en (partitiu)

Partitive En

Level 2

Partitive en replaces an understood indefinite noun while its quantity remains expressed.

How It Works

If the topic is apples, vull tres pomes can become en vull tres. En replaces the noun idea, not the number: retain tres. The same pattern works with no en tinc cap and en tenim prou.

A noun modifier can remain with de when the noun is omitted: en vull de verdes. For a single item, the quantifier un/una remains: en vull una. Do not use the definite pronoun les when you mean an unspecified number of apples rather than the whole identified group.

En also replaces suitable complements introduced by de, as in parlar-ne. That is related but not the same as a quantified object. Choose its role from the construction; the presence of an English of is not a universal test.

Examples (3)

  1. Vols pomes? En vull dues.

    Would you like apples? I want two.

  2. No en tenim cap.

    We do not have any.

  3. De pa, en queda una mica.

    There is a little bread left.

How It Connects

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en (partitiu)Level 2Partitive En

Learn This First

Recognize indefinite noun phrases and quantities.

Words in This Pattern