Book I
Speaking in Everyday Settings
In this book . . .
You have to start somewhere, but we bet you know a lot more French than you realize. Don’t think so? Then check out Chapter 1 and see how many French words and idioms you already use. In this book, we warm you up with the basics of pronunciation and parts of speech. Then we engage you in some French small talk and place you in common situations where you pick up the language quite naturally.
Here are the contents of Book I at a glance:
Chapter 1: Warming Up with Some French Fundamentals
Chapter 2: Un, Deux, Trois: Numbers, Dates, and Times
Chapter 3: Greetings, Goodbyes, and Small Talk
Chapter 4: Getting Personal: Discussing Your Home, Family, and Daily Routine
Chapter 5: Talking Business and Politics
Chapter 6: Shopping at a Store and Online
Chapter 7: Buying, Preparing, and Tasting Foods
Chapter 1
Warming Up with Some French Fundamentals
In This Chapter
Looking at French words related to English
Exploring pronunciation patterns
Noting differences in Canadian French
Learning a new language can be challenging. Not only do you need to pick up a whole new vocabulary, but you also need to twist your head around different grammar rules and twist your tongue — and ears — around different pronunciation rules. But here’s a little news that may make the task seem a little less daunting: You already know quite a few French words and expressions. How? Because the English language has borrowed many French words and expressions, and French has absorbed some English words, too.
In this chapter, you explore some French words and phrases that have the same spellings and meanings as their English counterparts as well as words that are close in spelling and meaning. But not every word that resembles an English word shares its meaning, so we also tell you which words to watch out for. In addition, we include some French expressions that you probably alr...
