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!
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 Forum 11 questions, 24 answers
MarieKwiziq language super star
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."
Max asked:View original
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!
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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 !
Asked 6 months ago
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 !
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.
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
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.)
Juliette asked:View original
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 !
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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.
Asked 7 months ago
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.
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 asked:View original
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.
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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
Asked 11 months ago
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!
Louis asked:View original
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
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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 ?
Asked 1 year ago
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 !
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.
Michael asked:View original
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 ?
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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
Asked 1 year ago
Leah asked:View original
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
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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.
Asked 1 year ago
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,
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 asked:View original
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.
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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.
Asked 1 year ago
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!
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.
Andrew asked:View original
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.
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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. ]
Asked 2 years ago
AurélieKwiziq language super star
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 asked:View original
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. ]
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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?
Asked 3 years ago
LauraKwiziq language super star
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.
M asked:View original
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?
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Penser + à + infinitive
In an article on About.com, Laura Lawless explained that no preposition is needed when an infinitive follows "penser" eg "Je pense aller au marché" (http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/penser.htm). So why is it that in the given example "We are thinking about doing our homework" the preposition "à" is used before "faire". The example given is "nous pensons à faire nos devoirs". Isn't that a contradiction? I have found other links that seem to agree with the About.com article: http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/why-french-verbs-followed-no-not-any-nothing-preposition-infinitive, http://bit.ly/1MAR8H1, http://bit.ly/1SXvroK; but i also encounter a French natives and learners who say you can use the preposition "à" before an infinitive. It seems that without the preposition the sense is someone is close to doing something/intends on doing something (it is already planned) and that with the preposition "à" then idea is someone is just thinking ABOUT doing something.
At first I could find nothing to support this theory but today I seem to find such explanations everywhere! http://bit.ly/1WYqT7j. So which is it? If there is more to the topic, can Laura add to it on her page "All About Penser"?
Asked 3 years ago
LauraKwiziq language super star
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 asked:View original
Penser + à + infinitive
In an article on About.com, Laura Lawless explained that no preposition is needed when an infinitive follows "penser" eg "Je pense aller au marché" (http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/penser.htm). So why is it that in the given example "We are thinking about doing our homework" the preposition "à" is used before "faire". The example given is "nous pensons à faire nos devoirs". Isn't that a contradiction? I have found other links that seem to agree with the About.com article: http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/why-french-verbs-followed-no-not-any-nothing-preposition-infinitive, http://bit.ly/1MAR8H1, http://bit.ly/1SXvroK; but i also encounter a French natives and learners who say you can use the preposition "à" before an infinitive. It seems that without the preposition the sense is someone is close to doing something/intends on doing something (it is already planned) and that with the preposition "à" then idea is someone is just thinking ABOUT doing something.
At first I could find nothing to support this theory but today I seem to find such explanations everywhere! http://bit.ly/1WYqT7j. So which is it? If there is more to the topic, can Laura add to it on her page "All About Penser"?
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