does "y" *HAVE* to replace a noun following "à"

Rebecca L.C1Kwiziq community member

does "y" *HAVE* to replace a noun following "à"

Je réponds à la lettre. Tu ________ réponds aussi.


I used "la" rather than "y," but that was considered wrong.  How do I know when to use which?

Asked 1 year ago
CélineKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Rebecca,

Take a look at the links below:

y vs le

y with people

Remember that with "verbs that require the preposition à, y can replace a group introduced by the preposition à [thing(s)/object(s)/location(s)] - except people".

Je réponds à la lettre -> J'y réponds  -> y = thing/object - indirect object

Je vais à Paris -> J'y vais  -> y = location - indirect object

Attention:

Je parle à Marie -> Je lui parle -> lui = person - indirect object

Je mange la pomme -> Je la mange  -> la = thing/object - direct object

See here: Using le/la/l'/les = it/him/her/them (French Direct Object Pronouns)  -  Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)  -  Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

In your example you cannot use la and need to use y. This is because la only replaces a direct object, but répondre à requires an indirect object. 

does "y" *HAVE* to replace a noun following "à"

Je réponds à la lettre. Tu ________ réponds aussi.


I used "la" rather than "y," but that was considered wrong.  How do I know when to use which?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...