Pronouns: Usage of 'en' — Catalan Grammar

The pronoun is a weak pronoun (pronom feble) that primarily replaces a noun or phrase introduced by the preposition (of, from, about). It has two forms depending on the sound that follows:

is used before a word starting with a consonant.
n' is used before a word starting with a vowel or 'h'.

Replacing a Part of a Whole (Partitive)

The most common use of is to refer to a part of a larger group or an unspecified quantity of something. This is often translated as "some," "any," "of it," or "of them." When is used this way, the word indicating the quantity (a number, an adverb, or an indefinite article) must remain in the sentence.

Used with numbers:

Vols galetes? Sí, en vull dues.
Do you want cookies? Yes, I want two (of them).
Quants germans tens? En tinc un.
How many siblings do you have? I have one (of them).

Used with adverbs of quantity like (a lot), (a little), (enough), or (much/many, in negative sentences):

Teniu pa? No, no en tenim gaire.
Do you (pl.) have bread? No, we don't have much (of it).
Necessites més temps? Sí, en necessito una mica més.
Do you need more time? Yes, I need a little more (of it).

Replacing Complements of Verbs and Nouns

can also replace a complement that is required by a verb, adjective, or noun and is introduced by .

It can replace a verb's complement (complement de règim verbal). Many verbs are followed by , and replaces the entire + noun phrase. Common verbs include: (to talk about), (to remember), (to forget), and (to realize).

Parleu de la feina? Sí, n'estem parlant.
Are you (pl.) talking about work? Yes, we're talking about it.
S'ha oblidat de les claus. Se n'ha oblidat.
He/She has forgotten the keys. He/She has forgotten them.

It can also replace a noun's or adjective's complement:

Estàs content del resultat? Sí, n'estic molt content.
Are you happy with the result? Yes, I'm very happy with it.
Tinc ganes de vacances. Jo també en tinc moltes ganes.
I'm looking forward to the holidays. I'm also really looking forward to them.

Replacing 'From a Place'

When indicates origin or movement away from a place, is used to replace the phrase. This is often translated as "from there" or "from it."

Quan tornes de l'oficina? En torno a les sis.
When do you come back from the office? I come back (from there) at six.
Ja has sortit de casa? Sí, n'acabo de sortir.
Have you already left the house? Yes, I just left (from there).

This contrasts with the pronoun , which is used for location or movement towards a place (e.g., -> ).

Placement of 'en'

Like other weak pronouns, the position of depends on the verb form.

Before a conjugated verb: - I buy some every day.
Attached to the end of an infinitive: - I want to buy some.
Attached to the end of a gerund: - He is eating some.
Attached to the end of a positive command: - Eat some!

Fixed Expressions: 'Anar-se'n'

Some verbs incorporate as a fixed part of their meaning. The most common is , which means "to leave" or "to go away," and is more definitive than just (to go).

A quina hora te'n vas?
What time are you leaving?
Me'n vaig, adéu!
I'm leaving, goodbye!
Vés-te'n d'aquí!
Get out of here!

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Catalan course

7 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 49. A few of them, with the words “Pronouns: Usage of 'en'” is about in bold:

Ets la primera persona que se n'adona!
You are the first person to notice!
Lesson 337

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