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Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information This is a new, thoroughly revised edition of the acclaimed Using French, first published as A Guide to Contemporary French Usage in 1982. It provides guidance for those who have already acquired the basics of French and wish to extend their fluency and confidence. Unlike conventional grammars, it gives special attention to those areas of vocabulary and grammar which cause most difficulty to Englishspeakers, and incorporates the concept of register differences throughout. This third edition takes account of the expanding vocabulary and changing grammatical usage of contemporary French. • designed to promote fluency and accuracy vital to effective communication • tailored to the needs of the English-speaking user • clear format for ease of reference • full treatment of key grammatical areas • important section on vocabulary extension, with index for efficient access • invaluable to all advanced learners, and to anyone requiring up-to-date guidance on points of grammar and vocabulary . . is an experienced teacher of French and author of numerous books in this and related fields, including Using French Synonyms (1993), Using Spanish (1992), Using Spanish Synonyms (1994), French for Marketing (1997) and Usage pratique et courant des synonymes anglais. He has also published many articles on literary, philosophical and historical aspects of European thought. . . is Reader in French at the University of Nottingham, and the author of books including Varieties of Contemporary French (1990), Using French Synonyms (1993), A Reader in French Sociolinguistics (1996) and of many articles on lexicology, syntax, sociolinguistics and stylistics. © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Companion titles to Using French Using French Synonyms . . and . . ISBN 0 521 37277 1 hardback ISBN 0 521 37878 8 paperback Using French Vocabulary . ISBN 0 521 57040 9 hardback ISBN 0 521 57851 5 paperback French for Marketing Using French in Media and Communications . . and . - ISBN 0 521 58500 7 hardback ISBN 0 521 58535 X paperback Using Spanish A Guide to Contemporary Usage . . and . . ISBN 0 521 42123 3 hardback ISBN 0 521 26987 3 paperback Using Spanish Synonyms . . ISBN 0 521 44160 9 hardback ISBN 0 521 44694 5 paperback Using Russian A Guide to Contemporary Usage ISBN 0 521 45130 2 hardback ISBN 0 521 45760 2 paperback Using German Synonyms [forthcoming] Using Italian Synonyms and [forthcoming] Using Italian A Guide to Contemporary Usage [forthcoming] Using Japanese A Guide to Contemporary Usage c [forthcoming] Further titles in preparation Using German A Guide to Contemporary Usage . ISBN 0 521 42077 6 hardback ISBN 0 521 31556 5 paperback © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Using French A guide to contemporary usage R. E. BATCHELOR Formerly of the University of Nottingham M. H. OFFORD Reader in French Language, University of Nottingham © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information cambridge university press Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Tokyo, Mexico City Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge cb2 8ru, UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521641777 © Cambridge University Press 1982, 1993 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 1982 Fifth printing 1991 Second edition 1993 Fourth printing 1998 Third edition 2000 Fourth printing 2008 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library isbn 978-0-521-64177-7 Hardback isbn 978-0-521-64593-5 Paperback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Information regarding prices, travel timetables, and other factual information given in this work is correct at the time of first printing but Cambridge University Press does not guarantee the accuracy of such information thereafter. © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Contents Foreword xi Foreword to second edition Foreword to third edition Abbreviations xiv 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 2 2.1 2.2 Register xii xiii 1 Varieties of language 1 Peripheral factors 2 Central factors 2 1.3.1 Field 2 1.3.2 Purpose 2 1.3.3 Medium 3 1.3.4 Register 3 Register as used in this book 5 Illustration of register 7 1.5.1 Pronunciation and liaison 8 1.5.2 Vocabulary and grammar 11 Passages illustrating levels of register 19 1.6.1 A la sortie du cinéma 19 1.6.2 Une agence de voyages 21 1.6.3 Part of a debate organised by L’Express 23 1.6.4 Passage from de Gaulle’s Mémoires 25 1.6.5 Passage from Albert Camus’ La Peste 26 1.6.6 Passages from Le Monde and Libération 27 Vocabulary 31 Misleading similarities: deceptive cognates 31 2.1.1 Deceptive