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Can “y” be used not just for locations?


When to use the pronoun en?Can “y” replace proper nouns or not?Can adjectives be used as adverbs?When are “les”, “des”, etc used or not used?Why is “c'est” used in this sentence and not “est”?Can “aussi” be used to mean “either”?Can “ne… pas que” mean “Not only”?Why “me l'ont blessé” and not just “m'ont blessé” in this sentence?When can “tout” be used to mean “any”?Which prepositions are used for indirect objects?Can “du tout” be used positively?






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








1















I know the en vs y question is frequently asked but I still don't get it at all...



I thought en would always be used to prevent repeating an "object" which represents a location.



Par exemple:




Donnez-moi une suite au Ritz — je n'en veux pas.




And I thought y was always used for locations.



Par exemple:




J'étais à Paris hier et je veux y aller demain encore une fois.




But now I've heard Indila singing in her song:




Laissez-moi arriver, laissez-moi y croire....




And I cannot really figure out why is y used here instead of en.



Can anybody explain this to me?










share|improve this question



















  • 2





    For a native French speaker (like me), laissez-moi y croire is the only correct form I can think of. I’m unable to really explain why since it’s so natural. On the other hand, the misusage of ‘y’ is real in some regions, specially in Lyon where it’s overused.

    – Xvolks
    Jun 30 at 12:51






  • 1





    Does french.stackexchange.com/questions/16893/… answer your question?

    – Gilles
    Jun 30 at 13:41

















1















I know the en vs y question is frequently asked but I still don't get it at all...



I thought en would always be used to prevent repeating an "object" which represents a location.



Par exemple:




Donnez-moi une suite au Ritz — je n'en veux pas.




And I thought y was always used for locations.



Par exemple:




J'étais à Paris hier et je veux y aller demain encore une fois.




But now I've heard Indila singing in her song:




Laissez-moi arriver, laissez-moi y croire....




And I cannot really figure out why is y used here instead of en.



Can anybody explain this to me?










share|improve this question



















  • 2





    For a native French speaker (like me), laissez-moi y croire is the only correct form I can think of. I’m unable to really explain why since it’s so natural. On the other hand, the misusage of ‘y’ is real in some regions, specially in Lyon where it’s overused.

    – Xvolks
    Jun 30 at 12:51






  • 1





    Does french.stackexchange.com/questions/16893/… answer your question?

    – Gilles
    Jun 30 at 13:41













1












1








1








I know the en vs y question is frequently asked but I still don't get it at all...



I thought en would always be used to prevent repeating an "object" which represents a location.



Par exemple:




Donnez-moi une suite au Ritz — je n'en veux pas.




And I thought y was always used for locations.



Par exemple:




J'étais à Paris hier et je veux y aller demain encore une fois.




But now I've heard Indila singing in her song:




Laissez-moi arriver, laissez-moi y croire....




And I cannot really figure out why is y used here instead of en.



Can anybody explain this to me?










share|improve this question
















I know the en vs y question is frequently asked but I still don't get it at all...



I thought en would always be used to prevent repeating an "object" which represents a location.



Par exemple:




Donnez-moi une suite au Ritz — je n'en veux pas.




And I thought y was always used for locations.



Par exemple:




J'étais à Paris hier et je veux y aller demain encore une fois.




But now I've heard Indila singing in her song:




Laissez-moi arriver, laissez-moi y croire....




And I cannot really figure out why is y used here instead of en.



Can anybody explain this to me?







grammaire pronoms compléments






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 days ago









Stéphane Gimenez

26.1k12 gold badges57 silver badges132 bronze badges




26.1k12 gold badges57 silver badges132 bronze badges










asked Jun 30 at 12:32









messerbillmesserbill

1245 bronze badges




1245 bronze badges







  • 2





    For a native French speaker (like me), laissez-moi y croire is the only correct form I can think of. I’m unable to really explain why since it’s so natural. On the other hand, the misusage of ‘y’ is real in some regions, specially in Lyon where it’s overused.

    – Xvolks
    Jun 30 at 12:51






  • 1





    Does french.stackexchange.com/questions/16893/… answer your question?

    – Gilles
    Jun 30 at 13:41












  • 2





    For a native French speaker (like me), laissez-moi y croire is the only correct form I can think of. I’m unable to really explain why since it’s so natural. On the other hand, the misusage of ‘y’ is real in some regions, specially in Lyon where it’s overused.

    – Xvolks
    Jun 30 at 12:51






  • 1





    Does french.stackexchange.com/questions/16893/… answer your question?

    – Gilles
    Jun 30 at 13:41







2




2





For a native French speaker (like me), laissez-moi y croire is the only correct form I can think of. I’m unable to really explain why since it’s so natural. On the other hand, the misusage of ‘y’ is real in some regions, specially in Lyon where it’s overused.

