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?

HE
Answered by Hannah E. French tutor

15692 Views

See similar French GCSE tutors

Related French GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do you form the conditional?


What is the speaker trying to have less of? L’année dernière, j’ai commencé à manger plus équilibré. Maintenant je mange une salade mixte à tous les repas. Je mange aussi plus de poisson qu’avant, souvent avec du riz. Je bois moins de coca.


Que pourrait-on faire pour réduire la pollution?


How can you revise for languages?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences