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 more detailed coverage of punctuation, accents, spelling and the specific sounds of French 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.

Includes index.

Cover; Half Title; Series Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Glossary of Grammatical Terms; Chapter 1: The French and English Languages Compared; 1.1 French and English: a common origin; 1.2 Vocabulary; 1.3 Grammar; Chapter 2: Nouns; 2.1 Types of nouns; 2.2 Gender; 2.3 Number; Chapter 3: Determiners; 3.1 The three types of article; 3.2 Forms of the articles; 3.3 The definite article; 3.4 The indefinite article; 3.5 The partitive article; 3.6 Omission of the article; 3.7 Demonstrative determiners; 3.8 Possessive determiners; Chapter 4: Pronouns 4.1 Subject pronouns4.2 Direct and indirect object pronouns; 4.3 y; 4.4 en; 4.5 Reflexive pronouns; 4.6 Order of object pronouns; 4.7 Stressed pronouns; 4.8 Coordination of personal pronouns; 4.9 Demonstrative pronouns; 4.10 Possessive pronouns; 4.11 Indefinite pronouns; Chapter 5: Adjectives; 5.1 The position of adjectives; 5.2 The feminine of adjectives; 5.3 Adjectives with a second masculine form; 5.4 The plural of adjectives; 5.5 Compound adjectives; 5.6 Agreement of adjectives with on; 5.7 Agreement of adjectives according to meaning; 5.8 Adjectives of colour; 5.9 Foreign borrowings 5.10 Special cases5.11 Adjectival expressions; 5.12 Comparison of adjectives; 5.13 Verbal adjectives; Chapter 6: Numbers; 6.1 Cardinal numbers; 6.2 Ordinal numbers; 6.3 Word order when a cardinal and ordinal number are together; 6.4 Approximate numbers; 6.5 Time; 6.6 Dates; 6.7 Measurements; 6.8 Fractions and calculations; 6.9 Quantifiers; Chapter 7: Adverbs; 7.1 Adverbs and adverbials; 7.2 Formation of adverbs ending in -ment; 7.3 Different types of adverbs; 7.4 Comparison of adverbs; 7.5 Position of adverbs; 7.6 Inversion after certain adverbs; Chapter 8: Negation 8.1 Position of negative expressions8.2 Order of negative expressions; 8.3 de with a direct object in negative sentences; 8.4 ne . . . aucun (no, not any, none); 8.5 ne . . . guère (hardly); 8.6 ne . . . jamais (never, not ever); 8.7 ne . . . ni . . . ni (neither . . . nor); 8.8 ne . . . nul(le) (no, not any); ne . . . nulle part (nowhere, not anywhere); ne . . . nullement (in no way, not in any way); 8.9 ne . . . pas (not); 8.10 ne . . . personne (nobody, not anybody, no one, not anyone); 8.11 ne . . . plus (no more, not any longer, no longer, not any more); 8.12 ne . . . que (only) 8.13 ne . . . rien (nothing, not anything)8.14 Omission of ne in speech; 8.15 Use of non and si; 8.16 n'est-ce pas ?; 8.17 Use of ne without a negative sense; 8.18 Negative words with sans; Chapter 9: Verbs 1; 9.1 The verb; 9.2 Characteristics of the verb; 9.3 Transitive and intransitive verbs; 9.4 Pronominal verbs; 9.5 Impersonal verbs; 9.6 Verbal aspect; Chapter 10: Verbs 2: Tenses of The Indicative; 10.1 Tenses; 10.2 The radical and verb endings; 10.3 The indicative mood; 10.4 The present tense; 10.5 The imperfect tense; 10.6 The compound past; 10.7 The simple past