Customer Reviews

Essential Spanish Grammar (Dover Language Guides Essential Grammar)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The grammar portion is no-frills, and as the other reviewers have mentioned, parts are out dated. So why 5 stars? Because it is a great vocabulary book!! In the back, there is a list of 2400 cognates....words that have the same meaning and are virtually identical in spelling to English words. You already know 2400 Spanish words...you just don't know which ones they are. The author is dead on when he states "There aren't many short cuts to learning and study. This (list) is one of the few of real value" It's worth way more than 6 bucks...trust me.

This book isn't bad if you consider how thin and cheap it is. It sacrifices completeness, emphasizing learning in a short time "what you'd be most likely to use." It completly omits using "tu", claiming that one only essentially needs "ustedes" (a bit annoying). Overall, it does serve its stated purpose of serving those with limited learning time.

I bought this guide after purchasing Resnick's 1001 Most Useful Spanish Words, which is an incredibly bargain at [price]. Essential Spanish Grammar, at [price], isn't so bad either EXCEPT for a critical need for updating in terms of pronouns and verb conjugations. In the 1950s, when this guide was written, it was a given that one did not use the familiar "you," so Resnick ignores it completely. Of course, these days it's "tu" not "Usted," and someone, perhaps Resnick's editor, needs to acknowledge that with a revised edition.

This book was recommended by a friend. It is just as described. It is fun reading while learning key points about the language.

The book arrived in v. good condition. For a beginner in learning Spanish, as I am, this is an essential text.

This book is a nice reference tool, however, it lacks one important thing. Tu. The familiar "you". I don't know how this book discounts such an important thing. If I were Dover Pubs., I'd make an updated version including tu. As a former high school Spanish student that wanted some review before traveling to South America, this book disappointed. If you are looking to travel to Brazil or learn a little bit about Portuguese, the "Essential Portuguese Grammar" by DaPrista is an excellent reference covering most bases.