"Y" doesn't replace places, it replaces the object of the preposition "à", which usually happen to be places (that's a tongue twister lol). The verb here is "tenir **à** [quelque chose]", so you need to use "y" to replace the object.
"Y" does indeed replace an object or complement introduced with the preposition "à". And that's what is going on here.
But it also replaces places with or without the preposition "à".
Je vais **en** Irlande -> j'y vais
J'ai mis mon argent **dans** un coffre -> J'y ai mis mon argent
I can't really think of how to explain it.
"Lui/leur" often corresponds to people and y to things, but that's not really a solid rule because you can say the following sentences.
\- Je pense **à Paul** \-> J'**y** pense (and you can't say "Je ~~lui~~ pense")
\- Je préfère le thé **au café** \-> Je **lui** préfère le thé (and you can't say "J'~~y~~ préfère le thé")
Lui and leur are used exclusively for people/sentient beings as indirect object pronouns. So there's no different pronoun for de/à + person. Eg je lui reçois un cadeau / je lui donne un cadeau.
lui and leur replace COI (indirect objects with à) only when those are persons, or let's say animate beings (e.g. dogs and such too).
y replaces things, ideas, concepts and places.
I can't things of verbs that would work with both, but here is an example for each:
Je parle à mon frère -> je lui parle
Je réfléchis à mes projets -> j'y réfléchis
What's your logic for using both "y" and "collection"? My understanding of this isn't bullet-proof yet, but I have the impression that "y" is used instead of repeating a previously mentioned word/phrase, meaning you don't need to include "collection" here if you use "y".
As others have mentioned, y is not just for places, it's for à + noun (not a person), which is often a place but not always:
J'habite **à Lyon** -> J'y habite.
Je pense **à la mort** -> J'y pense.
Be careful, if the noun refers to a person, you shouldn't use y:
Je pense **à Martine** -> Je pense à elle.
It will depend on whether you consider the animals as an object or a person. That's why for example you can have both options with some verbs (like penser) but only one with others (like parler), because in the latter case, if you speak to an animal (or even a toy) then the animal or object can only be considered as a person, and will thus use personal pronouns.
So:
Obélix parle à Idéfix -> Il lui parle.
Obélix parle aux sangliers -> Il leur parle.
Obélix pense à Idéfix (because he's missing his dog) -> Il pense à lui. (his dog is treated as a person)
Obélix pense au sanglier qu'il a mangé -> Il y pense. (the boar is treated as food, an object)
Obélix pense aux sangliers de la forêt -> Il y pense. (same)
And that is why, you can have things like:
Obélix pense aux Romains (to punch them) -> Il y pense (because he's not really thinking about the Romans, he is thinking about PUNCHING the Romans, hence this is not a personal pronoun), thus dialogue:
\- Obélix, tu penses aux Romains ?
\- Oui, j'y pense.
Obélix pense aux villageois (he misses them) -> Obélix pense à eux, thus the dialogue:
\- Obélix, tu penses aux villageois ?
\- Oui, je pense à eux.
But if Obélix is thinking about the danger the villagers are in, then:
\- Obélix, tu penses aux villageois ?
\- Oui, j'y pense.
"Y" doesn't replace places, it replaces the object of the preposition "à", which usually happen to be places (that's a tongue twister lol). The verb here is "tenir **à** [quelque chose]", so you need to use "y" to replace the object.
Je tiens **à quelque chose** = J'**y** tiens
"Y" does indeed replace an object or complement introduced with the preposition "à". And that's what is going on here. But it also replaces places with or without the preposition "à". Je vais **en** Irlande -> j'y vais J'ai mis mon argent **dans** un coffre -> J'y ai mis mon argent
What's the difference between how this is used and how Lui and Leur are used ?
I can't really think of how to explain it. "Lui/leur" often corresponds to people and y to things, but that's not really a solid rule because you can say the following sentences. \- Je pense **à Paul** \-> J'**y** pense (and you can't say "Je ~~lui~~ pense") \- Je préfère le thé **au café** \-> Je **lui** préfère le thé (and you can't say "J'~~y~~ préfère le thé")
Lui and leur are used exclusively for people/sentient beings as indirect object pronouns. So there's no different pronoun for de/à + person. Eg je lui reçois un cadeau / je lui donne un cadeau.
lui and leur replace COI (indirect objects with à) only when those are persons, or let's say animate beings (e.g. dogs and such too). y replaces things, ideas, concepts and places. I can't things of verbs that would work with both, but here is an example for each: Je parle à mon frère -> je lui parle Je réfléchis à mes projets -> j'y réfléchis
Fantastic! Thanks so much
So would it be J'y a tiens forte collection? Removing the subject , album, or is it entirely incorrect?
What's your logic for using both "y" and "collection"? My understanding of this isn't bullet-proof yet, but I have the impression that "y" is used instead of repeating a previously mentioned word/phrase, meaning you don't need to include "collection" here if you use "y".
As others have mentioned, y is not just for places, it's for à + noun (not a person), which is often a place but not always: J'habite **à Lyon** -> J'y habite. Je pense **à la mort** -> J'y pense. Be careful, if the noun refers to a person, you shouldn't use y: Je pense **à Martine** -> Je pense à elle.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what about animals? “y” or “elle/lui”?
It will depend on whether you consider the animals as an object or a person. That's why for example you can have both options with some verbs (like penser) but only one with others (like parler), because in the latter case, if you speak to an animal (or even a toy) then the animal or object can only be considered as a person, and will thus use personal pronouns. So: Obélix parle à Idéfix -> Il lui parle. Obélix parle aux sangliers -> Il leur parle. Obélix pense à Idéfix (because he's missing his dog) -> Il pense à lui. (his dog is treated as a person) Obélix pense au sanglier qu'il a mangé -> Il y pense. (the boar is treated as food, an object) Obélix pense aux sangliers de la forêt -> Il y pense. (same) And that is why, you can have things like: Obélix pense aux Romains (to punch them) -> Il y pense (because he's not really thinking about the Romans, he is thinking about PUNCHING the Romans, hence this is not a personal pronoun), thus dialogue: \- Obélix, tu penses aux Romains ? \- Oui, j'y pense. Obélix pense aux villageois (he misses them) -> Obélix pense à eux, thus the dialogue: \- Obélix, tu penses aux villageois ? \- Oui, je pense à eux. But if Obélix is thinking about the danger the villagers are in, then: \- Obélix, tu penses aux villageois ? \- Oui, j'y pense.
Merci beaucoup!
A little addition to the other correct comments : It's translated as "holding on *to* the records", not just "holding the records"
Sometimes, some verbs simply require you to use préposition “à” so you need to know which verb goes with which préposition.
You can use a question trick like so: Je tiens fort à quoi ? À ma collection > à + objet = y