AUTHOR'S PREFACE. Pour apprendre une langue étrangère, il faut que les élèves l'entendent, la parlent, la tournent et la retournent, pour ainsi dire, afin de se familiariser avec ses formes et ses usages. THE CONVERSATIONS, which are invariably formed of questions and answers, are written in clear and lively colloquial French, so as to be easily understood and remembered. The principle of imitation is put into practice in the ENGLISH ExerCISES, each of which is entirely composed of words used in the preceding French Conversation, and therefore familiar to the pupil. Repetition being one of the best means of teaching languages, the most useful expressions and idioms reappear frequently in the course of the Work; but it has not been thought necessary to repeat them till they become wearisome. The book opens with a short GRAMMAR, which exhibits the most important principles and forms of the French language, with appropriate Exercises. It also gives for Translation and Reading, EXTRACTS from standard authors, which, it is hoped, will be both interesting and instructive. Some of these Extracts are interspersed thoughout the work; but the greater number will be found at the end of the Conversational Lessons (p. 168). In order to enable students to use the book whenever and wherever they have leisure, I have put at the end a DICTIONARY of the words and i lioms which appear in the different lessons. In short, I have spared no pains to produce a Work adapted to all classes of learners, both from its practical character and moderate price. EDINBURGII, January, 1866. ALFRED HAVET. The alphabet and the orthographical signs.. The four regular conjugations, Porter, Finir, Devoir and Rendre..... Le, masculine, la, feminine, before a noun in the singular; les, before any noun in A, au, à la, à l', aux, "to," "at," "to the," "at the ". De, d', du, de la, de l', des, “of," "from," "of the," Ce, cet, cette, "this," or "that;" ces, "these," or "those," before nouns... Negations. Simple and compound tenses of verbs in the negative form. Les fleuves et les rivières. (Translation and reading.)........ Le, la, l', or les appears before nouns used in their widest sense. Quadrupeds.-The male, the female and the young.. Animaux de la France. (Translation and reading.). Du, de la, de l', des, "some," or "any ". De, or d', "some," or "any," before an adjective.. Agreement of the adjective with the noun.-The singular and the plural.. Agreement of adjectives.-Difference between the masculine and feminine. School articles.-First part School articles.-Second part.. Studies.-First part.... Singulière apologie de la musique et de la danse.-Molière. (For translation.). Le bon ministre.-Saint Lambert. (For translation and reading.). Alexandre et le chef de bataillon.-A. Dumas. (For translation and reading.). Par où? "through what?" where?" or "what way?". I. Pour quel endroit? "For what place?" II. Jusqu'où? "How far?". A, specifying use, purpose, or nature of an object.-Transposition of words.. A, à la, aux, used before nouns, expressing what is sold in a place, or something to Reflective and reciprocal verbs, interrogative form.. Il tonne, il pleut, il fait, and other verbs used in speaking of the weather. La neige et les avalanches. (Translation and reading.)....... - Cela m'est égal, “it is a matter of indifference to me," etc..... Un vieux de la vieille.-Marco de St.-Hilaire. (For translation and reading.).. 99.66 The past participle.-The last five cases.. The eight cases in which the past participle may be used reduced to four rules.. Le petit poisson et le pêcheur.-La Fontaine. (Translation and reading.). I. Quand? "when?" II. A quelle époque? "in what season?" etc.. I. Jusqu'à quand? etc. II. Depuis quand, depuis quelle époque?.. Connaître, "to know," "to be acquainted with," etc.... L'un, l'autre, l'un l'autre, l'un et l'autre, l'un ou l'autre, ni l'un ni l'autre.. Un de, l'un de, quelqu'un, chacun..... Personne, aucun, nul, pas un, plusieurs.. Quiconque, qui que ce soit, tel.. Pyrrhus et Cinéas.-Boileau. (Translation and reading.). . Quelque chose, autre chose, peu de chose, pas grand chose, rien.. Dressing. (For gentlemen.). Dressing. (For ladies.)..... Rouenneries, nouveautés, etc. (Translation and reading.). A walk in the country... 157-158 |