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Pronom adverbial
The adverbial pronoun en can replace a quantity, a place, or the object of the preposition de. This little word has many possible translations:
- any
- one
- some
- about it / them
- from it / them
- of it / them
Par exemple…
| Voulez-vous une orange ? Je vais en manger une. | Do you want an orange? I’m going to eat one. | |
| – Combien d’enfants as-tu ? – Je n’en ai pas. | – How many kids do you have? – I don’t have any. |
Using en
En most commonly replaces de plus a noun, though in certain constructions it can replace just a noun or even a phrase.
1. En with indefinite and partitive articles
En replaces an indefinite or partitive article plus a noun.
Par exemple…
Il cherche des idées. Il en cherche.J’en ai une. | He’s looking for ideas. He’s looking for some (of them). I have one (of them) | |
| Tu manges des épinards ? Tu en manges ? J’en veux aussi. | Are you eating spinach?Are you eating some (of it) / (some of) it? I want some too. |
While the words (in parentheses) are optional in English, en is required in French: Il cherche, J’ai une, Tu manges, and Je veux are not complete sentences. The person you’re talking to would be left wondering "you have one what?" or "you want what?" despite the seemingly obvious answers. En provides an essential link to the noun in the sentence that precedes it.
2. En with numbers
En replaces the noun after a number. Note that the number itself is maintained at the end of the sentence.
Par exemple…
| J’achète 5 bouteilles. J’en achète 5. | I’m buying 5 bottles. I’m buying 5 (of them). | |
| J’ai une fille. J’en ai une. | I have one daughter. I have one. |
3. En with quantities
En replaces the noun after an indefinite adjective or replaces de + noun after an adverb of quantity. Again, the adjective/adverb itself is tacked on to the end of the sentence.
Par exemple…
| J’ai plusieurs anoraks noirs. J’en ai plusieurs. | I have several black jackets. I have several (of them). | |
| L’hôtel a beaucoup de charme. L’hôtel en a beaucoup. | The hotel has a lot of charm. The hotel has a lot (of it). |
4. En with places
En can replace de + a place or an adverb of place.
Par exemple…
| Je rentre de Paris. J’en rentre. | I’m returning home from Paris. I’m returning home from there. | |
| Il vient de là . Il en vient. | He’s coming from there. |
4. En with verbs that need de
With French verbs that must be followed by de plus a noun, en can replace de + that noun:
Par exemple…
| Que pensez-vous de cette décision ? Qu’en pensez-vous ? | What do you think about this decision? What do you think (about this)? | |
| J’ai besoin d’un stylo. J’en ai besoin. | I need a pen. I need one / it. |
5. En with clauses
En can also refer back to a preceding sentence or clause.
Par exemple…
| Elle est enceinte. J’en suis certain. | She’s pregnant. I’m certain of it. | |
| Il a perdu son emploi, et j’en suis malade. | He lost his job and I feel sick about it. |
6. En in set phrases
En is also a preposition.
Related lessons
- Y – adverbial pronoun
- PwLF super list of adverbial pronoun lessons
- Direct object pronouns
- Indirect object pronouns
- Word order with double pronouns
- Adverbs of place
- Adverbs of quantity
- Indefinite adjectives
- Numbers
- All about en
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