What does the word "Y" represent?

[Une]

In the following passage, what does the word "y" in the sentence "Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés" represent?

Après des années de pourparlers, c'est officiel : le taux de la TVA baissera à 5,5 % dans la restauration le 1er juillet, et cela se verra sur l'addition ! Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés auprès du gouvernement.

Une

[Crack1]

Usually 'y' means. there'.

Est-il à Paris? Is he in Paris?
Ou, il y est. Yes, he is there.
........................................................................................................
Another meaning is the English word 'it'.

J'y pense sans cesse.
I am always thinking of it.
............................................................................................................

Another meaning is 'him' or 'her'.

Pensez-vous à lui? Do you think of him/her?
Oui, j'y pense. Yes, I do.

I am sure there are so many nuances. Frank, Neil, Marc and the others will tell you more.

[Une]

Crack1, many thanks for your explanation.

I do know, up to a certain extent, how 'y' is being used. Say, in the following 3 examples:

1. Il pense à notre voyage = Il y pense (the 'y" replaces "à notre voyage")
2. Tu dois obéir à la loi = Tu dois y obéir (the 'y' replaces "à la loi")
3. Je vais chez toi = Je y vais (the 'y' replaces 'chez toi')

But in 'Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés auprès du gouvernement.", what does the "y' replace?

Une

[Frank]

"y" can be an adverb

In this case, it means "there", or "in here". As an adverb, it's always placed before the verb.

Je vais à la maison.
J'y vais.

Je l'ai mis dans le placard.
Je l'y ai mis.


"y" can be a pronoun

In that case, it replaces "à + an object" (not a person). In that case, it's also placed before the verb.

Tu dois obéir à la loi
Tu dois y obéir

Je prends goût à la coutûre
J'y prends goût.

If this is a person, "à + a person" should be replaced by "lui".

Tu dois obéir à Pamela
Tu dois lui obéir

Je vais payer une bière à mon ami
Je vais lui obéir

(note that "lui" stands both for the masculine and the feminine)

If you want to replace "de + object", use "en" :

Je vais changer les roues de ma voiture
Je vais en changer les roues

Robert boit du Diet Coke
Robert en boit

Y can also mean "le", "la" or "les" as objects

In some regions (so take it with a grain of salt), "y" also sometimes stands for "le", "la" or "les". It's almost exclusively used with the verb "faire".

Je vais faire le ménage
Je vais le faire
Je vais y faire

[Une]

Many thanks, Frank.

[Frank]

Je vais payer une bière à mon ami
Je vais lui obéir

Oops, stupid copy/paste negligence, of course the second sentence should be:
Je vais lui payer une bière

[Une]

Thanks Frank. I would have to leave that regional idiosyncrasy of le, la, les bit out as what you and the others have given me will take me sometime to remember.

You mentioned: Je prends goût à la coutûre. How would you translate this sentence?

Thanks in advance.

Une

[michael memmi]

to be precise. '' I start enjoying sewing''

[Une]

Many thanks, Michael.

[Frank]

In "Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés auprès du gouvernement.", "y" stands for "à + something (not a person)".

Les restaurateurs se sont engagés à baisser les prix
Les restaurateurs s'y sont engagés

[Une]

Excellent and many thanks, Frank.

I always thought it (the bit that 'y' replaces, in this case: à baisser les prix) has to be mentioned in the text before one could use 'y', but it looks like it is not always the case. Do you know what I am trying to say?

[Neil Coffey]

The general idea is mentioned ("baisser les prix", as Frank says). If it makes it easier, you could imagine y as standing for à ceci, à cela.

[Une]

Many thanks Neil.