This book provides an accessible syntax of French as well as a grounding in the fundamental principles of syntactic theory, unhindered by considerations of theory and cross-linguistic comparisons. The aim is to describe modern French in breadth rather than to analyse problems of theory in depth. Each chapter progressively develops a system of notation that is consistent with current approaches to generative grammar, but which allows the reader to describe a wider variety of linguistic features of French than is normally associated with model-based grammars.After studying this book, learners should be able to move on to texts both in generative theory and comparative studies of French and otherRomance languages. The book uses corpus-driven data and also incorporates core ideas from systemic-functional grammar. An original feature of the book is that each section has copious examples, exercises and model answers.Contents:1 Phrases2 Clauses3 Complex Phrases4 Complex Clauses5 Phrases and Groups6 Lexico-grammar7 Moving on: structural and systemic theories of syntax.