Customer Reviews

HarperCollins College Outline Spanish Grammar

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I am a Spanish teacher and I have started using this book for teaching. I think that it is one of the better Spanish books because it combines grammatical explanations with exercises (and answers to the exercises!).

The layout, and format are very logical and easy to use for the beginning and intermediate Spanish language students.

On the negative side, the sections on Subjunctive and Past Imperfect verb tenses could be more thorough.

In general, I recommend this book as a supplement to other Spanish language texts.

This book contains quite a bit of information on grammar and usage, coupled with very logical exercises WITH ANSWERS. Its coverage of the subject matter is quite through. It is extremely helpful in mastering specific parts of grammar. However, it provides no real assistance with memorization; you simply have to memorize the new vocabulary. It is more similary to a college-level workbook than to most learn-on-your-own books. The information and exercises and not entertaining, and don't try to be (no cute stories or cartoons, etc.) However, you can benefit greatly form this book. I have used it in conjunction with the Spanish Now! series by Barron's to provide deeper understanding and further practice.

As a beginner I found this to be of no almost no value. It seems to assume rather advanced knowledge, and thus might serve as a review for advanced students, but not a learning tool. For example, in working through the fill in the blank exercises for person pronouns, one has to pick the proper pronoun by picking the one that matches the verb tense in the sentence. But how could one have learned the verb tenses without knowing the personal pronouns in the first place? Think about it. I just tossed my copy in the trash out of frustration. Off to look for a book that has a clearer view of it's audience in mind.