en ...add footnote?

Marnie C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

en ...add footnote?

Would it be possibe to add a note addressing the use of “en” in this sentance? “Je voulais en savoir plus de cet artiste ensorcelant.”  I understand why “en” replaces but not the underpinning of this structure where it is not referring to a previous subject and where the object is wtitten out.  This part of the lesson on “en” is probablt covered in another lesson covering other aspects of the use of “en” but not here....
Asked 5 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
"En" in this context can be thought of to stand for "of that", even though it doesn't translate very well like this.
Marnie C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

It’s the linguistic underpinning I’m after... not the “translation”.  “Je voulais en savoir plus.”. is the meaning.  I’d like to know why and when a native speaker would add “de...” after “en” has already been used in same sentence.

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
I'm afraid you're looking for an explanation where there is none. "Je voulais en savoir plus" is like an idiomatic expression. And French is a highly idiomatic language where rules seem to be there to only to justify the exceptions.

en ...add footnote?

Would it be possibe to add a note addressing the use of “en” in this sentance? “Je voulais en savoir plus de cet artiste ensorcelant.”  I understand why “en” replaces but not the underpinning of this structure where it is not referring to a previous subject and where the object is wtitten out.  This part of the lesson on “en” is probablt covered in another lesson covering other aspects of the use of “en” but not here....

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