Essential French Grammar: All The Grammar Really Needed For Speech And Comprehension

by Seymour Resnick

Whether you're just beginning the study of French or need a handy refresher course, Essential French Grammar offers a modern, streamlined approach that points out many time-saving shortcuts that will enable you to master everyday spoken French in the shortest possible time.

Looking for an effective way to communicate in French while on vacation or a business trip? This is the first French grammar designed specifically for adults with limited learning time  who wish to acquire a knowledge of simple, everyday spoken French . It is not a simplified study, but  a selective grammar that points out many time-saving shortcuts.

It covers all of the important points in French grammar (verb forms and tenses, parts of speech, negative sentences, possessives, partitive construction, etc.) fully, logically, and with refreshing clarity.  Furthermore, it was created for those who prefer the phrase approach, and all grammatical points are illustrated with phrases and sentences that you can incorporate directly into your working vocabulary. Many of the discussions include a list of common expressions that use the rule under study.

In addition to the grammar text itself, there are several unusual features of great value to anyone who wants to build a French a section on common word-endings and their French equivalents, for example, and a 50-page list of French-English cognates.

This grammar does not assume any previous knowledge of either grammatical terms or French grammar. English grammatical terms are explained in a separate section, and all discussion begins with the essentials and works up from there. Use it as an introduction to grammar, for independent class courses, with phrase courses, as a refresher, or for beginning self-study.
 

Genres: France, Nonfiction, Language, Reference, Linguistics, Education

145 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1961

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific little mini-reference book for French grammar, but only useful if you already have a decent grasp on the language.

I'd recommend for rusty French speakers/readers who need a refresher or for those currently at an intermediate stage of learning the language. Assumes too much knowledge of both French grammar and grammatical rules in general for beginners.

[Bryan--The Bee’s Knees · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard for me to gauge the usefulness of this quick grammar reference: on the one hand, advanced students are probably going to find it too simplistic, while at the same time it might be too advanced for beginners. On the other hand, the book doesn't claim to be anything more than what it is, which is a presentation of the essentials of French grammar. So, without exercises, and with a minimum of examples, the author addresses conjugating French verbs; word order; masculine, feminine and plural construction; tenses; pronoun usage, and various other grammar subjects, each covered in a page or two. The last third of the book is a list of cognates, which I thought was wasted space.

May be most helpful to those who once knew French fairly well, but have not practiced or studied it for some time, and who need a quick reminder of the basics. Beginners might be better served with a more comprehensive text.

[Stanley Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick grammar that is helpful for those who have studied French in the past and need a brief review before moving to more advanced material.

[Stormy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good study guide to refresh your French grammar. So you sound less ridiculous when asking for directions or other help while traveling.

[Ben Mizrahi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is definitely a very informative book, but is really useful only if used as a refresher after already mastering French grammar.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been studying on my own for a graduate school French proficiency exam, mostly using Sandberg and Tatham's French for Reading. French for Reading's greatest feature, in my opinion, is its multitude of reading exercises; it is, however, pretty weak on actually explaining the grammar it gives you to memorize. Resnick's book fills in that need pretty effectively.

[J.B. B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great, cheap companion to using conversation and things like rosetta stone to learn french. is really slowly filling in the holes in l'Françes des moi! (of course not well enough quite yet to know the correct phrase to use there !)

[Jonathan]

None

[Thomas GOSSE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential and compact French grammar. I keep a copy with me at all times so that I can review when I have some down time, such as waiting in a doctor's office.

[Bi · Rating 4 out of 5]

very helpful as a companion guide