Le Y Pronom

Explication - The y pronoun expresses place. The y pronoun replaces a preposition plus its object. The typical translation for the y pronoun in English context is there. There are, however, other uses for the y pronoun in French. Everything depends on context. It is important to note that the y pronoun is tricky for English-speakers because it does not exist in English. In English, the word there suffices in most contexts. The y pronoun can refer to objects only, not to a person.

Look at how the Y pronoun works in French

Explication - In the table below you see sentences including the preposition and object. You then see what the y pronoun replaces.

Y Pronoun Examples

Phrase

Préposition

Objet

Phrase avec le pronom y

Il va à la boucherie.

(He is going to the butcher shop.)

à

la boucherie

Il y va.

(He is going there.)

Tu achètes des croissants à la boulangerie?

(You are buying croissants at the bakery?)

à

la boulangerie

Tu y achètes des croissants ?

(You are buying croissants there?)

Nous n'allons pas en France cet été.

(We are not going to France this summer).

en

France

Nous n'y allons pas cet été.

(We are not going there this summer.)

Le chat dort sous la table.

(The cat is sleeping under the table.)

sous

la table

Le chat y dort.

(The cat is sleeping there.)

Note:

Je + y = J'y
ne + y = n'y
de + y = d'y

Attention!

The y pronoun regularly comes before the verb of which it is the object, even in dual-verb constructions. Look at the example sentences below.

Dual-verb constructions with the y pronoun.

Y Pronoun Examples - Dual-Verb Constructions

Phrase (dual-verb)

Préposition

Objet

Phrase avec le pronom y

Il ne peut pas aller à la boulangerie à midi.

(He can not go to the baker at noon.)

à

la boulangerie

Il ne peut pas y aller à midi.

(He can go there at noon.)

Voulez-vous être au marché vers 13h?

(Do you want to be at the market around 1 pm?)

*au = à + le

le marché

Voulez-vous y être vers 13h ?

(Do you want to be there around 1 pm?)

Nous allons voyager en France cet été.

(We are going to travel in France this summer).

en

France

Nous allons y voyager cet été.

(We are going to travel there this summer.)

Le chat va dormir sur mon lit.

(The cat is going to sleep on my bed.)

sur

mon lit

Le chat va y dormir.

(The cat is going to sleep there.)

Practice Activity

Que faire ? - Complete the following activities to check your comprehension of the y pronoun.