__# PREFACE «

Ever since the introduction of the “ Natural Method ” into our schools, those interested in the teaching of French by that method, have felt the want of a Grammar, entirely in French, which should be simple enough » be readily understood by our English-speaking pupils, und yet comprehensive enough to meet the requirements cf our Superior Schools.

My own practice for some y rs has been to give to the pupils, orally, the necessary :ummatical information, to familiarize them with it by numerous examples, and exercises both oral and written, and then, but not before, to give them the briefest possible résumé of the lessons, to be memorized and to serve for review purposes. The grammatical fact to be imparted was always de‘ ced from the oral lesson, and only so much grammartau + at any one time as was required for the material upon which the pupils where at work.

This plan has been productive of such satisfactory results in my classes in the Montrea! Senior School, that I hav consented, after much hesitation, to add one more to the al. ready large number of French Grammars, in the hope that it may prove helpful to others.

This little book is, then, the outcome of my personal experience as a teacher of French to English-speaking pupils, and has been largely compiled from my notes'of lessons. It does not claim to be a complete grammar, but simply a brief résumé of oral lessons, so arranged as to form a convenient book of reference, or to serve for a general review at the end of the school course.

A series of exercises, carefully graded, and based upon the grammar, will be published separately.

My sincere thanks are due to Madame Cornu of the Me- Gill Normal School, and to Mr. H. H. Curtis of the High School, Montreal, for many valuable suggestions and criticisms.