French grammar review

Beginners and elementary level

Grammar for the novice is best learnt when integrated into the language course.
The French Experience 1 is a BBC multimedia course which includes a coursebook, audio-tapes, a CD-ROM, a video and an activity book.  A clear grammar section is included recapping and expanding on items learnt in the course.  The exercises in the coursebook (with answers at the back) are more based on dialogue comprehension than grammatical accuracy, but the activity book offers a wide range of grammar exercises.
The BBC also publishes a French Grammar for learners from beginner level to GCSE and beyond. It is a good and handy reference guide, the explanations are straightforward and the index is comprehensive.  In addition this book contains a glossary of grammatical terms.  There are no exercises, but the rules are supplemented by examples.  This book makes a good revision guide for GCSE and A/S students.

Elementary and intermediate level

The Coffman is a good reference book and also provides hundreds of exercises with answers at the back.  The rules are brief and clear and the exercises are short, repetitive and in the form of drills.  Each chapter concludes with a chapter review, particularly convenient for revision. This book is useful to post-GCSE and 'A' level students. [Schaum's Outline of French Grammar by Mary E. Coffman Crocker in the Schaum's outline Series, Publisher: McGraw-Hill ]

Intermediate and advanced level

The Hawkins and Towell French Grammar and Usage, pub. Arnold 1996, is a very comprehensive reference grammar, well laid out and the explanations are in English with a glossary for terminology and an index. The companion workbook, Practising French Grammar, A Workbook is particularly useful for self-study because it follows the same order as the reference book and presents varied exercises and lively texts with summaries of key grammatical points.
The French Grammar in Context, by Margaret Jubb and Annie Rouxeville, pub. Arnold 1998 is based on the grammatical analysis of authentic texts. The grammatical points are highlighted, explained and reference is made to other grammars for further study.  Practice exercises follow with answers at the back.  The approach is interesting and valuable but this book is more recommended for classwork than self-study.

French Grammar and Usage
Roger Hawkins, Richard Towell

Our Price: £16.99

Publisher: Hodder Arnold; ISBN: 0340760753