Contextualized French Grammar: A Handbook (World Languages)

I have (probably far too) many French books, and this is one of my favorites because it is one of the most useful and practical. In addition, it is spiral bound, which is very nice when studying. I have very few texts that give proper treatment to grammars in French that you want to be able to utilize as your familiarity and skill with the language improve. As an example, just one of the author's treatments of the verb devoir offers a table with the following expressions (partnered with the verb partir for illustration, but others can obviously be used): I must/have to leave I should leave I will have to leave I was supposed to leave I had to leave I should have left I had had to leave I will have had to leave Of course, a couple of those tenses are not common in French or in English, but most of them are the ones we all use in every day language. My point is that the author does an excellent job in presenting many concepts that, for me at least, have filled in some holes regarding the nuance of real communication in French. In my opinion, this book is absolutely indispensable. It has my highest recommendation.

This makes French doable. Quick and easy to read/understand, lots of practice (with answer keys), very useful index with lots and lots of conjugated verbs, diverse examples, visually appealing (which is great for visual learners!!), convenient size, helpful hints about pronunciation and "native lingo", etc.. I usually rent most my books for college, and sometimes buy out 1-2 of those each semester, but after reading the reviews for this one, I went ahead and bought it when I ordered it, and I’m glad I did. I’m in my fourth year of French and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a refresher, and I even learn new things from this book. Great price for a great product. Highly recommend any French student (declared major such as myself or otherwise) to get this book.

I have been studying French since 8th grade (I'm a college freshman now), and have often found many parts of French grammar inexplicable. This book has clarified many things for me in a very useful and accessible format. My only complaint is that the book itself is a little flimsy, and for its cost, it should be made to last.

I'm enrolled in a private French class. Instead of working from a textbook, lessons come from handouts, quizzes, and in-class discussion. Not bad, but it was difficult for me to get a handle on French grammar. Contextualized French Grammar made sense of all the elements of grammar I had been stumbling through. The layout is great, the explanations and examples are clear, and it is written with a light sense of humor. Of all the money I've spent towards learning French, this was my best purchase. The spiral binding makes it even easier to use.

Very helpful for my French 3 class. The book was a bit more battered than I expected.

Other reviewers have already praised the format of this book and how it is a helpful tool for students wishing to improve their language skills. I agree completely, and intend on using this as a teaching tool this year for my students in classes that range from beginner to advanced. The book tackles many grammatical points not found in other books and provides information on both the written and spoken aspects of the French language. The book is very teacher and student friendly, so it is a must have for any serious scholar, and it is a very welcome addition to my personal library. My only "criticism" is that there isn't a book out there on Contextualized Spanish Grammar, because as a teacher of Spanish as well, I am sure it would be a most helpful resource for my students of Spanish!

You have to read this book to believe that reading about grammar can be actually a fun! This book is not only quite funny but also, and most importantly, very clear and informative. The explanations are concise and readable, the examples given are often fun and memorable and the overall tone of the book is really helpful in learning. I wish I had known about this book sooner!

This book was good to gain a broad overview of French grammar. However, when differentiating between tenses, the book was quite unsuccessful in conveying how to masterfully use all the French tenses and when. Otherwise, it was a great book!