– Xvolks
Jun 30 at 12:51





For a native French speaker (like me), laissez-moi y croire is the only correct form I can think of. I’m unable to really explain why since it’s so natural. On the other hand, the misusage of ‘y’ is real in some regions, specially in Lyon where it’s overused.

– Xvolks
Jun 30 at 12:51




1




1





Does french.stackexchange.com/questions/16893/… answer your question?

– Gilles
Jun 30 at 13:41





Does french.stackexchange.com/questions/16893/… answer your question?

– Gilles
Jun 30 at 13:41










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















11














The pronoun y replaces a complement representing something inanimate introduced by à.



Like your example shows (je crois à ça : j'y crois), it is not limited to locations.




Je réponds à la question : j'y réponds







share|improve this answer


















  • 3





    To build this out a little more, we might say: en replaces any complement introduced with de, of any kind whatsoever. y replaces (a) some inanimate complements introduced by à and (b) location complements introduced by à, en, dans (if you can think of any others, all the better)

    – Luke Sawczak
    Jun 30 at 13:28












  • thanks for your answer! But "une suite au ritz" - c'est aussi un à mais ici elle a dit je n'en veux pas

    – messerbill
    Jun 30 at 14:43






  • 3





    Je ne veux pas d 'une suite au Ritz !

    – jlliagre
    Jun 30 at 14:46






  • 1





    @LukeSawczak Any locative complement can be pronominalised by y, the preposition used doesn't matter much so long as it's not de. Je me suis assis sur le banc : je m'y suis assis, j'ai réservé une chambre hors de la ville : j'y ai réservé une chambre. Of course, other options are preferred to this locative y in spoken French, but in the formal language, it can and does refer to every kind of locative complement

    – Eau qui dort
    Jun 30 at 19:32






  • 1





    @jlliagre > It's not a dialog, that's the first sentence of the song "Je veux", by Zaz

    – Laurent S.
    Jul 1 at 10:19













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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









11














The pronoun y replaces a complement representing something inanimate introduced by à.



Like your example shows (je crois à ça : j'y crois), it is not limited to locations.




Je réponds à la question : j'y réponds







share|improve this answer


















  • 3





    To build this out a little more, we might say: en replaces any complement introduced with de, of any kind whatsoever. y replaces (a) some inanimate complements introduced by à and (b) location complements introduced by à, en, dans (if you can think of any others, all the better)

    – Luke Sawczak
    Jun 30 at 13:28












  • thanks for your answer! But "une suite au ritz" - c'est aussi un à mais ici elle a dit je n'en veux pas

    – messerbill
    Jun 30 at 14:43






  • 3





    Je ne veux pas d 'une suite au Ritz !

    – jlliagre
    Jun 30 at 14:46






  • 1





    @LukeSawczak Any locative complement can be pronominalised by y, the preposition used doesn't matter much so long as it's not de. Je me suis assis sur le banc : je m'y suis assis, j'ai réservé une chambre hors de la ville : j'y ai réservé une chambre. Of course, other options are preferred to this locative y in spoken French, but in the formal language, it can and does refer to every kind of locative complement

    – Eau qui dort
    Jun 30 at 19:32






  • 1





    @jlliagre > It's not a dialog, that's the first sentence of the song "Je veux", by Zaz

    – Laurent S.
    Jul 1 at 10:19















11














The pronoun y replaces a complement representing something inanimate introduced by à.



Like your example shows (je crois à ça : j'y crois), it is not limited to locations.




Je réponds à la question : j'y réponds







share|improve this answer


















  • 3





    To build this out a little more, we might say: en replaces any complement introduced with de, of any kind whatsoever. y replaces (a) some inanimate complements introduced by à and (b) location complements introduced by à, en, dans (if you can think of any others, all the better)

    – Luke Sawczak
    Jun 30 at 13:28












  • thanks for your answer! But "une suite au ritz" - c'est aussi un à mais ici elle a dit je n'en veux pas

    – messerbill
    Jun 30 at 14:43






  • 3





    Je ne veux pas d 'une suite au Ritz !

    – jlliagre
    Jun 30 at 14:46






  • 1





    @LukeSawczak Any locative complement can be pronominalised by y, the preposition used doesn't matter much so long as it's not de. Je me suis assis sur le banc : je m'y suis assis, j'ai réservé une chambre hors de la ville : j'y ai réservé une chambre. Of course, other options are preferred to this locative y in spoken French, but in the formal language, it can and does refer to every kind of locative complement

    – Eau qui dort
    Jun 30 at 19:32






  • 1





    @jlliagre > It's not a dialog, that's the first sentence of the song "Je veux", by Zaz

    – Laurent S.
    Jul 1 at 10:19













11












11








11







The pronoun y replaces a complement representing something inanimate introduced by à.



Like your example shows (je crois à ça : j'y crois), it is not limited to locations.




Je réponds à la question : j'y réponds







share|improve this answer













The pronoun y replaces a complement representing something inanimate introduced by à.



