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Write, read, work, and play--en Français
French Workbook For Dummies is the perfect starting place for beginners who want to learn French. Packed with foundational grammar and integrated vocab, this hands-on book will set you on your way to picking up a new language. You'll find valuable practice lessons and exercises throughout that help you learn key vocabulary and phrases, writing in French, and understanding the fifth most commonly spoken language worldwide.
* Start with the very basics of the French language and work your way through important grammar and vocabulary
* Follow lessons at your own pace and complete practice exercises to hone your skill
* Learn using the Dummies method--based on evidence about how people learn best
* Gain the confidence to speak French in the workplace and while you travel
For anyone learning French for use at home, at the office, or on the go, French Workbook For Dummies is a vital asset.
List of contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: The Building Blocks of French 5
Chapter 1: Getting to Know You 7
Chapter 2: Understanding Parts of Speech and Bilingual Dictionaries 23
Chapter 3: Figuring Out Nouns and Articles 41
Chapter 4: Showing Up and Owning Up: Demonstratives and Possessives 59
Chapter 5: The 4-1-1 on Numbers, Dates, and Time 75
Part 2: The Here and Now: Writing in the Present 95
Chapter 6: Right Here, Right Now: The Present Tense 97
Chapter 7: Sorting Out Pronominal Verbs: Idioms, Oneself, and Each Other 123
Chapter 8: Asking and Answering Questions 139
Chapter 9: Just Say No: The Negative 157
Chapter 10: "To Be" or "Being" Is the Question: Infinitives and Present Participles 171
Part 3: Writing with Panache: Dressing Up Your Sentences 187
Chapter 11: Describing and Comparing with Flair: Adjectives and Adverbs 189
Chapter 12: An Ode to Prepositions 217
Chapter 13: Getting a Hold on Pronouns 233
Part 4: Just Do It, and Now You've Done It: Commands and Past Tenses 249
Chapter 14: I Command You: The Imperative 251
Chapter 15: It's All in the Past: Passé Composé 265
Chapter 16: When the Past Isn't Perfect: The Imparfait Tense 281
Part 5: The Part of Tens 299
Chapter 17: Ten (or so) Essential French Phrases 301
Chapter 18: Ten Celebratory French Expressions 307
Part 6: Appendixes 311
Appendix A: Verb Charts 313
Appendix B: Verbs with Prepositions 323
Appendix C: English-French Dictionary 327
Appendix D: French-English Dictionary 335
Index 343
About the author
Laura K. Lawless earned a BA in International Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She has also done graduate work in French and Spanish translation, interpretation, linguistics, and literature. Laura is the creator of LawlessFrench.com, an online resource for students, teachers, and lovers of French.
Summary
Write, read, work, and play--en Français
French Workbook For Dummies is the perfect starting place for beginners who want to learn French. Packed with foundational grammar and integrated vocab, this hands-on book will set you on your way to picking up a new language. You'll find valuable practice lessons and exercises throughout that help you learn key vocabulary and phrases, writing in French, and understanding the fifth most commonly spoken language worldwide.
* Start with the very basics of the French language and work your way through important grammar and vocabulary
* Follow lessons at your own pace and complete practice exercises to hone your skill
* Learn using the Dummies method--based on evidence about how people learn best
* Gain the confidence to speak French in the workplace and while you travel
For anyone learning French for use at home, at the office, or on the go, French Workbook For Dummies is a vital asset.
