Advanced French Grammar

This 1999 grammar combines modern and traditional approaches, and 'correct expression' with current usage and deviations.

Monique L'Huillier (Author)

9780521482288, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 June 1999

720 pages
24.4 x 17 x 3.8 cm, 1.34 kg

'It is comprehensive, realistic and willing to include and rate variants, rather than summarily rejecting all but the most formal 'correct' language. Highly desirable for teachers' and advanced students' bookshelves.' Association for French Language Studies

This 1999 reference grammar, written for advanced students of French, their teachers, and others who want a better understanding of the French language, combines the best of modern and traditional approaches. Its objective is not only practical mastery of the language, but familiarity with its structure. Taking into account modern linguistic research, Advanced French Grammar approaches the French language primarily through the study of syntactic structures, but without excessive emphasis on formalism. It provides a generous number of examples, based on the author's own experience of teaching French to English-speakers, to help the student to understand the different meanings of apparently similar syntactic alternatives. The norms of 'correct expression' are given together with current usage and deviations, and appendixes provide information on the 1990 spelling reforms and on numbers. A substantial index of French and English words and of topics provides easy access to the text itself.

Part I. Framework: 1. Parts of speech
2. Syntax and grammatical functions
3. Pronunciation, spelling, registers, punctuation
Part II. Verbs: 4. Introduction to verbs
5. Present
6. Depuis and other tense markers
7. Future
8. Imperfect
9. Perfect
10. Past historic
11. Other past tenses
12. Subjunctive
13. Conditional and the expression of hypothesis
14. Imperative
15. Infinitive
16. Present participles
17. Past participles
18. Active and passive voices
19. Impersonal verbs and the impersonal voice
20. Pronominal verbs
21. Modals: devoir, pouvoir, vouloir
22. Savoir/connaître
Part III. Determiners and Prepositions: 23. Articles
24. Possessive adjectives, possession, attribution
25. Demonstrative adjectives
26. Prepositions
Part IV. Nouns, Pronouns and Modifiers: 27. Nouns
28. Qualifying adjectives
29. Adverbs
30. Comparatives and superlatives
31. Personal pronouns
32. Relative pronouns
33. Possessive pronouns
34. Demonstrative pronouns
35. C'est/il est
36. Indefinite words: adjectives, pronouns, adverbs
37. Numbers
Part V. Sentences and Text: 38. Negative structures
39. Interrogative and exclamative structures
40. Coordination and juxtaposition
41. Reported speech
Appendixes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Grammar & vocabulary [CJBG]