French For Dummies®

Author: Dodi-Katrin Schmidt
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118053508
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 439

Book Description
If you buy into the Pepé Le Pew stereotype of the French – arrogant, stuffy, overly amorous, and rather odiferous (Pepé Le Pew was a skunk. Talk about stereotypical!) – then think again. Not only are the French people some of the most relaxed, pleasant people you'll ever meet, but their society is one of the oldest, most culturally rich societies in the world. So it's no surprise that French is known as perhaps the most beautiful of all languages. Listen to someone speak French – sure, you don't have a clue what she's saying, but aren't you enraptured by the sound of it? Unfortunately, just because a language is beautiful doesn't mean that it's easy to learn. Although French has many things in common with English, French has had many, many centuries to evolve into the language it is today, which means it's had all that time to become more complex. That's where French For Dummies can help. Written in partnership with the language experts at Berlitz, this book can give you what you need for basic communication in French. French For Dummies covers the following topics and more: Basic pronunciation and gestures The nuts and bolts of French grammar Meeting and greeting in French Situations in which you can use French: Making small talk, dining out, shopping, and talking on the phone Traveling to France: Dealing with French currency, staying at a hotel, and getting around town Top Ten lists on ways to pick up French quickly, things you should never say in French, favorite French expressions, and important French holidays to remember. Appendixes with verb conjugation tables, as well as a French mini-dictionary French For Dummies also comes with a CD that has audio transcriptions of all the exercises in the book, so that you can actually hear the French pronunciations. So whether you're taking a business trip and need to pick up a little French quickly; you're cramming for your high school French final; or you've always wanted to learn a new language but don't have the time to drag yourself to a class once a week, French For Dummies can get you well on your way to becoming fluent in no time.

French Essentials For Dummies

Author: Laura K. Lawless
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 9781118092941
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 192

Book Description
Just the core concepts you need to write and speak French correctly If you have some knowledge of French and want to polish your skills, French Essentials For Dummies focuses on just the core concepts you need to communicate effectively. From conjugating verbs to understanding tenses, this easy-to-follow guide lets you skip the suffering and score high at exam time. French 101 — get the lowdown on the basics, from expressing dates and times to identifying parts of speech Gender matters — see how a noun’s gender determines the articles, adjectives, and pronouns you have to use The here and now — learn how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, choose subject pronouns, and form the present participle Way back when — get guidance on working with the past tense, including hints about when to use the compound past (passé composé) and when to use the imperfect What lies ahead — discover the different ways to express the future Open the book and find: A review of numbers, dates, and times The parts of speech How to determine a noun’s gender How to select the correct preposition Rules for making adjectives agree Tips for asking and answering yes/no questions Ways to spice up your descriptions Ten important verb distinctions

French For Dummies

Author: Zoe Erotopoulos
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 111813866X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 387

Book Description
The fast, informal way to learn to speak French - with integrated audio clips throughout. Listen to pronunciations and conversations. French is a beautiful language but quite difficult to learn. Whether you need to learn the language for a French class, or you travel overseas for business or leisure, this enhanced edition of French for Dummies can help. Written in an easy-to-follow format, with integrated audio clips, it gives you just what you need for basic communication in French. The enhanced edition includes: Expanded coverage of necessary grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciations Useful exercises, practice questions, and a mini-dictionary Business, an upcoming class, travel – whatever your reason for wanting to learn a new language but don't have time to take a class, this enhanced edition of French For Dummies can get you well on your way to becoming fluent in no time!

