Bescherelle Complete Guide to the Conjugation of 12,000 French Verbs

Bescherelle is the definitive guide to conjugating French verbs in all their tenses. It is divided into three main sections: grammar of the verb, conjugation tables, and a dictionary of spelling of verbs. The first section on grammar of the verb covers how verbs are divided into three main groups, agreement of the verb with the subject, and agreement of the past participle. Although only seven pages long, this section clears up potentially sticky points, such as the fact that the verb has to agree with its subject, except when the subject is qui, so in French we say 'c'est moi qui suis descendu le premier', which differs from English. The tables of conjugation begin with some general tables covering avoir, etre, passive voice, reflexive voice, one for all the endings of the three groups, and finally active voice. After this there are thirteen tables for verbs in the first group (ending in -er), just two for the second group (ending in -ir), and then sixty-two for the third group, which includes verbs ending in -ir/ant, -oir, and -re, many of which are irregular. This total obviously does not add up 12,000 but verbs that have the same ending and follow exactly the same pattern are indicated in any given table. Each table takes up one page and manages to squeeze in more information than any textbook: eight tenses in the indicative mood, four in the subjunctive mood, two for the imperative, three conditional tenses, two infinitives and two participles. Some tables also include notes at the foot of the page, usually on the way in which compounds of the verb are conjugated; thus there is a note about entrevoir, revoir and prevoir at the foot of the table for voir. At the end of the verb table section is a two-page list of all the verbs in the third group, as so many of them are irregular. Following this is a page on choice of auxiliary, starting with a list of verbs that can be conjugated with either avoir or Etre, 'depending on their precise context or nuance.' So we would say 'il est monte a  sa chambre' (he has gone up to his room) but 'les prix ont monté' (prices have gone up). The French-English dictionary listing of verbs includes all 12,000 and shows the particularly common ones in bold type. As well as meanings, it gives the number of the table that shows that verb's conjugation, the preposition such as à or de governed by the verb (if there is one), and indications of verbs that are reflexive, defective or impersonal. The Bescherelle Guide is a reference book for anyone studying French or for anyone who wishes to speak perfectly correct French without shying away from grammar. It is not a workbook, but it tells you everything you would need to know about French verbs. For meanings, it is much easier to look the verb up in the dictionary section of Bescherelle than it is to look in a large, heavy dictionary; a really good dictionary, however, has the advantage of giving examples of the verb used in context. But if you want a book that is light enough to carry around, you will not do better than Bescherelle.