Write, read, work, and play--en FrançaisFrench Workbook For Dummies is the perfect starting place for beginners who want to learn French. Packed with foundational grammar and integrated vocab, this hands-on book will set you on your way to picking up a new language. You'll find valuable practice lessons and exercises throughout that help you learn key vocabulary and phrases, writing in French, and understanding the fifth most commonly spoken language worldwide.* Start with the very basics of the French language and work your way through important grammar and vocabulary* Follow lessons at your own pace and complete practice exercises to hone your skill* Learn using the Dummies method--based on evidence about how people learn best* Gain the confidence to speak French in the workplace and while you travelFor anyone learning French for use at home, at the office, or on the go, French Workbook For Dummies is a vital asset.

Introduction 1Part 1: The Building Blocks of French 5Chapter 1: Getting to Know You 7Chapter 2: Understanding Parts of Speech and Bilingual Dictionaries 23Chapter 3: Figuring Out Nouns and Articles 41Chapter 4: Showing Up and Owning Up: Demonstratives and Possessives 59Chapter 5: The 4-1-1 on Numbers, Dates, and Time 75Part 2: The Here and Now: Writing in the Present 95Chapter 6: Right Here, Right Now: The Present Tense 97Chapter 7: Sorting Out Pronominal Verbs: Idioms, Oneself, and Each Other 123Chapter 8: Asking and Answering Questions 139Chapter 9: Just Say No: The Negative 157Chapter 10: "To Be" or "Being" Is the Question: Infinitives and Present Participles 171Part 3: Writing with Panache: Dressing Up Your Sentences 187Chapter 11: Describing and Comparing with Flair: Adjectives and Adverbs 189Chapter 12: An Ode to Prepositions 217Chapter 13: Getting a Hold on Pronouns 233Part 4: Just Do It, and Now You've Done It: Commands and Past Tenses 249Chapter 14: I Command You: The Imperative 251Chapter 15: It's All in the Past: Passé Composé 265Chapter 16: When the Past Isn't Perfect: The Imparfait Tense 281Part 5: The Part of Tens 299Chapter 17: Ten (or so) Essential French Phrases 301Chapter 18: Ten Celebratory French Expressions 307Part 6: Appendixes 311Appendix A: Verb Charts 313Appendix B: Verbs with Prepositions 323Appendix C: English-French Dictionary 327Appendix D: French-English Dictionary 335Index 343