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 Review: