Collins Easy Learning French Grammar
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OVER TWO M I LLION COPIES SOLD .Fllftarnin- o"'.. t4...'l Collins Collins French Crammar Harpercollins Publishers When you buy a Collins dictionary Westerhill Road or thesaurus and register on Bishopbriggs wurw.collinslanguage,com for the free clasgow online and digital services, you will not CONTENTS G64 2qT be charged by HarperCollins for access to Creat Britain Collins free Online Dictionary content or Foreword for language teachers V Collins free OnlineThesaurus content on First Edition 2oo4 that website. However, your operator's Introduction for students vi charges for using the internet on your Reprint 15 14 13 12 11 10 computer will apply, Costs vary from Glossary of grammar terms vill operator to operator. Harpercollins is not Nouns 1 o HarperCollins Publishers zoo4 responsible for any charges levied by online service providers for accessing Collins free Using nouns 1 rsBN 978-o-oo-219644-9 Online Dictionary or Collins free Online Gender 2 Thesaurus on www.collinslanguage.com Forming plurals 9 Collins@ and Bank ofEnglish@ are using these services. registered trademarks of Articles 12 HarperCollins Publishers Limited HarperCollins does not wafiant Different types of article 12 that the functions contained in The definite article: le, la, l' and les 13 www.collinslanguage.com www.collinslanguage.com content 't9 will be uninterrupted or error free, The indefinite article: un, une and des A catalogue record for this book is avaiiable that defects wiII be corrected, or that The partitive article: du, de la, de l'and des 22 from the British Library www.collinslanguage.com or the server that makes it available are free of viruses Adjectives 25 Typeset by Davidson Pre-Press, Clasgow or bugs. HarperCollins is not responsible Using adjectives 25 for any access difficulties that may be Making adiectives agree 27 Printed in Italy by Rotolito Lombarda spA experienced due to problems with network, web, online or mobile phone connections. Word order with adjectives 32 Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives 34 Acknowledgements Demonstrative adjectives: ce, cette, cet and ces 37 We would like to thank those authors and PUBLISHING DIRECTOR publishers who kindly gave permission for Lorna Knight Possessive adjectives 39 copydght material to be used in the Collins Indefinite adjectives 4'l Word Web. We would also like to thank EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Times Newspapers Ltd for providing Michela Clari Pronouns 42 valuable data. Personal pronouns: subject 43 MANACING EDITOR Personal pronouns: direct object 47 All dghts reserved. No part ofthis Maree Airlie Personal pronouns: indirect object . publication may be reproduced, stored 49 in a retrieval system or transmitted, in CONTRIBUTORS Emphatic pronouns 51 any form or by any means, electronic, WendyLee Possessive pronouns 54 mechanical, photocopying, recording or Cadlle Amiot-Cadey en and y otherwise, without the prior permission Di Larkin 56 of the publisher. This book is sold subject Using different types of pronoun together 59 to the conditions that it shall not, by way We would like to give special thanks to Indefinite pronouns 60 of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired Di Larkin, Foreign Languages Consultant, Relative pronouns 62 out or otherwise circulated without the and Irene Muir, Faculty Head, Belmont publisher's prior consent in any form of House School, for all their advice on Demonstrative pronouns 65 binding or cover other than that in which teaching practice in today's classroom. Verbs 69 it is published and without a similar Their contributions have been invaluable condition including this condition being in the writing of this book. The three coniugations 69 imposed on the subsequent purchaser. The present tense 71 The present tense: regular -er (first conjugation) verbs 72 Entered words that we have reason to present (second believe constitute trademarks have been The tense: regular -ir conjugation) verbs 74 designated as such. However, neither the The present tense: regular -re (third conjugation) verbs 76 presence nor absence of such designation The present tense: spelling changes in -er verbs 78 should be regarded as affecting the legal The present tense: irregular verbs status of anv trademark. 