le, en, etc.

Question

The question in the quiz read:  Le DJ est insupportable.  Tout le monde ______ pense.  Fill in the blank with y en le, etc.  So the answer is le.  As I understand you use le when it replaces a phrase that starts with que or and infinitive.  Where is the indication that I should use le?  Thanks.

Accepted Answer

Just as an add-on to Maarten's answer:
Y replaces a phrase introduced with à:Je vais à la piscine. --> J'y vais. (I am going there.)
En replaces a phrase introduced by de:Je viens de la piscine. --> J'en viens. (I am coming from there.)
Le replaces a direct object (one without à or de). The verb penser can be used with all three options like this:
Je pense à notre problème. --> J'y pense.Qu'est-ce que tu penses de cela? --> Qu'est-ce que tu en penses?Tout le monde pense qu'il se trompe. --> Tout le monde le pense.

Answer

This particular situation is not specifically covered or explained in the lesson.

The first sentence is stating an opinion, without including the specifying language - it is 'incomplete', but everyday speech " meaning « (Je pense (trouve/crois) que le DJ est insupportable »

The 2nd sentence without using « le » would be «Tout le monde pense que le DJ est insupportable » - the clause being replaced is a clause starting with que, even though there is not a « que » to be seen in this snippet.

Perhaps an example of this fairly common situation from everyday speech would be worthwhile including in the lesson.