Like your example shows (je crois à ça : j'y crois), it is not limited to locations.




Je réponds à la question : j'y réponds








share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Jun 30 at 13:24









jlliagrejlliagre

73.2k4 gold badges51 silver badges124 bronze badges




73.2k4 gold badges51 silver badges124 bronze badges







  • 3





    To build this out a little more, we might say: en replaces any complement introduced with de, of any kind whatsoever. y replaces (a) some inanimate complements introduced by à and (b) location complements introduced by à, en, dans (if you can think of any others, all the better)

    – Luke Sawczak
    Jun 30 at 13:28












  • thanks for your answer! But "une suite au ritz" - c'est aussi un à mais ici elle a dit je n'en veux pas

    – messerbill
    Jun 30 at 14:43






  • 3





    Je ne veux pas d 'une suite au Ritz !

    – jlliagre
    Jun 30 at 14:46






  • 1





    @LukeSawczak Any locative complement can be pronominalised by y, the preposition used doesn't matter much so long as it's not de. Je me suis assis sur le banc : je m'y suis assis, j'ai réservé une chambre hors de la ville : j'y ai réservé une chambre. Of course, other options are preferred to this locative y in spoken French, but in the formal language, it can and does refer to every kind of locative complement

    – Eau qui dort
    Jun 30 at 19:32






  • 1





    @jlliagre > It's not a dialog, that's the first sentence of the song "Je veux", by Zaz

    – Laurent S.
    Jul 1 at 10:19












  • 3





    To build this out a little more, we might say: en replaces any complement introduced with de, of any kind whatsoever. y replaces (a) some inanimate complements introduced by à and (b) location complements introduced by à, en, dans (if you can think of any others, all the better)

    – Luke Sawczak
    Jun 30 at 13:28












  • thanks for your answer! But "une suite au ritz" - c'est aussi un à mais ici elle a dit je n'en veux pas

    – messerbill
    Jun 30 at 14:43






  • 3





    Je ne veux pas d 'une suite au Ritz !

    – jlliagre
    Jun 30 at 14:46






  • 1





    @LukeSawczak Any locative complement can be pronominalised by y, the preposition used doesn't matter much so long as it's not de. Je me suis assis sur le banc : je m'y suis assis, j'ai réservé une chambre hors de la ville : j'y ai réservé une chambre. Of course, other options are preferred to this locative y in spoken French, but in the formal language, it can and does refer to every kind of locative complement

    – Eau qui dort
    Jun 30 at 19:32






  • 1





    @jlliagre > It's not a dialog, that's the first sentence of the song "Je veux", by Zaz

    – Laurent S.
    Jul 1 at 10:19







3




3





To build this out a little more, we might say: en replaces any complement introduced with de, of any kind whatsoever. y replaces (a) some inanimate complements introduced by à and (b) location complements introduced by à, en, dans (if you can think of any others, all the better)

– Luke Sawczak
Jun 30 at 13:28






To build this out a little more, we might say: en replaces any complement introduced with de, of any kind whatsoever. y replaces (a) some inanimate complements introduced by à and (b) location complements introduced by à, en, dans (if you can think of any others, all the better)

– Luke Sawczak
Jun 30 at 13:28














thanks for your answer! But "une suite au ritz" - c'est aussi un à mais ici elle a dit je n'en veux pas

– messerbill
Jun 30 at 14:43





thanks for your answer! But "une suite au ritz" - c'est aussi un à mais ici elle a dit je n'en veux pas

– messerbill
Jun 30 at 14:43




3




3





Je ne veux pas d 'une suite au Ritz !

– jlliagre
Jun 30 at 14:46





Je ne veux pas d 'une suite au Ritz !

– jlliagre
Jun 30 at 14:46




1




1





@LukeSawczak Any locative complement can be pronominalised by y, the preposition used doesn't matter much so long as it's not de. Je me suis assis sur le banc : je m'y suis assis, j'ai réservé une chambre hors de la ville : j'y ai réservé une chambre. Of course, other options are preferred to this locative y in spoken French, but in the formal language, it can and does refer to every kind of locative complement

– Eau qui dort
Jun 30 at 19:32





@LukeSawczak Any locative complement can be pronominalised by y, the preposition used doesn't matter much so long as it's not de. Je me suis assis sur le banc : je m'y suis assis, j'ai réservé une chambre hors de la ville : j'y ai réservé une chambre. Of course, other options are preferred to this locative y in spoken French, but in the formal language, it can and does refer to every kind of locative complement

– Eau qui dort
Jun 30 at 19:32




1




1





@jlliagre > It's not a dialog, that's the first sentence of the song "Je veux", by Zaz

– Laurent S.
Jul 1 at 10:19





@jlliagre > It's not a dialog, that's the first sentence of the song "Je veux", by Zaz

– Laurent S.
Jul 1 at 10:19

















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