French All-in-One For Dummies

Author: The Experts at Dummies
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118282523
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 723

Book Description
Your comprehensive guide to speaking, reading, and writing in French French is a beautiful language but can be quite difficult to learn. Whether you need to learn the language for a French class, or for business or leisure travel, French for Dummies All-In-One makes it easier. With nearly 800 pages, French All-in-One For Dummies is for those readers looking for a comprehensive guide to help them immerse themselves in the French language. Culls vital information from several Dummies titles, offering you a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide to speaking and using French Includes French Canadian content and enhanced practiced opportunities Its accompanying audio CD provides you with en effective tool to start speaking French right away Both new students of French and experienced speakers can benefit from the wealth of information that has been included in French All-in-One For Dummies. CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

Intermediate French For Dummies

Author: Laura K. Lawless
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470187689
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 336

Book Description
Planning a trip to a French-speaking country? Starting a business with a French connection? Looking to ace your next French test? Intermediate French For Dummies is the book for you. It offers all the help you need to improve your writing skills and become a better French speaker, listener, and reader, as well. This friendly, hands-on workbook gives you practical examples and useful exercises so you can practice how native speakers use the language. From vocabulary and numbers to juggling tenses, you’ll get a clear understanding of the nuances of French style and usage that will have you writing better in no time. Plus, you’ll find multiple charts that provide the conjugations for all types of French verbs. Discover how to: Use fundamental French grammar — from nouns, adjectives, and adverbs to pronouns, prepositions, and conjunctions Select and conjugate the correct French verbs Understand the importance of grammatical gender in French Ask and respond to questions Use a bilingual dictionary correctly Get a handle on French negatives Know whether to use the infinitive or the present participle Add descriptive flair to your writing Sort out pronominal verbs Avoid the most common French writing mistakes Complete with plenty of room to practice you skills with exercises right in the workbook Intermediate French For Dummies helps you get your French writing up to speed toute suite!

Catholicism For Dummies

Author: Rev. John Trigilio, Jr.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118053788
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 463

Book Description
There are more than one billion Catholics in the world, and each one has a similar set of basic beliefs and practices that he or she follows. Some of the teachings of Catholicism are thousands of years old, while others are more recent. So what is the Catholic culture like and what do they believe? Catholicism For Dummies answers these and many other questions. Whether you’re a Catholic or not, you may be totally clueless or just unaware of some aspects of Catholic traditions, history, doctrine, worship, devotion, or culture. No sweat. Regardless of whether you’re engaged, married, related to a Catholic, or just curious about what Catholics really do believe, this book is for you. Catholicism For Dummies is not a catechism or religious textbook, but a casual, down-to-earth introduction for non-Catholics and reintroduction for Catholics. It gives commonsense explanations so that the next time you’re invited to a Catholic wedding, Baptism, funeral, Confirmation, or First Communion, you won’t be totally confused. You’ll also discover other important topics that can help you better understand the Catholic culture—from morality and devotions to worship and liturgy. This book will familiarize you with Catholicism by showing you: What it means to be a Catholic: traditions, prayers, beliefs, and holidays Who is who in the Catholic hierarchy How Catholics worship What the Seven Sacraments and Ten Commandments are The book regarded as the holiest to Catholics: The Bible The Church’s stand on some sticky issues Catholicism For Dummies presents a rich tapestry and history of the Catholic faith—from devotions to doctrines. This intelligent and faithful look at Catholicism will open your eyes to this religion and answer many of the questions you may have about it.

Japanese For Dummies

Author: Eriko Sato
Publisher: For Dummies
ISBN: 9780764554292
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 412

