Customer Reviews

Irish Grammar: A Basic Handbook

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

 

 

This book is excellent for beginners who are wanting a book that gives basic grammar without all the extra information that confuses beginners. The book is well laid out, with information very easy to find. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that it is a little too brief. A few more examples of how the grammar works would have improved it greatly.

My main Irish text is Learning Irish by Michael O'Siadhail. I use this book to get someone else's view on certain grammar points.
If you're going to learn a language I highly recommend that you first read How to Learn Any Language. Once you've done that you'll find that a book like Irish Grammar easily fits into that learning framework.
This book helps you to start to sort out why the Irish you've been reading in the newspaper is aranged the way it is. You'll begin to make a little more sense of the use of verbs, for instance.
It's a good basic grammar. However, no grammar book should ever stand alone.

No language course has ever, can, or ever will be comprehensive enough to cover EVERY aspect of learning a "tongue" that is not one's primary form of communication. Even the most encompassing language acquisition programs need supplemental materials. McGonagle's "Irish Grammar: A Basic Handbook" is one such essential supplement that is easily used in tandem with any and every Irish Gaelic Program available today. McGonagle cuts to the chase, guts out all the superfluous grammar gooble-de-goop, and serves up a grounding in grammar necessary to grasping the Irish Gaelic Language. The fundamentals are dished up in "bite size" portions, and is an easy to use reference guide for beginner and "brush-up" students alike. The only negative observation that needs to be mentioned about the "Handbook" is that it does not come with an Audio CD so a novice can hear the examples of various points and vocabulary, perferably spoken by "Native Speakers." Maybe future editions could include an audio CD or two.

Very incomplete.
e.g., the section on nouns mentions declensions, but neither defines nor enumerates the declension.
The imperfect tense is shown, but the difference between imperfect and past tenses is not mentioned.
Pronunciation (which definitely affects the grammar, e.g., the -f- of the future tense) is ignored (outside of the distinction between slender and broad consonants).
Don't waste your money.

When I ordered this book, I was told that I would learn about "Irish" grammar. However, the author uses English sentences to demonstrate grammar and does not support the same descriptions when working with Irish directly! It is more of a rehash of English grammar for English-speaking persons. I found the book to be so frustrating in its descriptions without Irish examples and such that I have, literally, tossed it and am now waiting for The Christian Brothers book "Irish Grammar" as it is the "definitive" work in this arena. Save your money! Buy the best first!

This is a great book for what it is - and what it is is a bare-bones Irish grammar, a supplement to a detailed primary source for learning Irish. Don't buy this book intending to use it as a primary source for learning Irish; it lists the basic rules of the language in an outline format, but it won't explain how those rules are employed. As a quick-and-dirty grammar it's been very useful. I am using Micheal O'Siadhail's book, "Learning Irish," which takes a very piecemeal approach to the language. So about once a week, for maybe 45 minutes, I go through relevant sections of McGonagle's grammar to get a more structured take on what I've been studying. I find that learning a foreign language is easier if you have two or three ways of approaching the same material at the same time. This grammar book is one of my three ways, and it's easily the most cost-effective one.

I am studying irish with a native teacher. This is a indoeuropean language not similar as others languager of the same group. The phonology and morphology follows a sintonic rule and a good grammar is necessary to develop the study of this language. This grammar has helped me to walk ahead.

Definately not for a beginner! I found this book very confusing. I bought it with another audio cd in hopes of learning a new language, but I was lost at the very first page.