French For Dummies: with CD

The fast and informal way to learn to speak French Bonjour! If you′re looking to reach a comfort level in conversational French, this hands–on, friendly guide gets you up and running with the language. Here, you′ll find expanded coverage of the necessary grammar, major verb tenses, and conjugations that beginners need to know. Plus, you′ll get a fully updated and expanded audio CD that includes real–life conversations, a refreshed and expanded mini dictionary, exercises, practice opportunities, and more. French 101 — learn how to pronounce the French alphabet, numbers, and common words, and get a handle on the basic grammar you′ll need to know to speak French Voila! — start practicing your French–speaking skills in everyday situations, like asking for directions to the Eiffel Tower or expressing your love for fromage Start talkin′ the talk — get the know–how to confidently navigate public transportation, find a hotel room, exchange money, and handle an emergency on your excursion to France or any other French–speaking country The power of dix — discover ten ways to pick up French quickly, ten things never to say in French, ten favorite French expressions, and ten phrases that′ll make people think you′re a local Open the book and find: How to make sense of basic French grammar Tips to improve your pronunciation Strategies to get a handle on verb conjugations Idioms and popular expressions Advice on getting around in France and other French–speaking countries Fun games and activities to reinforce learning Dialogues throughout the book and on the accompanying CD Audio CD Includes Real–life dialogues in French that reinforce lessons from the book Learn to: Speak French quickly and effectively Master basic grammar, verb conjugations, vocabulary, and pronunciations Take your skills to the next level with real–life conversations on the accompanying CD

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started 7 Chapter 1: The French You Already Know 9 Chapter 2: Laying the Foundation: Basic French Grammar 17 Chapter 3: Getting Started with Pronunciation and Basic Expressions 35 Chapter 4: Getting Your Numbers, Dates, and Times Straight 53 Chapter 5: Talking about Your Home, Family, and Daily Routine 67 Part II: French in Action 87 Chapter 6: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 89 Chapter 7: Asking Directions and Finding Your Way 103 Chapter 8: Bon Appétit! Dining Out and Going to the Market 117 Chapter 9: Shopping Made Easy 137 Chapter 10: Going Out on the Town 155 Chapter 11: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 171 Chapter 12: Recreation and the Outdoors 189 Part III: French on the Go 207 Chapter 13: Planning a Trip 209 Chapter 14: Dealing with Money in a Foreign Land 225 Chapter 15: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and More 239 Chapter 16: Finding a Place to Stay 261 Chapter 17: Handling Emergencies 275 Part IV: The Part of Tens 291 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Pick Up French Quickly 293 Chapter 19: Ten Things Never to Say in French 297 Chapter 20: Ten Favorite French Expressions 301 Chapter 21: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound French 305 Part V: Appendixes 309 Appendix A: Mini–Dictionaries 311 Appendix B: Verb Tables 333 Appendix C: Answer Key 349 Appendix D: On the CD 351 Index 353

Berlitz has taught languages to millions of people for more than 130 years. Dodi–Katrin Schmidt , Michelle M. Williams , and Dominique Wenzel are highly regarded French instructors and writers. Zoe Erotopoulos , PhD, teaches in the Department of Modern Languages and Literature at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.