Pronominal adverb en

a. En is commonly used as equivalent to de + pronoun (standing usually for a thing). In other words, en replaces de + pronoun, i.e., of (from, etc.) it or them; thence; from there, besides having its customary meaning of some (of it, of them), that we observed when the partitive was being considered.

Vient-il de France ?

Il en vient.

Elle aime ses enfants, et elle en est aimée.

Does he come from France ?

He comes from there.

She loves her children, and she is loved by them.

b. En replaces de (required by certain verbs) + pronoun of the third person. Common verbs requiring de are the following :

avoir besoin de, to need jouir de, to enjoy l

s'apercevoir de, to notice se passer de, to do without

s'approcher de, to approach se servir de, to make use of, use

se contenter de, to be satisfied with se souvenir de, to remember penser de, to think of, have opinion of

Je m'approche de la fenêtre.

Elle s'en est approchée.

Il se sert des livres.

Je m'en suis servi.

Que pensez-vous de ce livre ?

Qu'en pensez-vous?

I approach the window.

She approached it.

He uses the books.

I used them.

What do you think of this book ?

What do you think of it {of them) ?

1 Don't confuse this enjoy with s'amuser, to amuse oneself, enjoy oneself, have a good time.