Y or ici.. When to use

Mark P.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Y or ici.. When to use

M'y answer feels awkward and is clearly wrong but i cannot find anywhere on the site that deals with when you need to use ici rather than ils n'y habitent plus in this situation... Think it needs là as well.

The help just takes you to ne..plus

Ils habitent ici? - Non, ils ________. Do they live here? - No, they don't live here any more.n'habitent plus icin'y habitent plus

Asked 3 years ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Mark, “y” doesn’t work because it would mean ‘there’ not here. Except in some idiomatic forms, ‘y’ refers to a “previously mentioned” (known) place. 

The somewhat over-the-top (to a non-native, at least) French link below does a decent job of discussing ici, là, là-bas 

https://youtu.be/D_mSDQ1hyFE

and Cécile has previously addressed ‘y’, ‘là’ or ‘là-bas’

https://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/y-vs-la-vs-la-bas

Mark P.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Many thanks  Maarten.. I rather  liked  thé video.. Very French!

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, so did I, but just in case others in the future want to take a peek, they will be forewarned that it is very “French” - which helps make it memorable ! 

Y or ici.. When to use

M'y answer feels awkward and is clearly wrong but i cannot find anywhere on the site that deals with when you need to use ici rather than ils n'y habitent plus in this situation... Think it needs là as well.

The help just takes you to ne..plus

Ils habitent ici? - Non, ils ________. Do they live here? - No, they don't live here any more.n'habitent plus icin'y habitent plus

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...