Table of Contents

Introduction: How this course came about, what it does and does not include, how it works, and how it is both faithful to and expands upon the Michel Thomas Language Courses 1 WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW - COGNATES Introduction Transformation of adjectives ending in "-ible" Transformation of adjectives ending in "-able" Formation of adjectives ending in "-able" from "-er" verbs Transformation of adjectives beginning with "un-" and "in-" Formation of adjectives ending in "-able" from "-oir", "-re" and "-ir" verbs Transformation of adjectives and nouns ending in "-ant" Transformation of adjectives and nouns ending in "-ent" Transformation of nouns ending in "-tion" Transformation of nouns ending in "-sion" Transformation of nouns ending in "-ance" and "-ence" Transformation of nouns ending in "-er" and "-ist" Further transformation of nouns ending in "-ance" Transformation of adverbs in "-ly" Transformation of adjectives and nouns ending in "-ary" and "-ory" Transformation of adjectives ending in "-ive" Transformation of adjectives ending in "-ous" Transformation of adjectives ending in "-ic" and "-ical" and nouns ending in "-ic" and "-ics" Transformation of nouns ending in "-ure" Transformation of nouns ending in "-tude" Transformation of nouns ending in "-ity" Further transformation of some nouns ending in "-y" Transformation of nouns ending in "-in" and "-ine" Transformation of adjectives ending in "-ide" Transformation of nouns ending in "-ism" and "-ist" Transformation of adjectives ending in "-al" Conclusion. 2 BEING ON THE RIGHT TRACK - VERBS Introduction Verbs in "-er" - present, imperfect and conditional Verbs in "-er" - imperfect and perfect with "etre" and "avoir" "Etre en train de", "etre sur le point de", "venir de" Verbs in " -ir " of the " ouvrir ", " sortir " and " venir " types Verbs in " -ir " of the " finir "; "en" + present participle Verbs in "-re" Verbs in "-uire" and "-ire" Everyday verbs and semi-idiomatic usages: "prendre", "dire" Further everyday verbs: "boire", "croire", "faire", " savoir " and " connaitre " Reflexive verbs. 3 EVERYDAY EXPRESSIONS Common constructions : verbs with "a", "de" and "sur" "Vouloir dire" Expressions of time: "depuis", "pendant", "il y a", "en", "dans", "avant" and "apres" Talking about days of the week, months and seasons Telling the time Expressions of place: "-ci" and "-la", "loin" and "pres", "a gauche" and "a droite ", " devant " and " derriere ", " dessus " and " dessous " Expressions of quantity : " quelque ", " du ", " de la ", the pronoun " en ", " assez ", " la plupart de " Talking about numbers " Il faut " The pronoun " y " " Avoir " and semi-idiomatic expressions " Etre " and semi-idiomatic expressions Using negatives: "ne ... pas", "ne ... plus", "ne ... rien", "ne ... personne", "non ... plus", "ni ... ni", "ne ... que". Adjective changing their meaning before the noun : "ancien", "certain", "cher", "propre" Making comparisons Adding emphasis: "voici" and "voila", "c'est ... qui", "ce qui", "ce que" Using "on" Talking about people: using "gens" and "personnes" Talking about opposites Giving approximations

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About the Author

Helene Lewis studied English, French and Russian in Paris and Edinburgh. She was Head of the International Programmes Academic Group at Bournemouth University where she taught French, communication skills and international personal development. She worked for many years in lexicography and has also co-authored a number of textbooks. Her main interests are in teaching foreign languages to non-specialists, developing materials for independent study and e-learning.