Essential French Grammar is a student-friendly French grammar designed to give learners a firm foundation on which to build a real understanding of both spoken and written French. Clear explanations of grammar are supported by contemporary examples, lively cartoon drawings and a variety of exercises.
Key features of the second edition include:
each grammar point explained initially with reference to English
parallels between English and French provided where relevant
‘Key points’ box and tables that summarize grammar concepts
real-life language examples in French, with English translations
a variety of exercises to reinforce learning
a contemporary primary source or literary extract to illustrate grammar in context
a contemporary primary source or literary extract to illustrate grammar in context
This second edition includes an introductory chapter that describes the lexical and grammatical differences between French and English. A glossary of grammatical terms in French and English, useful verb tables, and a key to the exercises are also provided, making this an ideal resource for both independent and class-based learners.
Essential French Grammar is an innovative reference grammar and workbook for intermediate and advanced undergraduate students of French. This text is ideal for students at CEFR levels B1 to C1, or Intermediate High to Advanced on the ACTFL scale.
Chapter Resources
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Chapter 2 – Nouns
The key points concerning nouns – gender, number and noun phrases – are set out at the beginning of the chapter. In the first section, the four different types of…
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Chapter 3 – Determiners
This chapter covers all those words which give a context to a noun: the articles, both definite (le/la etc.) and indefinite (un/une /des), partitive articles (du/de la etc.), demonstrative adjectives…
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Chapter 4 – Pronouns
The first part of the chapter addresses the use of pronouns, as subject (je/tu/il/elle etc.), direct object (me/te/le/la/les etc.), indirect object (me/te/lui/leur etc.) and “stressed” (moi/toi/lui etc.), as well as…
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Chapter 5 – Adjectives
First this chapter makes the general point that adjectives are used in a similar way in French as in English, but the key points list significant differences, in that French…
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Chapter 6 – Numbers
The three types of numbers covered in this chapter are: cardinal, used for counting (2, 12 etc), ordinal, used for putting things in order (deuxième, sixième etc.), and numbers used…
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Chapter 7 – Adverbs
The use of adverbs to modify other parts of speech is explained initially and it is pointed out that there are different types of adverbs. The key points box explains…
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Chapter 8 – Negation
The negative expressions in French are listed initially, followed by a key points box, which stresses the rules for the placing of negatives before and after the verb. The first…
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Chapter 9 – Verbs 1
This chapter is the first of four chapters which analyse the verb, the key part of the sentence grammatically. The three verb groups in French are outlined. The importance of…
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Chapter 10 – Verbs 2: Tenses of the indicative
This chapter begins with a table which shows the complex elements which underlie sentences, relating to mood, tense, person, number and voice. Certain of these concepts are then explained in…
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Chapter 11 – Verbs 3: The imperative, the infinitive, participles
Three areas relating to the verb are examined separately in this chapter: the imperative mood, the infinitive (the form of the verb which is not inflected) and the present and…
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Chapter 12 – Verbs 4: The subjunctive
This chapter begins by explaining the distinction between the subjunctive and the indicative and enlarges on the concept of the subjunctive in the key points box. Contrastive examples of subjunctive…
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Chapter 13 – Prepositions
In the introduction to the chapter, the nature of prepositions, as well as their function within the sentence, is explained, after which some specific differences between French and English usage…
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Chapter 14 – Conjunctions
The nature of conjunctions, as well as their function in linking phrases and sentences, is explained initially. The two types of conjunction, co-ordinating and subordinating, and their different roles within…
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Chapter 15 – Relative pronouns
After an initial discussion of what relative clauses are, the two functions of relative pronouns, as pronouns and subordinating conjunctions are explained, with examples. The first section describes the agreement…
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Chapter 16 – Questions and exclamations
The introduction describes the two types of direct questions that may be asked – those requiring the answer yes or no and those introduced by a question word – and…
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Chapter 17 – Punctuation, accents, spelling, and specific sounds in French
The four areas are analysed following the order of the chapter title. In the first section, the various punctuation marks are listed and analysed; specific differences between French and English…