Using French Vocabulary

Learning French grammar proves to be a difficult task, but all the grammatical rules in the world will get you no where without the right words to fill in for the various parts of speech. How many students of foreign language have resorted to sign language or "baby" parlance to simply express an otherwise basic thought in English into reasonably intelligent French? In 20 interesting units,this wonderful vocabulary book delivers where so many other thematic vocabulary books merely skim the surface. The units include such topics as: shapes, patterns, containers, sports, science, art, history, politics, buildings, personalities and body parts to just name a few. If you are an intermediate or advanced student, you will fully take advantage of this great text, complete with level one through three vocabulary, formatted by theme and followed by beaucoup de exercises to help you read, translate, and puzzle out intricacies of the French language. The vocabulary includes nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs as well as idiomatic phrases that will help you perfect your skills. Of course, no such book is complete, but the format provides plenty of space for you to insert your own findings as you read and look up more specific words in a good dictionary. Nevertheless, each topic will provide you with plenty of interesting and diverse ways of expressing yourself---be it in an essay or in a conversation. My one fault with the book is its lack of an English to French Index in a smaller font as an appendix. Otherwise, recommended heartily as one of the best French learning guides I have.

Using French Vocabulary is a very extensive study book. I liked it because it has more relative vocabulary...much better than using a dictionary. The book is divided into several categories for example: a Physical Structures category has vocabulary relating to different types of buildings and any word that you could think of relating to specific types of buildings. All the vocabulary seems very overwhelming at first. I think this book is useful if you already have a little background in studying French. Especially since the instructions for the exercises are not in English. This book is NOT FOR THE BEGINNER but for anyone who would like to develop their vocabulary more. The many exercises are geared to help you know how to relate the words and in what context to use them. The author also helps your vocabulary by using exercises with antonyms. There are exercises in each lesson where you will have to translate a paragraph that uses the vocabulary learned in that section. To end this off, its a good book, if you are really really INTENSELY interested in the French language.