What does 'en' mean?

En is a tricky one! This has several meanings, the most common being as follows; it can mean 'in' when referring to a country or a mode of transport, it can mean 'while' or 'by' when used with a present participle (eg 'en mangeant' - while eating). The hardest one to grasp is the use of 'en' as an adjective, meaning 'of it'. It always comes BEFORE the verb in the sentence, when that vreb is referring to it. For example, 'I hate this game, I have had enough of it!' - je déteste ce jeux, j'EN ai marre!' literally, you have to say 'I of it have had enough!' More examples: I do not like vegetables, so I don't eat many [of them] - Je n'aime pas de legumes, donc je n'EN mange pas beaucoup. Again, you are literally saying 'I do not like vegetables, so I don't of them eat many.

Do you play sport? I play several [of them] - Est-ce que tu fais du sport? J'EN fais plusieurs.

I made a cake, do you want some of it? - J'ai préparé un gâteau, tu EN veux?

Answered by Hannah E. French tutor

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