Book Description
Japanese is a wonderful language, very different from European languages. It is also the gateway to the rich culture of the exciting and complex island nation of Japan. Some people get intimidated by the prospect of speaking Japanese—worried that it’s just too complex and different—but these fears are unfounded. While you can devote a lifetime to the study of this or any language, picking up the basics of Japanese doesn’t require any more than an interest and a willingness to try something new. Japanese For Dummies has everything you need to get off the ground with speaking the language. Author and Professor of Japanese Eriko Sato starts you off with the essentials of grammar and pronunciation, giving you a working sense of the language, before showing you Japanese in action. You’ll then explore vocabulary and expressions through dialogues taking place in situations such as: Introductions and greetings Eating and drink ing Shopping Exploring the town Talking on the telephone Asking directions Getting around Staying at a hotel You’ll also discover social customs, formalities, and manners, from how and when to bow to how to unwrap a present. Whether you simply want to introduce yourself to the Japanese language, say a few words to a neighbor or coworker, or you’re planning a major trip or study abroad in Japan, Japanese For Dummies will enable you to get the basics fast and work towards your own goal at your own pace. You’ll also find out about: How to use karaoke to help you learn Japanese Movies that will introduce you to Japanese culture and language Learning Japanese the “gourmet” way When ignoring “no, thank you” shows good manners Proper table manners Proper body language How to sound fluent And much more! With helpful vocabulary summaries, a mini-dictionary at the end, and an audio CD full of conversations and pronunciations, Japanese For Dummies assumes no prior knowledge of Japanese on your part—providing the perfect guide for a quick-but-thorough, lighthearted-but-not-lightweight introduction to the language.

Polish For Dummies

Author: Daria Gabryanczyk
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119951216
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 436

Book Description
The ultimate quick and easy guide to learning Polish Polish can be a difficult language to master. It is pronounced phonetically and has several unique characters in its alphabet, but with Polish For Dummies in hand, you'll find yourself speaking like a local in no time. Packed with practical lessons, handy cultural facts, and essential references (including a Polish-English mini-dictionary and lists of common verbs), this guide is specially designed to get you speaking Polish with confidence. With advice on speaking Polish within the construction, teaching, and public sector industries, this book is a truly practical tool for anyone wanting to speak the language either professionally or socially. Includes sections dedicated to Polish in action, Polish on the go, and Polish in the workplace A companion audio CD contains Polish conversations spoken by native Polish speakers in a variety of everyday contexts, perfect for learning Polish on the go A Polish-English dictionary is included to provide quick access to the most common words With easy-to-follow instruction and exercises that give you the language to communicate during day-to-day experiences, readers of Polish For Dummies will learn the words and verbal constructions they need to communicate with friends and colleagues at home, find directions on holiday, and more. Note - CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

The Structure of Modern Standard French

Author: Maj-Britt Mosegaard Hansen
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191035688
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 352

Book Description
This book is an advanced student's grammar of French that integrates traditional grammar with knowledge and insights from modern linguistics. Maj-Britt Mosegaard Hansen takes a structural approach to French grammar: she provides clear descriptions of grammatical rules based explicitly on syntactic structure, and places descriptive emphasis on instances where the grammatical structures of French differ from those used in corresponding contexts in English. The first part of the book provides an introduction to French sentence structure, before the following parts examine the grammar of verbs, nominals, particles, and clauses and sentences. The Structure of Modern Standard French will be a valuable resource for students of French at undergraduate level and beyond. It assumes some prior knowledge of French grammar but is designed to be accessible to those with no background in linguistics.

Dutch For Dummies

Author: Margreet Kwakernaak
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 047051986X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 407

Book Description
Dutch is spoken by 23 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium, and is an official EU language. For English speakers, written Dutch can be fairly straightforward to pick up, although the pronunciation can be more of a challenge. This simple guidebook and its downloadable content cover Dutch grammar, pronunciation and everyday phrases, making this vibrant language more accessible to English speakers – whether you're just visiting or planning to stay on a long-term basis. Dutch For Dummies is the essential guide for everyone from students and holidaymakers, to those wanting to speak Dutch for business purposes. From numbers and vocabulary to greetings, popular expressions and proper etiquette, this clear, easy-to-follow guide will have you speaking Dutch like a native in no time. Dutch For Dummies includes: Downloadable content to assist learning Introductory grammar and vocabulary Meeting and getting to know people Dining out, shopping, leisure time and the workplace Dealing with emergencies Tips on how to pick up Dutch quickly Note: Downloadable files are available to download when buying the eBook version