SnowDevil’s Reviews > English Grammar for Students of French: The Study Guide for Those Learning French > Status Update

Chapter 15 - asking questions. The book incorrectly stated that “je” can’t be used in the inverted question form, but I’ve definitely seen it used - especially puis-je (may I) and suis-je (am I). And Chapter 16 - introduction to tense. All tenses listed were indicative mood only. This list actually made French look simpler than English. It left out simple past though.

Chapter 14 - negative sentences and negative words. As usual, just too basic, but a good reminder about this nuance: Je n’ai rien vu, but je n’ai vu personne.

Subject pronouns… wish they’d spent more time on “on” instead of “consult your textbook”. Textbooks usually don’t introduce that pronoun in my experience - and certainly not early on. I was also incorrectly taught only one use of “on” - which I’m still not sure is actually a correct interpretation or not.

Chapters 5 (articles), 6 (possession), 7(verb basics). I wish they included examples of all the exceptions they allude to instead of just saying “your textbook will tell you”. I don’t have an accompanying textbook, but regardless, I just want the examples right there next to the rule!

This continues to be too elementary & includes grammar errors in the writing, which is ironic for a book on grammar. I've now started noting these as a way to make my reading more fun.

I am (though I hate to admit it) a completionist, so even though I think this book was a bad purchase (it’s too basic for me), I’m going to read the whole stupid thing anyway. Why am I like this??