A Reference Grammar of French

Description

A Reference Grammar of French is a lively, wide-ranging and original handbook on the structure of the French language. It includes new information on register, pronunciation, gender, number, foreign words (Latin, Arabic, English, Spanish, Italian), adjectives and past participles used as nouns, texting, word order, frequency of occurrence of words, and usage with all geographical names. Examples come not only from France, but also from Quebec, Belgium and Switzerland. Readers will appreciate the initial passages illustrating the grammatical features of a given chapter. Also included is a user-friendly introduction to the French language, from its Latin origins to modern times. A full glossary explains any terms that might confuse the less experienced reader, and the index leads the student through the detailed labyrinth of grammatical features. This handbook will be an invaluable resource for students and teachers who want to perfect their knowledge of all aspects of French grammar.

R. E. Batchelor taught French and Spanish for forty years in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham. He has published thirteen books, some on the French language, with second and third editions. M. Chebli-Saadi is a Senior Lecturer-Researcher at the Universite Stendhal Grenoble 3. She has published many articles, books and dictionaries, and has a long experience in teaching French to foreign students, notably from the USA.

'All serious students of French will welcome this reference grammar. It is comprehensive and clear and a lively extract from creative writing at the beginning of each chapter illustrates current usage. The authors emphasise standard language, but they also show awareness of different registers and the variety of use within francophonie. The work will prove very useful to students and teachers for many years.' Walter Grauberg, Director of the University Language Centre and Head of Linguistics, University of Nottingham '... a vital resource for advanced speakers of French who wish to refine their knowledge of the French grammar ... This book could certainly serve as a useful resource in ad advanced grammar class ... the chapters on the history of the French language and on linguistic register and variation are an excellent resource for introducing linguistic topics that go beyond that which is typically found in a grammar manual.' French Review