cognates proper 31 2.1.2 Partial deceptive cognates 37 Homonyms and ambiguity 38 2.2.1 Homonyms differentiated by gender but with identical spelling 39 2.2.2 Homonyms differentiated by both gender and spelling 2.2.3 Homonyms differentiated by spelling only 43 42 v © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Contents 2.2.4 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 Homonyms with no external distinction either of gender or spelling 44 2.2.5 Words with more than one meaning: incommensurability of French and English 45 2.2.5.1 French examples 45 2.2.5.2 English examples 49 Paronyms 52 Synonyms and words with related meanings 80 Semantic frames 80 Complex verbal expressions 129 Idioms, similes and proverbs 134 2.6.1 Idioms 134 2.6.2 Similes 141 2.6.3 Proverbs 142 2.6.4 Expressions involving colours 142 2.6.5 Idioms/expressions involving numbers 146 Proper names 153 2.7.1 Personal names 153 2.7.2 Names of towns 155 2.7.3 Pronunciation 156 Abbreviations 157 2.8.1 General 157 2.8.2 Petites annonces 163 2.8.3 Truncation 164 Latin expressions 167 Interjections, fillers, transition words and forms of address 169 2.10.1 Interjections 169 2.10.2 Fillers 172 2.10.3 Transition words 173 2.10.4 Forms of address 174 Differences in measurements, etc. 175 2.11.1 Distance 176 2.11.2 Weight 177 2.11.3 Area 177 2.11.4 Volume 177 2.11.5 Temperature 177 2.11.6 Currency 178 2.11.7 Time 178 2.11.8 Telephone 178 2.11.9 Clothing sizes 179 2.11.10 Numerals 179 Semi-technical vocabulary 179 2.12.1 La Banque 180 2.12.2 Les Assurances 181 2.12.3 Les Impôts 182 2.12.4 L’Informatique 184 2.12.5 La Sécurité sociale 185 vi © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Contents 2.13 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 2.12.6 Le Commerce 186 2.12.7 La Justice 188 Miscellaneous matters concerning vocabulary 2.13.1 Frequency of occurrence 191 2.13.2 Spelling 192 2.13.3 Creation of compound words 192 2.13.4 Verlan 194 Grammar 191 195 Gender 195 3.1.1 Rules of gender 195 3.1.1.1 Simple nouns (ie non-compounds) 195 3.1.1.2 Compound nouns (unhyphenated and hyphenated) 197 3.1.2 Difficult cases 198 3.1.3 Doubtful and variable genders 199 3.1.4 Names of boats, cars, aeroplanes and watches, letters and numbers etc 200 3.1.5 Names of towns 201 3.1.6 Sex and gender 201 Number 202 3.2.1 Formation of plurals 202 3.2.1.1 Simple words (ie non-compounds) 202 3.2.1.2 Compound words 204 3.2.1.3 Foreign words 205 3.2.1.4 Proper names 206 3.2.1.5 Singular subject but plural verb 207 3.2.2 Differing usages between French and English 207 3.2.3 Use of the partitive article before an adjective preceding a plural noun 210 Word order 210 3.3.1 Adjectives and word order 210 3.3.1.1 Normal usage 210 3.3.1.2 Adjectives which change their meaning according to their position 211 3.3.1.3 Adjectives which may occur either before or after a noun 214 3.3.1.4 Miscellaneous matters 216 3.3.2 Adverbs and word order 217 3.3.3 Personal pronouns and word order 219 3.3.4 Inversion 220 3.3.5 Interrogatives and word order 222 3.3.6 Exclamations and word order 223 3.3.7 Highlighting 224 Prepositions 225 3.4.1 verb⫹preposition 226 3.4.1.1 verb⫹preposition⫹infinitive 226 vii © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Conents 3.5 3.6 3.4.1.2 verb⫹preposition⫹noun/pronoun 230 3.4.1.3 verb⫹direct object⫹preposition⫹infinitive 232 3.4.1.4 verb⫹preposition⫹noun/pronoun⫹preposition⫹ infinitive 232 3.4.1.5 verb⫹direct object⫹preposition⫹noun/ pronoun 233 3.4.2 noun/adjective⫹preposition⫹infinitive 235 3.4.2.1 noun⫹preposition⫹infinitive 235 3.4.2.2 adjective⫹preposition⫹infinitive 236 3.4.3 Varying prepositions 237 3.4.4 Prepositional expressions 245 3.4.4.1 French prepositions 245 3.4.4.2 English prepositions 261 3.4.5 Different constructions in French and English 271 3.4.5.1 French verb⫹direct object ⫽ English 272 verb⫹preposition⫹noun/pronoun 3.4.5.2 French verb⫹preposition⫹noun/pronoun ⫽ English verb⫹direct object 273 Negation 273 3.5.1 Negative words and expressions 273 3.5.1.1 Non 273 3.5.1.2 Pas 274 3.5.1.3 Plus 275 3.5.1.4 Jamais 275 3.5.1.5 Que 276 3.5.1.6 Ni. . . ni 276 3.5.1.7 Personne, rien, aucun 276 3.5.1.8 Combinations of negative words 277 3.5.2 The negation of infinitives 277 3.5.3 Negation and register 278 3.5.4 Superfluous ne 279 Verbs 280 3.6.1 Tenses 280 3.6.1.1 Present time 280 3.6.1.2 Future time 281 3.6.1.3 Past time 282 3.6.1.4 Sequence of tenses 286 3.6.1.5 Other differences between French and English tense usages 288 3.6.2 The infinitive 289 3.6.3 Participles 290 3.6.3.1 Present participles 290 3.6.3.2 Past participles 290 3.6.3.3 A difference between French and English usages 291 3.6.4 Formation of compound tenses 291 3.6.4.1 Use of avoir and être to form compound tenses 291 viii © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Contents 3.7 3.8 3.6.4.2 Agreement of past participles in compound tenses 292 3.6.5 Reflexive versus non-reflexive forms of the same verb 293 3.6.6 Verbs of movement in French and English 295 Subjunctive mood 296 3.7.1 Sequence of tenses with subjunctive in subordinate clause 296 3.7.2 ‘Black and white’ subjunctive 297 3.7.2.1 – in certain archaic set expressions 297 3.7.2.2 – at the beginning of a sentence to indicate surprise, an order or a desire 297 3.7.2.3 – to mark hypothesis/conditional value 298 3.7.2.4 – when a noun clause introduced by que precedes the main clause (in R3 speech only) 298 3.7.2.5 – to express ‘whoever’, ‘whatever’, ‘wherever’, etc 298 3.7.2.6 – after certain conjunctive expressions 298 3.7.2.7 – in clauses dependent upon verbs and expressions indicating desiring, wishing, begging, ordering, forbidding, preventing 299 3.7.2.8 – in clauses dependent upon verbs and expressions indicating a feeling 300 3.7.2.9 – in clauses dependent upon verbs and expressions indicating denial, doubt, evaluation, impossibility, necessity, possibility 301 3.7.2.10 – in clauses dependent upon a superlative formed with plus or moins 302 3.7.2.11 – in clauses dependent upon verbs and expressions indicating chance 302 3.7.3 ‘Grey’ subjunctive 302 3.7.3.1 – in clauses dependent upon a superlative and similar expressions 303 3.7.3.2 – in clauses dependent upon a negative or indefinite antecedent 303 3.7.3.3 – in clauses dependent upon expressions denying and questioning certainty, probability 304 3.7.3.4 – in clauses dependent upon verbs of thinking and declaring in the interrogative and/or negative 304 3.7.3.5 – in clauses dependent upon certain expressions 304 3.7.4 Avoiding the subjunctive 305 3.7.4.1 – when the main and dependent clauses have the same subject 305 3.7.4.2 – with certain prepositional phrases 305 Pronouns 306 3.8.1 Second person pronouns 306 ix © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Contents 3.8.2 3.9 3.10 Third person pronouns 308 3.8.2.1 il or ce? 308 3.8.2.2 le 308 3.8.2.3 on 309 3.8.2.4 soi 310 3.8.3 en 310 3.8.4 y 312 Usage with names of countries 312 3.9.1 France 313 3.9.2 Europe 315 3.9.3 Afrique 317 3.9.4 Asie et Australasie 318 3.9.5 Moyen-Orient 319 3.9.6 Amérique du Nord 320 3.9.7 Amérique Centrale 320 3.9.8 Amérique du Sud 321 3.9.9 Seas, Oceans and Mountains 322 Changes of word class 322 Vocabulary list: words and expressions contained in Sections 2.1 to 2.4 325 x © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Foreword This book provides the student with an essentially practical guide to the contemporary French language. It is practical first because it attempts to deal with many of the major aspects of the language by defining and illustrating them through everyday examples. Second, its practical nature may be seen in the attention paid to the levels of register in French, a feature of this book which breaks new ground. It not only clarifies points of usage and grammar, but shows the circumstances in which words, expressions, grammatical constructions, and so on, are most appropriate. Third, a serious and systematic attempt has been made to help the English student work his/her way through the complex web of faux amis, paronyms, prepositions, etc, where English language patterns can easily provoke error. It will be understood once and for all that a French person says ‘La clef est sur la porte’ and ‘Le boxeur est sur le ring’, that lier and relier are not the same, and that sous, au-dessous de, en dessous de, and à travers, en travers de, au travers de are more complicated than may first appear. The book is unusual in that it combines a survey of both vocabulary and grammar. Traditional French grammar books for English students are naturally largely confined to matters of grammar; books on vocabulary, faux amis and other aspects of lexis are not concerned with grammar. The inextricable association of grammar and vocabulary in language is implicit in the conception of this book. The authors do not claim to provide a comprehensive guide to all aspects of the French language. For example, no section on adverbs is included, partly because it is felt that adverbs do not present the same problems as, for instance, prepositions. Neither is space given to the definite and indefinite articles. Adjectives are not given a section to themselves, but are found in the chapter on word order, for instance. The whole point of the book is that it is less concerned with the prescriptive rules of grammar than with the way the language is actually used. It has been conceived on the basic assumption that the student has already acquired a certain expertise in the French language. Indeed some