82 The imperative 85 Reflexive verbs 88 The imperfect tense 92 The future tense 98 FOREWORD FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS The conditional 105 The perfect tense 111 The pluperfect tense 1't9 The fosy Leorning French Crommar is designed to be used with both young The passive 122 and adult learners, as a group reference book to complement your course The present participle 12s book during classes, or as a recommended text for self-study and lmpersonal verbs 127 homework/coursework. The subjunctive 129 The text specifically targets learners from ab initio to intermediate or CCSE Verbs followed by an infinitive 133 level, and therefore its structural content and vocabulary have matched "t37 been Other uses of the infinitive to the relevant specifications up to and including Higher CCSE. Negatives 138 The approach aims to develop knowledge and understanding of grammar and Questions 142 your learners' ability to apply it by: How to ask a question in French 142 r defining parts of speech at the start of each major section with Question words 146 examples in English to clarify concepts Adverbs ',52 e minimizing the use of grammar terminology and providing clear How adverbs are used 1s2 explanations of terms both within the text and in the Glossary How adverbs are formed '152 o illustrating all points with examples (and their translations) based on Comparatives and superlatives of adverbs 155 topics and contexts which are relevant to beginner and intermediate Some common adverbs 157 course content Word order with adverbs 160 Prepositions 162 The text helps you develop positive attitudes to grammar learning in your How prepositions are used 162 classes by: i, de and en 163 o giving clear, easy-to-follow explanations Some other common prepositions 17'l Prepositions consisting of more than one word 177 o prioritizing content according to relevant specifications for the levels Prepositions after verbs 178 . sequencing points to reflect course content, e.g. verb tenses Prepositions after adjectives 183 o highlighting useful Tips to deal with common difficulties Conjunctions "184 . summarizing Key points at the end of sections to consolidate 184 et mais, ou, parce que and si learning Some other common conjunctions 186 The conjunction que 187 In addition to fostering success and building a thorough foundation in French Numbers 188 grammar, the optional Grammar Extra sections will encourage and challenge Time and date 190 your learners to further their studies to higher and advanced levels. Some common difficulties 193 The alphabet 198 Main index 199 Verb tables 1-94 Verb index 95-105 Note on trademarks Entered words which we have reason to believe constitute trademarks have been designated as such. However, neither the presence nor the absence of such designation should be regarded as affecting the legal status of any trademark. INTRODUCTION FOR STUDENTS rtp lf you are in doubt as to which form of you to use, it is safest to Whether you are starting to learn French for the very first time, brushing up on use vous and you will not offend anybody. topics you have studied in class, or revising for your CCSE exams, the fosy Leorning French Grommor is here to help. This easy-to-use guide takes you through all the basics you will need to speak and understand modern, Key points sum up all the important facts about a particular area of grammar, everyday French. to save you time when you are revising and help you focus on the main grammatical points. Newcomers can sometimes struggle with the technical terms they come across when they start to explore the grammar of a new language. fhe Eosy Leorning French Crammor explains how to get to grips with all the parts of speech you Key points will need to know, using simple language and cutting out jargon. y' Wittr masculine singular nouns + use un. y' Witn feminine singular nouns i use une. The text is divided into sections, each dealing with a particular area of y' witn plural nouns r use des. grammar. Each section can be studied individually, as numerous cross- y' references in the text point you to relevant points in other sections of the book un, une and des * change to de or d'in negative for further information. sentences. ( tne indefinite article is not usually used when you say what grammar Every major section begins with an explanation of the area of jobs people do, or in exclamations with quel. covered on the following pages. For quick reference, these definitions are also collected together on pages viii-xii in a glossary of essential grammar terms. lf you think you would like to continue with your French studies to a higher What is a verb? level, check out the Grammar Extra sections. These are intended for advanced A verb is a 'doing' word which describes what someone or something students who are interested in knowing a little more about the structures they does, what someone or something is, or what happens to them, for will come across beyond CCSE. exampfe, be, sing, live. Orammar Extra! lf you want to use an adjective after quelque chose, rien, quelqu'un and Each grammar point in the text is followed by simple examples of real French, personne, you link the words with de. complete with English translations, helping you understand the rules. quelqu'un d'important someone important Underlining has been used in examples throughout the text to highlight the quelque chose gl'int6ressant something interesting grammatical point being explained. rien d'amusant nothing funny l lf you are talking about a part of your body, you usually use a word like my or his in English, but in French you usually use the definite article.