.  Is Alan's statement incorrect?

Merci

Alan

Kwiziq community member

17 January 2019

17/01/19

I don't think there's any contradiction between Cécile's reply and mine.

Commencer takes à before a verb, but not before a noun.

Penser takes à before a verb, and also before a noun.

It's this subtle difference that means you can say "j'y pense" but not "j'y commence", even if it's a verb that you're intending to replace.

I tried to explain the rule in my original reply. (It's not explained in the lesson, but you can find it explained this way in some grammar books.)

Bill

Kwiziq community member

17 January 2019

17/01/19

Oh I see thank you. Very tricky

Shrey

Kwiziq community member

28 November 2018

4 replies

Doubt in a sentence from the lesson

Bonjour Madame,

I have often read about the usage of "Penser à + (quelqu'un)"

But in the sentence from the lesson which reads-

"Nous pensons à faire nos devoirs. Nous y pensons"

Here I think the form "penser de + (quelquechose) should be used as the people are forming an opinion of something(doing their homework)

So consequently the phrase should be replaced by 'en'.

The same thought is for the very next sentence.

Pls guide and verify whether my thought is correct or not.

Merci beaucoup.

Chris

Kwiziq community member

28 November 2018

28/11/18

Penser à quelque chose -- To think of something (i.e., my thoughts are occupied with it)
Penser de quelque chose -- To think of/about something (i.e., forming an opinion)

Vous avez vu ce film? Qu'est-ce que vous en pensez -- Did you see this film? What do you think of (about) it?

Je n'y ai pas pensé. -- I didn't think of it (i.e., I forgot it)
Je n'en pense rien de mal. -- I don't think anything bad of if. (i.e., my opinion isn't bad)

I hope this helps a bit.

Shrey

Kwiziq community member

29 November 2018

29/11/18

But I am asking in context of the sentences from the lesson ?

Chris

Kwiziq community member

29 November 2018

29/11/18

In the context of "We are thinking about doing our homework", you would say "Nous y pensons." Because you are thinking about something in the sense that your thoughts are with the topic. Not in the sense what you belief about the topic.

I tried to address that distinction at the beginning of my first post.

Shrey

Kwiziq community member

29 November 2018

29/11/18

Merci beaucoup Chris

I have understood the concept

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!

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 May 2018

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 May 2018

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 April 2018

1 reply

Elle y repond ... why not elle le repond? (I can't get the accent to work so ignore that). I'm not sure when to replace with le or y

Leah

Kwiziq community member

29 April 2018

29/04/18

Wait I got it dont worry :)

John

Kwiziq community member

7 September 2017

3 replies

This, that and so

In discussing the use of "le" or " l' " in a response as a substitute for an idea in a previous statement the explanation is that in English we often use "that" or "it" in the same way. But in the translation you use the word "so," which is what we usually say. It's a small thing but I'd suggest adding "so" to those other words in the explanation.

Ron

Kwiziq community member

9 September 2017

9/09/17

Bonjour John, 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 September 2017

9/09/17

Bonjour encore John, Please know that I was able to locate the lesson you spoke of: Using le or l' to refer to previously mentioned ideas (direct object pronoun) 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 September 2017

9/09/17

Merci bien, Ron

Andrew

Kwiziq community member

23 August 2017

2 replies

Placement of y in a sentence using futur proche

I thought there was a rule that "y" should come before the verb (including auxiliary verb). There seems to be an exception when using the futur proche? For example: Je vais y reflechir rather than J'y vais reflechir.

Ron

Kwiziq community member

24 August 2017

24/08/17

Bonjour Andrew, 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.

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

25 October 2018

25/10/18

Hi Andrew,

In the case of two verbs following each other (as in this case of 'futur proche' using aller + verb), the pronoun 'y' goes in between the verbs.

e.g. 

Je vais y aller = I am going to go there

Elle rêve d'y aller = She dreams of going there

Tu vas y penser = You're going to think about it 

Je demande à y aller le plus vite possible = I am asking to go there as soon as possible

Hope this helps!

Andy

Kwiziq community member

15 January 2017

2 replies

You just have to watch all the movies

Hi. In the week 19 B1 writing test the above is translated as: Il n’y a qu’à regarder tous les films. I can understand 'you only have to watch' bit but please what purpose does the 'y' pronoun play here please? [And as an unrelated aside could this sentence not be simply said as: Vous devez juste regarder tous les films. ]

Aurélie

Kwiziq language super star

16 January 2017

16/01/17

Bonjour Andy ! 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 January 2017

16/01/17

Thanks Aurélie!

M

Kwiziq community member

7 January 2016

1 reply

On the test the question was "Il pense à sa famille. Elle y pense aussi.

If y = à plus thing/object/location (but not a person) and famille is a group of people why is y used?

Laura

Kwiziq language super star

7 January 2016

7/01/16

Bonjour M, 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.

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