A

FRENCH GRAMMAR,

IN TWO PARTS:

I. ACCIDENCE. II. SYNTAX, WRITTEN IN FRENCH.

WITH

AN ETYMOLOGICAL INDEX, ENGRAVINGS SHOWING THE POSITION
OF THE MOUTH FOR THE PRONUNCIATION OF FRENCH SOUNDS,
VOCABULARIES, EXERCISES, AND READING LESSONS,

FORMING

A COMPLETE COURSE OF FRENCH INSTRUCTION
IN ONE VOLUME ;

NEWLY COMPOSED FROM THE WORKS OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY AND THE
STANDARD AUTHORS OF THE PRESENT DAY.

BY

C.-J. DELILLE,

FRENCH MASTER AT CHRIST'S HOSPITAL, THE CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL,
MERCHANT TAYLORS' SCHOOL, AND FRENCH EXAMINER IN THE
LONDON UNIVERSITY AND THE COLLEGE OF

EIGHTH EDITION.

LONDON:

WHITTAKER AND CO., AV E-MARIA-LAN E.

PREFACE.

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
a great economy of labour, and is as encouraging as it is pro-
fitable to beginners, who, comparatively, have but little diffi-
culty in reproducing orally impressions of language which they
have correctly received by the ear.

The rules on the structure of the French language, through-
out the work, are founded on the recent decisions of the French
Academy and the best writers of the present day. The Author's
Method of Tuition and Plan for the periodical examination of
pupils in schools are given in the Appendix. An Etymological
Index showing the grammatical connexion between the French
and Latin languages, and Diagrams on pronunciation†, princi-
pally intended for students who are without the assistance of a
master, are among the improvements which experience has
suggested for this new edition.

32 Ely Place, London.

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.),

and may be had of Messrs. Whittaker & Co., Ave-Maria-Lane,

London.

*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.