THIS book aims to provide a practical and thorough course in French grammar and elementary composition for schools and colleges. In the preparation of the work an effort has been made to bring the presentation of the subject into accord with recent advances in the methods of modern language teaching. Having regard to the importance of securing accurate pronunciation from the very outset, care has been taken to facilitate the work of the teacher in this respect by giving a phonetic transcription of all vocabularies and paradigms, under the conviction that in no other way can distinctions in sounds be intelligibly explained. In order, however, not to confuse the beginner with too minute distinctions, "half long" vowels have not been indicated, and the same rule has been observed, for the most part, with regard to such stressed vowels as are optionally long or short. The elementary exercises are based almost exclusively upon connected pieces of French, dealing with a variety of topics relating to every-day life, and make provision for both oral and written practice. They have been provided in abundance so as to admit of selection and variety, and to afford ample material for review. In both the elementary and advanced exercises, regard has been had to the requirements of such teachers as feel the necessity for a large amount of work of this kind in order to ensure adequate and practical knowledge on the part of the pupil. Part I. consists of a series of lessons on the elements of grammar as an essential preparation for easy reading, while Part II. furnishes a systematic grammar of modern French for later study and general reference. To this part a series of exercises has been added dealing with the various topics treated in the text. It was thought best to group these exercises together at the end, in order not to impair the usefulness of the Grammar as a book of reference by inserting the exercises immediately after the paragraphs to which they refer. Each exercise, however, is furnished with section references which will enable the pupil to turn readily to the theory upon which the exercises are based. The Reader, which may be used with advantage after the completion of Part I. of the Grammar, has been made up of interesting selections, for the most part complete in themselves, and affording considerable range as to topic, vocabulary and idiom. The exercises inserted at the end of the Reader are based on the idiom and vocabulary of the text, and are intended to give practice in the reproduction in French of the substance of the selections. The authors take this opportunity of expressing indebtedness to a number of teachers, whose advice and criticism have been of much assistance in the preparation of the present volume. March 26, 1901. THIS edition has profited greatly by criticisms kindly suggested by several instructors, in particular by Madame Hélène J. Raiche, of Wellesley College. January, 1903. |