Personal pronouns - y, en

1 Y, en

The words y and en are object pronouns referring to places or things. As with other object pronouns, they come before the verb or auxiliary :

J'ai renoncé aux cigarettes  →  J'y ai renoncé

I've given up cigarettes / I've given them up

Elle s'est occupée de l'affaire  →  Elle s'en est occupée

She dealt with the matter / it

2 Y

2.1 Replacing à constructions

Y can replace words and phrases introduced by à:

Elle a consacré sa vie à la médecine  →   Elle y a consacré sa vie

She devoted her life to medicine / it

Etes-vous parvenu à le faire?  →   Oui, j'y suis parvenu

Did you manage to do it? Yes I did (manage it)

2.2 Y meaning there

Y can also have the meaning of there:

Je les ai laissés dans la cuisine, mais ils n'y sont plus 

I put them in the kitchen, but they're no longer there

2.3 Y in idioms

There are many idioms involving y. Here is a selection:

Cela s'est passé il y a trente ans

That happened thirty years ago

Rien n'y fait - je n'arrive pas à le réparer

It's no use - I can't fix it

Elle n'y peut rien

There's nothing she can do about it

Tu n'y arriveras jamais

You'll never manage

Je vais m'y mettre demain

I'll start tomorrow

Elle s'y est prise à plusieurs fois

She tried several times

Il s'y connaît en voitures

He knows all about cars

Il s'y retrouve très bien

He's coping very well

3 En

3.1 Replacing de constructions

En can replace words and phrases introduced by de:

Il se souvient bien de cette journée  → Il s'en souvient bien

He remembers it well

Je n'ai pas le droit de le faire - Si, tu en as le droit

I don't have the right to do it - Yes you do (have the right)

3.2 En replacing de as article

The same rule applies where the de is not a preposition (as in de cette journée) but an article (as in du chocolat):

Je voudrais du chocolat  →  J'en voudrais

I'd like some

Je voudrais des cigarettes  →  J'en voudrais

I'd like some cigarettes / I'd like some

3.3 En replacing nouns introduced by un, une

En can also replace nouns introduced by un, une, even though it does not contain de, because the idea of of is implied. Note that in affirmative sentences un and une are retained, but not in negative sentences:

Est-ce que tu veux un chocolat? - Oui, j'en veux un

Do you want a chocolate? - Yes, I do want one [i.e. of them]

Est-ce que tu veux un chocolat? - Non, je n'en veux pas 

Do you want a chocolate? - No, I don't want one [i.e. of them]

3.4 En replacing expressions of quantity

A similar structure is used for all numerals plus the following expressions of quantity:

Tu en veux un autre? J'en ai plusieurs

Do you want another one? I have several

3.5 En in idioms

As with y, there are many idioms involving en. Here is a selection:

A en croire les journaux la situation s'aggrave

If the papers are to be believed the situation is getting worse

Va-t'en

Go away!

J'en ai pour 2 heures

I'll be / It'll take me 2 hours

J'en ai assez de sa vantardise

I've had enough of his / her boasting

J'en ai marre / ras-le-bol de ce projet

I'm fed up with this project

Il lui en veut (d'avoir menti)

He's annoyed with him / her (for lying)

Il s'en est pris à moi

He took it out on me

Tu t'en sors?

Can you manage?