y
The French pronoun y is an invariable object pronoun. It most often replaces a complement introduced by à or a place previously mentioned or understood. It usually answers the question “to what?” or “where?”. It appears before the verb, except in affirmative imperatives.
Core meanings and functions
Replacing a place complement
y replaces a complement of place, whether literal or abstract, when that place is not a person.
Common equivalents in English include there, to it, in it, on it.
Examples:
- Je vais à Paris. J’y vais demain. I am going to Paris. I am going there tomorrow.
- Il travaille dans ce bureau. Il y travaille depuis dix ans. He works in that office. He has worked there for ten years.
- Nous sommes allés au cinéma et nous y retournerons. We went to the cinema and we will go back there.
- Tu restes ici ou tu y vas maintenant ? Are you staying here or are you going there now?
Synonyms or alternatives:
- Repetition of the place noun: Je vais à Paris instead of J’y vais.
- A demonstrative phrase: dans cet endroit, à cet endroit.
Replacing an indirect object introduced by à
y replaces an inanimate indirect object introduced by à. It does not replace people.
Examples:
- Il pense à son avenir. Il y pense souvent. He thinks about his future. He thinks about it often.
- Nous répondons à la question. Nous y répondons clairement. We are answering the question. We are answering it clearly.
- Tu tiens à ce projet ? Oui, j’y tiens beaucoup. Do you care about this project? Yes, I care about it a lot.
- Ils s’habituent au climat. Ils s’y habituent vite. They are getting used to the climate. They are getting used to it quickly.
Not used with people:
- Je pense à Paul. cannot become J’y pense. It becomes Je pense à lui.
Synonyms or alternatives:
- Repetition with à cela in very formal contexts.
- Restructuring the sentence: Ce projet est important pour moi.
With common verbs that require à
Many frequent verbs take à and therefore commonly use y.
Examples:
- Je participe à la réunion. J’y participe activement. I am taking part in the meeting. I am taking part in it actively.
- Il renonce à son idée. Il y renonce. He gives up his idea. He gives it up.
- Nous survivons à cette crise. Nous y survivons. We survive this crisis. We survive it.
- Tu réussiras à cet examen. Tu y réussiras. You will succeed in this exam. You will succeed in it.
With expressions of obligation, tendency, or effort
y frequently appears in set verbal expressions.
Examples:
- Il faut penser à l’avenir. Il faut y penser. One must think about the future. One must think about it.
- Je m’attends à un changement. Je m’y attends. I expect a change. I expect it.
- Nous veillons à la sécurité. Nous y veillons. We ensure safety. We ensure it.
Position of y in the sentence
Before a conjugated verb
y is placed immediately before the verb.
Examples:
- J’y crois. I believe in it.
- Nous y allons. We are going there.
- Ils s’y intéressent. They are interested in it.
With two verbs
When there is an infinitive, y usually comes before the infinitive’s governing verb.
Examples:
- Je vais y penser. I am going to think about it.
- Nous devons y aller. We must go there.
- Il préfère y renoncer. He prefers to give it up.
In compound tenses
y comes before the auxiliary.
Examples:
- J’y ai réfléchi. I have thought about it.
- Nous y sommes allés. We went there.
- Ils s’y sont habitués. They got used to it.
In the imperative
In affirmative imperatives, y follows the verb and is linked with a hyphen. In negative imperatives, it returns to its usual position before the verb.
Examples:
- Vas-y. Go there.
- Allons-y. Let’s go.
- N’y pense pas. Do not think about it.
- N’y allons pas. Let’s not go there.
Combination with other pronouns
y follows me, te, se, nous, vous, and precedes en.
Order example:
- Je m’y habitue. I am getting used to it.
- Nous nous y attendons. We expect it.
- Il y en a beaucoup. There are many of them there.
Caution!
y does not replace:
- People introduced by à.
- Complements introduced by de.
- Direct objects.
Incorrect:
- Je parle à Marie. J’y parle.
Correct: - Je lui parle.
Summary
- Y mainly replaces places and inanimate complements introduced by à.
- It usually means there, to it, or in it.
- It appears before the verb, except in affirmative imperatives.
- It cannot replace people or complements introduced by de.
