FRENCH GRAMMAR, IN TWO PARTS : I. ACCIDENCE. II. SYNTAX, WRITTEN IN FRENCH. WITH AN ETYMOLOGICAL INDEX, ENGRAVINGS SHOWING THE POSITION VOCABULARIES, EXERCISES, AND READING LESSONS, FORMING A COMPLETE COURSE OF FRENCH INSTRUCTION IN ONE VOLUME; NEWLY COMPOSED PROM THE WORKS OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY AND THE STANDARD AUTHORS OF THE PRESENT DAY. BY C.-J. DELILLE, FRENCH MASTER AT CUBIST'S HOSPITAL, THE CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL, LONDON UNIVERSITY AND THE COLLEGE OF ETON EIGHTH EDITI LONDON: 1851. PRE FACE. The object of this work is to offer to beginners in the study of the French language a complete course of instruction, in one volume, so as to obviate the inconvenience arising from the use of a multiplicity of books for the attainment of the desired proficiency. Thus, in addition to a theoretical and practical Grammar, it contains copious vocabularies, numerous exercises, and a series of rudimental lessons in reading, translations of which are given at the end of the book. The Grammar is divided into two parts, the first of which is in English, the second in French. These again have four subdivisions, Pronunciation, Accidence, Syntax, and an Appendix. The two latter, or Partie française, are written in French, for the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of that fluent utterance in familiar conversation, the comprehension of which proves so difficult to English persons on their first arrival in France. The construction of sentences is arranged according to a plan strictly commencing with the elements of the language. The pupils are first practised in French reading, parsing, translation into English (pages 38 and 416), and vivá voce retranslation into French, previously to any attempt at writing in French the translation of the English phrases in the exercise which immediately follows. This system, by judiciously delaying the writing of exercises in French*, offers to teachers The rules on the structure of the French language, through- At the request of many parents who superintend the studies of their children, a KEY TO THE EXERCISES OF DELILLE's FRENCH GRAMMAR has been published in 12mo, price 38.), * The attempt to compose or write exercises in a language before being at all versed in its general construction, is like endeavouring to copy with- out a model, and is an undertaking which fatigues the mind without pro. ducing any equivalent success. Imitation is natural to us, and is a task easy and agreeable; but we cannot imitate that which has not been in some shape presented to us, and to a certain extent become familiar to the mind. + Extracted from the excellent works of DUQUESNOIS, published by DELALAIN, Paris. UCA................ ......... 37 INTRODUCTION. ACCIDENCE. Words of frequent occurrence, with a 34, 35. ARTICLE ; concord with the comparative table of Latin and French terminations, and of 6. Definite Article: its elision before vowels ...................... 7-40. The Possessive case; Inde- finite Article ; Partitive Article . 47-54. Formation of the Plural of Definition of Language, of Words, of Syllables, of Letters ........ 1 55, 56. ADJECTIVE; its nature; con- cord with the Substantive...... 7–64. Formation of the Feminine of Adjectives. - Plural of Adjec- 1-4. French Alphabet : Vowels ; tives...................... 45-48 66. Of the Position of Adjectives.. 50 5–10. Accents: the Acute, the Grave, 7-69. Formation of the Degrees of the Circumflex................ Comparison ................... 11-15. The Apostrophe; the Cedilla : 70-72. Of Comparison : superiority, the Diæresis; the Hyphen ; the inferiority, equality ........... 54 73–86. Numerals .............. 55-63 16. Vowel sounds................... 87. PRONOUN; its nature and differ- 17. 18. Nasal sounds; Diphthongs 10-12 ent classes .................. 64 19, 20. Vowels silent in certain words ib, 88, 89. Personal Pronouns Conjunctive 64 90-93. Place of the Conjunctive Pro- 22. On Accent or stress ...... nouns........................ 05 23, 24. Exercises in pronunciation .. 17 94, 95. Personal Pronouns Disjunc- 25--30. Union of Words............ 17 tive, their use .... 31. Elision of e unaccented ......... 6. Table showing the order in which 32. Division of words into syllables .. Exercises in pronunciation.......... 21 | when there are two or three go- Vocabulary and Phrases of language verned by the same Verb ...... in common use: The Days of 97-104. Possessive Pronouns Con junctive, - Disjunctive; their concord..... ...... 6 Pronouns: qui, que, lequel, Breakfast; Studies; the Facul- dont, quoi, où ...... ...... 71-74 ties of the Soul; Virtues ; Vices, 121-128. Demonstrative Pronouns : etc. Relatives ; Proper Names; ce, ceci, cela, celui, etc..... 75–77 the Town ; Professions and 129. Indefinite Pronouns .......... Trades; the Dining-room; the 130. VERB, its definition ....... Parts of the Body; the Seasons; 131-133. Cases of nouns or pronouns 19 |