A French grammar

Preface

Since so many men of talent and experience have presented to the public the results of their labors in numerous volumes for the assistance of foreigners in the study of the French Language, it would seem that a teacher ought to be able to select from among these a sure guide for his pupils. It might be presumed that we had all the means that could be of any use to the student in the acquisition of the language, and that ambition only, and the vain desire of introducing one's name to the public, could induce any one to attempt a new publication on the subject. But, unfortunately, such is not the case ; new efforts are necessary to assist teachers and pupils, more especially because so many Englishmen and Americans are undertaking to teach a language which is not their own. A work is required which shall enter into a thorough investigation of the principles of our language, and enable the student to understand and appreciate fully its genius and its beauties.

I am far from pretending to possess the ability to accomplish such a task ; but experience has done much for me, by showing me those points which

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foreigners find the most difficult to understand ; and it is the result of that experience, which I now present to the public, in the hope of doing some good, if not all that could be desired.

Acting on the principle that there is nothing new in the code of the law of languages, my object has been to collect the elements of the science scattered in hundreds of volumes, and to appropriate to myself what I found useful in them, adopting entire what I thought clear and satisfactory, modifying and sometimes changing altogether what did not appear to me calculated to reach at once the mind of the student.

I have said but little as to Pronunciation, being satisfied with the inutility of the attempt. If the pupil has a teacher, it is through the organ of hearing that he will learn it ; if he has none, there is no use in attempting to represent on paper, by words, what has no possible representation, except in sounds. If the English language had any near similarity to the French, in its intonations, a comparison could be established between the two ; but such is not the case ; there are no two sounds exactly alike in either. There is, besides, great danger in attempting to give an idea of French sounds by means of English letters ; the pupil, anxious to pronounce something resembling French, is constantly referring to his fancifully written w r ords, and pays little attention to the real ones, thus engrafting on his mind the barbarous orthography, which he is

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afterwards too much inclined to remember, instead of that which really belongs to the language. I have therefore confined myself, in this important matter, to indicating only what is of an easy and general application.

The subject of Syntax has not been separately treated in this Grammar, because this division is entirely conventional, and is often troublesome to the student when he is seeking for a rule, causing confusion in his mind, and a loss of time, which should be carefully avoided.

The Verbs will be found conjugated, on the same page, under their four different forms, so as to catch the eye at once, and to enable the pupil to compare them with facility ; and all the irregular verbs are conjugated, with such remarks and tables, as to render this tedious task comparatively easy. All that can be said on Participles has been carefully arranged under different heads, according to the decisions of the French Academy and of our best grammarians.

I have treated at great length of Prepositions, the study of which presents an almost insurmountable difficulty to foreigners. Tables and illustrations will be found, under their different heads, of all the adjectives and verbs, with the prepositions which they respectively take before verbs and nouns. This part of the book is of the utmost importance, and should be consulted by the student until he becomes perfectly acquainted with the philosophy and genius of the language.

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Finally, an elaborate table of contents will facilitate research in regard to the Rules.

No Exercises will be found in this Grammar ; its size has prevented it ; but the author hopes soon to publish another work which will supply the deficiency.

In presenting this book to the public, I must apologize for its faults of style. I have aimed to be clear, and if I have succeeded in this point, I hope to be excused for deficiencies resulting from the disadvantage under which I have labored, as a foreigner.