A single-volume book that combines concise reference material on French grammar with a guide to functional grammar use.
Modern French Grammar: A Practical Guide is a single-volume book that combines concise reference material on French grammar with a guide to functional grammar use. The authors intend to make students enthusiastic about grammar and understand how grammar comprehension helps you communicate successfully in French. The text is designed for use in a classroom situation as well as without a teacher. Modern French Grammar: A Practical Guide has a solid focus on grammar but that doesn’t mean it is not practical in its scope – the title is very clear in this regard.
"While Modern French Grammar: A Practical Guide is not for the complete beginner, it is suitable for a wide range of people wanting to learn how to apply French grammar to everyday life."
One of the ways in which this book stands out from others on the market is the way it is split into two parts. Part one deals with a traditional explanation of grammar function including word order, adjectives, verbs, and nouns. Part two covers how to use French in grammatically correct ways to express likes and dislikes, offer agreement, describe results and processes, and give information. The second part of the book is more practical and it gives you the chance to test your knowledge of grammar in real-world situations, thus making it more likely you will retain the information. The two sections are cross-referenced to make them even more useful and practical. If you want to learn how to greet someone, for example, you can look up the relevant section in the contents or index, read the suggestions for different ways of saying hello, then follow the cross-reference to learn more about the grammar functions that apply to these greetings and how you can use this knowledge to further progress your French studies.
Modern French Grammar: A Practical Guide is for those just starting out in French (although some sections will be too advanced for beginners), as well as advanced students looking to refresh concepts and revise areas they find difficult. This is more of a reference material and less of an interactive course. For a complete learning experience, use the supplementary Workbook with exercises and activities.
I like how the examples are contemporary and while the style of the book is serious and straightforward it does use modern terms and informal language. This makes the text more interesting. The tone is accessible and there is no “fill” – the authors get straight to the point. It would sometimes be more useful if the grammatical terms were described in French as well as English as this is how you most likely encounter them in French lessons. However, this is a minor gripe and it doesn’t make the book any less useful. The book is also very text heavy – another reason why it is not completely suitable for the beginner – and some of the explanations are complicated.
While this is predominantly a grammar book it is focused on making use of language in a practical way – this is not a text for grammarians only. While Modern French Grammar: A Practical Guide is not for the complete beginner, it is suitable for a wide range of people wanting to learn how to apply French grammar to everyday life, whether this is for exams or travelling in France.
