If you want to learn a foreign language, you need to learn its grammar. Although it shares many words with English, French is no exception to this rule. Learning every nuance of French grammar takes a long time, but here are some relatively quick steps you can follow to improve your basic understanding of this language.

Purchase a French textbook and work through the grammar exercises it contains. This is one of the best ways to reinforce the grammar that you're learning.

Purchase an AP French or SAT Subject Test review book. These normally come with a brief but thorough review of French grammar. The reviews are typically well-organized, making them convenient, easy-to-use references.

Make a comprehensive study guide based on the grammar summary in one of these review books. One method that works well is to write a question for every fact the review book states. Be sure to make an answer guide to go along with these questions. That way you'll have easy access to the solutions.

Keep a journal in French. This might be difficult at first, but writing in French every day will force you to learn the grammar more quickly.

Try to read a little bit of French each day. Some parts of the grammar, such as the difference between the conditional and subjunctive moods, are easy to learn if you regularly practice recognizing them.

Read French translations of English literature. Children's books are a great place to start, since you'll have no trouble understanding the plot and will need only a beginner's vocabulary to read them. Though it might seem boring, try to read books in French that you've already read. You'll have an easier time understanding the grammar if you know how it's written in English.