The Pronoun En: Replacing 'De + Something' and Quantities
The partner of y — replacing de-phrases and expressing 'some' or 'of it'
Category: Pronouns
The Rule
En replaces de + noun (partitive, quantity, or complement of verbs taking de). It also replaces a number/quantity expression, keeping the number: J'en ai trois.
Why This Matters
Like y, en has no direct English translation. It means 'of it,' 'of them,' 'some,' or 'from there.' English speakers constantly forget to use it because English simply drops these words: 'Do you have any?' — 'Yes, I have some' vs. 'Tu en as ?' — 'Oui, j'en ai.' The en is mandatory in French where 'some/of it' is implied.
Examples
• Tu veux du café ? — Oui, j'en veux. — "Do you want coffee? — Yes, I want some." [en replaces du café] • J'ai trois frères. — Moi, j'en ai deux. — "I have three brothers. — I have two." [en + number: 'two of them'] • Elle parle de son travail. — Elle en parle souvent. — "She talks about her work. — She often talks about it." [en replaces de son travail] • Il revient de Paris. — Il en revient. — "He's coming back from Paris. — He's coming back from there." [en replaces de Paris (origin)]
Common Mistakes
❌ Tu veux du café ? — Oui, je veux. ✅ Oui, j'en veux. → In French, you can't just drop 'some.' You must include en to replace the partitive du café. ❌ J'ai trois. (without en) ✅ J'en ai trois. → When stating a quantity without repeating the noun, en is required before the verb. ❌ J'en ai des frères. ✅ J'ai des frères. / J'en ai (trois). → Don't use en AND the full noun. En replaces the noun — you can add a number, but not the noun again.
Quick Tip
If someone asks a question with du/de la/des/de, your answer almost certainly needs en. 'Tu manges du pain ?' → 'Oui, j'en mange.'
If someone asks a question with du/de la/des/de, your answer almost certainly needs en. 'Tu manges du pain ?' → 'Oui, j'en mange.'
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: Tu veux du café ? — Oui, je veux. → Correct: Oui, j'en veux.. In French, you can't just drop 'some.' You must include en to replace the partitive du café.
Incorrect: J'ai trois. (without en) → Correct: J'en ai trois.. When stating a quantity without repeating the noun, en is required before the verb.
Incorrect: J'en ai des frères. → Correct: J'ai des frères. / J'en ai (trois).. Don't use en AND the full noun. En replaces the noun — you can add a number, but not the noun again.
Quiz
How do you answer 'Tu as des enfants ?' with 'Yes, I have two'?