English Grammar for Students of French by Jacqueline Morton, published by the Olivia and Hill Press, has a clever idea: before you can understand French grammar, you need to understand the grammar terms in your own language. The book explains English grammar concepts and then shows how French handles the same idea. It is now in its seventh edition.
Who Is It For?
- English speakers starting French at school or university.
- Learners confused by terms like direct object, auxiliary verb or subjunctive.
- Teachers who want a simple companion for their French course.
How It Works
Each short chapter answers a question such as “What is a pronoun?” It explains the term with English examples, then compares English with French, for example showing that French nouns have gender while English nouns do not. Review sections help you check your understanding.
Strengths
- Short, clear and inexpensive.
- Builds the grammar vocabulary you need to follow French lessons.
- Can be used alongside any French textbook.
Limitations
- Not a complete French grammar; you still need a course book.
- Written for English speakers, so it does not help people learning English.
Related Books
The same series covers other languages, including Spanish, German, Italian and Latin, so the approach works for many languages.
Verdict
A smart, low-cost companion for anyone starting French. To learn more about how English grammar differs from other languages, read comparing English grammar to other languages and what is English grammar?
