Introduction

Dear students,

You are about to start a course of French grammar based on a comparison with the English language. The original prompt for building this course was twofold. First, the proximity of the two languages is a fact, closely studied and widely corroborated by linguists, and certainly noticed by people studying or using either French or English. The familiarity is partly due to a long socio-political and historical development of the UK and France whose rivalries have become proverbial. Second, the similarities between the two idioms can be used in teaching and learning. Indeed, English has become THE foreign language to acquire, and students usually have gained some knowledge of it when they start studying French. However, the closeness of the two idioms can be both beneficial and harmful. On the one hand, the large percentage of everyday vocabulary (50% in the first 1000 English words stem from French) and some grammar structures (e.g. conditionals) facilitate the acquisition of French. On the other hand, the language elements are closely related, but not identical, which can lead – and indeed leads – to some degree of confusion at all language levels. This grammar aims to clarify those dark zones.

The course is divided into 13 chapters covering the areas of pronunciation, morphology, vocabulary and syntax, each of which contains a brief explanation and a section with interactive exercises. The last chapter offers a final test in the form of revision exercises.

We wish you much success in your studies!


Authors

Mgr. Marie Červenková, Ph.D.

Mgr. Marie Červenková, Ph.D.

Masaryk university Language Centre, Masaryk university

Personal page in IS MU

Mgr. Ladislav Václavík, Ph.D.

Mgr. Ladislav Václavík, Ph.D.

Masaryk university Language Centre, Masaryk university

Personal page in IS MU

Technical and graphical cooperation

logo Informační systém Masarykovy univerzity

Service Center for E-learning

Part of Computer Systems Unit - Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University

  • Technical realisation of the publiation (design, typography, website creation)

Web of Service Center at Elportal MU

Colophon

French comparative online course from the English background

Multimedia electronic educational material

Červenková, Marie | Václavík, Ladislav

1st edition

Published by Masaryk University, Brno 2021

Created in collaboration with Service Center for E-Learning at MU,
Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno 2020–2021

Published on Elportál, ISSN 1802-128X

© 2021 Masaryk university