PEOPLE OR THINGS
INDIRECT OBJECT
EN and Y,
DISJUNCTIVE PRONOUNS

The choice of an object pronoun depends upon whether the pronoun replaces: a direct object; the preposition "de" plus its object; the preposition "à" plus its object; or any other preposition plus its object.

The choice of object pronoun can also depend upon whether the object signifies:
1) a person; or 2) a thing.

I Direct object pronouns (which replace nouns that immediately follow the verb) do not vary according to whether they signify a person or a thing.

Example:
Il voit le car. il le voit. Il voit le garçon. Il le voit.

II 1) When a noun signifying a person follows the preposition "à," preposition and noun are replaced either by:

a) an indirect object pronoun (me, te, lui, etc.) after most verbs;

b) "à" plus a disjunctive pronoun (moi, toi, etc.) after a limited number of verbs, such as:
--verbs of movement: aller à, courir à, venir à, ...;
--other verbs: s'adresser à, penser à, songer à, rêver à, être à, avoir affaire à, faire attention à, prendre garde à, renoncer à, tenir à, s'en prendre à.

c) "à" plus a disjunctive pronoun when an indirect object is combined with one of the following pronouns acting as a direct object: me, te, nous, vous, se.

Example:
a) à+person after most verbs.
Il parle à Marie=>Il lui parle

b) à+person after a few verbs and after verbs of movement.
Elle vient à moi. Nous pensons à lui.

c) à+person when combined with direct object me, te, nous, vous, se.
Nous nous adressons à lui.

2) When a noun signifying a thing or a clause signifying an idea follow the preposition "à," preposition and noun or clause are replaced by "y":

Example:
Nous pensons à l'été. Nous y pensons.
Nous tenons à ce que tu nous accompagnes. Nous y tenons.

Note: When a place name follows any preposition (except "de"), noun and preposition are replaced by "y."

Example:
Elle reste devant l'église. Elle y reste.

Exercise A. Replace the bolded words with the appropriate object pronoun:
1. Tu ressembles à mon frère.

2. Nous songeons à nos parents.

3. Elle se rendait à la gare.

4. Vous vous adresserez au gérant.

5. Nous avions songé à notre passé.

6. Elle a téléphoné à son ami.

7. Elles attendaient l'heure du dîner.

8. Il se tenait debout derrière la gare.

III a) When a noun signifying a person follows the preposition "de," the noun is replaced by a disjunctive pronoun.

*Example:
Elle a rêvé de lui.

b) When a noun signifying a thing (or place) follows the proposition "de," preposition and noun are replaced by "en."

Example:
Nous avons parlé des examens. Nous en avons discuté.

c) The partitive and indefinite articles (du, de la, de l', des) and their object are replaced by "en" when referring to things or to an indefinite number of people.

Examples:
Elle a des livres. Elle en a.
Nous avons vu des foules. Nous en avons vu.

Note1: You can distinguish the use of "de" as an article from its use as a preposition by asking whether "de" follows a verb or expression that requires the preposition "de," such as "parler de," rather a verb or expression that requires a direct object, such as "avoir."

Note2: If the partitive article is replaced by: adjective + noun, number + noun, or expression of quantity+ noun, keep the adjective, number, or expression of quanity and replace the noun with "en."

Examples:
Tu a de belles idees. Tu en as de belles.
Elle a trois sofas. Elle en a trois.
Donne-moi plusieurs possibilites. Donne-m'en plusieurs.

Note3: Names of people after all prepositions other than "à" indirect object are replaced by the preposition+disjunctive pronoun.

Example:
Elle s'est assise près de lui.
Il se met devant moi.

Note4: "En" is used to mean "its" when "en" replaces a thing that possesses something else.

Example:
Paris est belle, mais les banlieues n'en sont pas toujours belles ("Its suburbs are not always beautiful")

Exercise B. Replace the bolded words with the appropriate object pronoun:
1. Tu te sépareras de Paul.

2. Elle a ri des conséquences de ses actions.

3. On portera des chaises.

4. L'université cherche de bons étudiants.

5. L'orage a renversé des arbres.

6. Ils viennent du Maroc.

7. Tu prends tes distances du professeur.

OVERVIEW OF OBJECT PRONOUNS "Y" AND "EN",
AND OF DISJUNCTIVE PRONOUNS:

To Print out Table:

Exercise C. Translate. Do not translate information between brackets:Click for vocabulary help

1. Our neighbor constructed it [his house].

2. They want to obey her [obéir à quelqu'un].

3. The accountant spoke a lot about him.

4. Applications? We will have some.

5. Is the judge there [in his chambers]?

6. Don't even think about it.

7.The book is hers [être à].

8. Sit down behind her.

9. Give me some peace.

10. He is going to present me to her.

11. Houses? We have three.

12.I alone have more experience than he.

13. Harvard? Its students are motivated.

Vocabulary:
neighbor=le voisin
construct=construire
accountant=le comptable
application=la demande
peace=la paix

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