What does the word "Y" represent?

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on August 12, 2009 at 7:38pm

Usually 'y' means. there'.

Est-il à Paris? Is he in Paris?
Ou, il y est. Yes, he is there.
........................................................................................................
Another meaning is the English word 'it'.

J'y pense sans cesse.
I am always thinking of it.
............................................................................................................

Another meaning is 'him' or 'her'.

Pensez-vous à lui? Do you think of him/her?
Oui, j'y pense. Yes, I do.

I am sure there are so many nuances. Frank, Neil, Marc and the others will tell you more.

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Permalink Reply by Une on August 13, 2009 at 8:01pm

Crack1, many thanks for your explanation.

I do know, up to a certain extent, how 'y' is being used. Say, in the following 3 examples:

1. Il pense à notre voyage = Il y pense (the 'y" replaces "à notre voyage")
2. Tu dois obéir à la loi = Tu dois y obéir (the 'y' replaces "à la loi")
3. Je vais chez toi = Je y vais (the 'y' replaces 'chez toi')

But in 'Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés auprès du gouvernement.", what does the "y' replace?

Une

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Permalink Reply by Frank on August 13, 2009 at 9:02pm

"y" can be an adverb

In this case, it means "there", or "in here". As an adverb, it's always placed before the verb.

Je vais à la maison.
J'y vais.

Je l'ai mis dans le placard.
Je l'y ai mis.


"y" can be a pronoun

In that case, it replaces "à + an object" (not a person). In that case, it's also placed before the verb.

Tu dois obéir à la loi
Tu dois y obéir

Je prends goût à la coutûre
J'y prends goût.

If this is a person, "à + a person" should be replaced by "lui".

Tu dois obéir à Pamela
Tu dois lui obéir

Je vais payer une bière à mon ami
Je vais lui obéir

(note that "lui" stands both for the masculine and the feminine)

If you want to replace "de + object", use "en" :

Je vais changer les roues de ma voiture
Je vais en changer les roues

Robert boit du Diet Coke
Robert en boit

Y can also mean "le", "la" or "les" as objects

In some regions (so take it with a grain of salt), "y" also sometimes stands for "le", "la" or "les". It's almost exclusively used with the verb "faire".

Je vais faire le ménage
Je vais le faire
Je vais y faire

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Permalink Reply by Une on August 13, 2009 at 9:23pm

Many thanks, Frank.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on August 14, 2009 at 12:01pm

Je vais payer une bière à mon ami
Je vais lui obéir

Oops, stupid copy/paste negligence, of course the second sentence should be:
Je vais lui payer une bière

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Permalink Reply by Une on August 14, 2009 at 5:32pm

Thanks Frank. I would have to leave that regional idiosyncrasy of le, la, les bit out as what you and the others have given me will take me sometime to remember.

You mentioned: Je prends goût à la coutûre. How would you translate this sentence?

Thanks in advance.

Une

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Permalink Reply by michael memmi on August 15, 2009 at 10:19am

to be precise. '' I start enjoying sewing''

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Permalink Reply by Une on August 15, 2009 at 4:17pm

Many thanks, Michael.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on August 13, 2009 at 9:08pm

In "Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés auprès du gouvernement.", "y" stands for "à + something (not a person)".

Les restaurateurs se sont engagés à baisser les prix
Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés

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Permalink Reply by Une on August 13, 2009 at 9:28pm

Excellent and many thanks, Frank.

I always thought it (the bit that 'y' replaces, in this case: à baisser les prix) has to be mentioned in the text before one could use 'y', but it looks like it is not always the case. Do you know what I am trying to say?

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Permalink Reply by Neil Coffey on August 14, 2009 at 11:42am

The general idea is mentioned ("baisser les prix", as Frank says). If it makes it easier, you could imagine y as standing for à ceci, à cela.

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Permalink Reply by Une on August 14, 2009 at 5:33pm

Many thanks Neil.

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