Modern French Grammar: A Practical Guide

by Margaret Lang;

• ISBN13: 9780415331623
• ISBN10: 0415331625
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-08-13
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This new edition of the Modern French Grammaris an innovative reference guide to French, combining traditional and function-based grammar in a single volume.The Grammaris divided into two parts. Part A covers traditional grammatical categories such as word order, nouns, verbs and adjectives. Part B is carefully organized around language functions and notions such as:* giving and seeking information* describing processes and results* expressing likes, dislikes and preferences.With a strong emphasis on contemporary usage, all grammar points and functions are richly illustrated with examples. Implementing feedback from users of the first edition of the Grammar, this second edition includes:* clearer explanations* greater emphasis on areas of particular difficulty for learners of French.This is the ideal reference grammar for learners of French at all levels, from beginner to advanced. No prior knowledge of grammatical terminology is assumed and a glossary of grammatical terms is provided.This Grammaris complemented by the Modern French Grammar Workbook, Second Edition (ISBN 0-415-33163-3) which features related exercises and activities.

Author Biography

Isabelle Perez is Teaching Fellow at the School of Management and Languages, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	x
How to use this book	xiv
Glossary	xv
SECTION A Structures
I The noun group	3	(67)
1 Articles	3	(1)
2 The definite article	3	(6)
3 The indefinite article	9	(1)
4 The partitive article	10	(3)
5 Demonstrative adjectives	13	(2)
6 Demonstrative pronouns	15	(2)
7 Possessive adjectives	17	(2)
8 Possessive pronouns	19	(1)
9 Nouns	20	(7)
10 Adjectives	27	(8)
11 Indefinite adjectives, pronouns and adverbs	35	(9)
12 Personal pronouns	44	(4)
13 Reflexive pronouns	48	(1)
14 Emphatic pronouns; position and order of pronouns	48	(5)
15 Relative pronouns	53	(4)
16 Interrogative pronouns, adjectives and adverbs	57	(5)
17 Cardinal and ordinal numbers	62	(3)
18 Fractions	65	(1)
19 Approximate quantities	66	(1)
20 Dimensions	66	(2)
21 Adverbs of quantity	68	(2)
II The verb group	70	(63)
22 Agreement of verb and subject	70	(3)
23 Formation of tenses	73	(1)
24 The indicative tenses; the present tense	73	(6)
25 The future tense	79	(3)
26 The imperfect tense	82	(2)
27 The past historic	84	(2)
28 The compound tenses	86	(1)
29 How the perfect is used	87	(2)
30 How the future perfect is used	89	(1)
31 How the pluperfect is used	90	(1)
32 How the past anterior is used	91	(1)
33 The conditional and the conditional perfect	92	(3)
34 The subjunctive	95	(1)
35 The present subjunctive	96	(1)
36 The imperfect subjunctive	97	(1)
37 The perfect subjunctive	98	(1)
38 The pluperfect subjunctive	98	(1)
39 Sequence of tenses; uses of the subjunctive	98	(7)
40 Reflexive verbs	105	(2)
41 The passive	107	(3)
42 The past participle	110	(4)
43 The present participle	114	(2)
44 The imperative	116	(2)
45 The infinitive	118	(2)
46 Impersonal verbs	120	(2)
47 Adverbs	122	(7)
48 Prepositions	129	(4)
SECTION B Functions
III Exposition	133	(51)
49 Referring to people, things and places	133	(27)
49.1 Physical characteristics	133	(1)
49.2 Personality	134	(1)
49.3 Relationships	135	(2)
49.4 Age	137	(2)
49.5 Ownership	139	(4)
49.6 Dimensions	143	(2)
49.7 Quantity and number	145	(4)
49.8 Quality	149	(1)
49.9 Comparison	150	(3)
49.10 Directions	153	(2)
49.11 Location	155	(3)
49.12 Manner	158	(2)
50 Narrating	160	(1)
50.1 Present time	161	(1)
50.2 Past time	163	(1)
50.3 Future time	165	(1)
50.4 Dates and time	166	(1)
50.5 Sequence	170	(2)
51 Reporting	172	(5)
52 Asking questions	177	(4)
53 Negating	181	(3)
IV Attitude	184	(18)
54 Greeting and leave-taking	184	(1)
54.1 Greeting	184	(1)
54.2 Leave-taking	185	(1)
55 Expressing congratulations and appreciation	186	(1)
55.1 Congratulations	186	(1)
55.2 Appreciation	187	(1)
56 Expressing apologies and sympathy	188	(1)
56.1 Apologies	188	(1)
56.2 Sympathy	190	(2)
57 Expressing surprise and disgust	192	(1)
57.1 Surprise	192	(1)
57.2 Disgust	193	(1)
58 Expressing contrasting attitudes, emotions, feelings	194	(1)
58.1 Likes and dislikes	194	(1)
58.2 Preference	196	(1)
59 Love and hate	197	(1)
60 Enthusiasm and indifference	198	(1)
61 Hopes, fears and regrets	199	(1)
62 Approval and disapproval	200	(2)
V Argumentation	202	(72)
63 Agreeing and disagreeing	202	(1)
63.1 Agreeing	202	(1)
63.2 Disagreeing	203	(1)
63.3 Agreeing to differ	206	(1)
64 Asserting and confirming	207	(1)
64.1 Asserting	207	(1)
64.2 Confirming	208	(1)
65 Admitting and conceding	209	(1)
65.1 Admitting	209	(1)
65.2 Conceding	209	(2)
66 Correcting and protesting	211	(2)
67 Contradicting and criticizing	213	(2)
68 Suggesting and persuading	215	(1)
68.1 Suggesting	215	(1)
68.2 Persuading someone to think the way you do	216	(1)
68.3 Persuading someone to do/not to do something	218	(1)
68.4 Other ways of persuading and dissuading	218	(2)
69 Expressing volition	220	(1)
69.1 Verbs expressing volition	221	(1)
69.2 Wishing and intending	222	(1)
69.3 Asking what someone intends	223	(1)
69.4 Asking someone for something	224	(1)
69.5 Expressing (un)willingness to act upon request	226	(1)
69.6 Deliberate or non-deliberate actions	227	(1)
69.7 Saying what you do not want	228	(1)
70 Expressing permission and obligation	229	(1)
70.1 Permission	229	(1)
70.2 Prohibition	230	(1)
70.3 Obligation	231	(1)
70.4 Exemption	234	(2)
71 Expressing doubt and certainty	236	(1)
71.1 Doubt and certainty	236	(1)
71.2 Possibility and probability	240	(1)
71.3 Condition and hypothesis	245	(4)
72 Expressing logical relations	249	(1)
72.1 Cause - explicit	249	(1)
72.2 Cause - implicit	252	(1)
72.3 Consequence - explicit	253	(1)
72.4 Consequence - implicit	256	(1)
72.5 Aim	256	(3)
73 Expressing opposition	259	(5)
74 Structuring	264	(1)
74.1 Beginning	264	(1)
74.2 Continuing	268	(1)
74.3 Ending	269	(5)
VI The sounds of French	274	(4)
75 Vowels	274	(1)
76 Nasal vowels	274	(1)
77 Semi-vowels/semi-consonants	274	(1)
78 Consonants	274	(1)
79 Accents, cedilla, diaeresis	275	(1)
80 Liaison	276	(1)
81 Elision	276	(2)
Verb tables	278	(14)
Index of grammar structures and functions	292