readers may well be acquainted with many, if not all, of the concepts presented in the section on register. In that section we have deliberately avoided discussion and criticism of previous work on the subject and have attempted to provide as simple xi © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Foreword and straightforward a model of register as possible, in keeping with the aims of this book. Much of the material in the book has been set out in tabular form for the sake of clarity. It is hoped that the student will be able to seize and memorise the essential points more easily through the visual impact. Authors’ acknowledgements We are immeasurably indebted to the following: Philippe Lanoë, Malliga Chebli-Saadi and Hadj Saadi We should also like to thank all our students whose generous mistakes over the years have provided us with the raw material for this book. Foreword to second edition In the ten years since the first edition of the Guide, much has changed in the world, technically, socially, geographically even, with new countries coming into being as old power blocs are dismembered. This seems therefore an appropriate moment to ask ourselves whether the French language has also changed, whether it reflects in any way the changes occurring in the outside world and more specifically whether the Guide should be revised in the light of these developments. There is no doubt that much new vocabulary has come into being to describe many new phenomena and attitudes, but because of the nature of the Guide, not being a conventional dictionary, many such innovations will have to be ignored. However, a few additions have been made to various divisions of the Vocabulary section, and certain names of countries and organisations have been altered to correspond to the current international and national scene. On the other hand, the basic structures of the language, one of the major preoccupations of the book, have by and large remained stable. Consequently not many changes have been introduced in that section of the book. Revision is mainly limited to incorporating recommendations made to us over the years by kindly readers, correcting a few errors and supplying additional information and examples as appropriate. Our hope is that this new edition will prove a useful resource to advanced students of French. xii © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Foreword to third edition The French language continues to evolve – the vocabulary is forever expanding and even grammatical usage changes, although nowhere near at the same rate as the vocabulary. This new edition of Using French attempts to keep abreast of such developments as well as refining previous editions. The whole text has been radically reviewed, and extensive modifications have taken place – there is scarcely a page which has not been revised in some way. In addition to revision of previous editions, new sections have been added, some providing more idiomatic expressions (involving colour and numbers in particular), use of which marks a comfortable confidence in the language, and others relating to what we call semi-technical vocabulary, the sort of vocabulary every educated person ought to be familiar with and which is used in various circumstances. Social changes have meant that new attitudes prevail in some areas of French national life, and this impacts upon vocabulary – consequently the section on gender has been largely rewritten to reflect the accession of more and more women to high-status positions in society. We have maintained our philosophy not to include the basics of French grammar (conjugation of verbs, the different articles and so on) but to concentrate upon aspects of French usage which concern advanced students and to incorporate the concept of register differences throughout. As before, we hope that this book will continue to serve advanced students of French effectively – and to provide an accurate and stimulating account of contemporary French. R. E. Batchelor M. H. Offord xiii © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-64177-7 - Using French: A Guide to Contemporary Usage R. E. Batchelor and M. H. Offord Frontmatter More information Abbreviations adj F (f ) fig gen impers infin intr lit M (m) occ pej pft ph pl pp pres adjective feminine figurative generally impersonal infinitive intransitive literal masculine occasionally pejorative perfect past historic plural past participle present qch qn Rl R1* R2 R3 sb sg st sth subj trans/tr usu / (. . .) quelque chose quelqu’un see 1.4 see 1.4 see 1.4 see 1.4 somebody singular sometimes something subjunctive transitive usually or non-use of preposition (see 3.4.1.1) xiv © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org
