Intermediate(B1+/B2 )
1.5 hours per week for 5 weeks Starting October 21, 2026
At French Library Get Directions
Tony Simonneau
Time Slots
About this Class
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the tenses and moods most commonly encountered in French literature. Through a variety of literary texts and targeted practice exercises, participants will become familiar with the subjunctive (present and imperfect), the pluperfect, the past anterior, the future perfect, the various conditional tenses, and the passé simple, which will occupy a central place in the course.
Often treated only superficially in French language learning programs, these tenses are nevertheless essential for understanding classical works and many literary texts. Particular emphasis will be placed on the passé simple and the subjunctive, both of which are indispensable for reading French literature with ease and appreciating its full range of nuances.
Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical application, participants will learn to recognize these grammatical forms, understand their subtle shades of meaning, and reuse them in guided writing activities. The goal is to build learners' confidence when approaching literary texts while strengthening their command of written French.
Objectives:
- Develop a solid overall understanding of French verb moods and tenses.
- Gain an in-depth command of the passé simple, the imperfect subjunctive (subjonctif imparfait), and the various conditional tenses, including their meanings, functions, and appropriate contexts of use.
- Build confidence in reading classical French literature and develop an appreciation for the stylistic and artistic impact of tense usage in literary texts.
- Become familiar with the less commonly used tenses studied in the course and learn to incorporate them into one's own literary-style writing.