Customer Reviews

Spanish Verb Manual : Correct Conjugation and Regional Use

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"501 Spanish Verbs" seems to have taken root as the evolving standard and, yes, it's very good. But I'm here to tell you that this work by Alfredo Gonzalez Hermoso is *even better.*

First of all, I like the layout of the verb tables. Unlike Kendris' work, Gonzalez Hermoso groups his 'model verb' tables into "ar" "er" and "ir" sections. This approach is far more helpful than you think. Second, the irregular aspects of a particular model are clarified on each page with bold, red print. This little feature makes it really easy to spend 15 minutes or so each day flipping through the book and picking up one or two of those extra little quirks that makes the verb system so maddening at times.

Then, there's the 'regional usage' section, which details how the usage of certain verbs varies across the Hispanic world. Like, don't use 'coger' - which ostensibly means 'to catch' - in Mexico, okay?

I carry this book + "Buscalo!" (Clarkson, Campos) around with me at all times and try to review a couple of pages each day.

This extremely thorough and clearly laid-out reference book includes the following information: (1) extensive grammatical information on Spanish verbs; (2) 87 pages of tables of model verbs, including all moods and tenses, with every irregular verb form; (3) an alphabetical listing of 5000 verbs with their definition in English and a referral to a particular model verb which has the same conjugation; (4) information on prepositions used with verbs; (5) idiomatic verb expressions; (6) regional use of Spanish verbs; (7) regional use of ustedes and vos.

I highly recommend this excellent Spanish-verb guide to anyone who is currently studying Spanish or who has studied it in the past and is looking for a handy way to review verbs.

This book is an excellent reference for Spanish verbs, with a great layout, wonderfully intuitive organization (when compared to other verb references), and great visual aids (color highlighting of the persons and tenses that are irregular). This book is much better than the "Complete Handbook of Spanish Verbs," by Judith Noble and Jaime Lacasa (in case you were thinking of buying that book instead). Highly recommended.

i selected this book out of many available, choosing this one because it is realatively small in size, the layout is excellent (graphic design is helpful and unobtrusive) and it is exhuastive in coverage. all other books in the category take the 200-500 model verbs without filling in the rest. Some take the same approach as this by having around 200 model verbs fully conjugated and then tell you which verbs follow which models. This book does it the best. Easy to access information, easy to interpret the model- evrything. BUY IT!

The format, method, and organizational aspects of this book are FAR superior to nearly every other spanish verb book out there, especially Barron's(Kendris') 501 spanish verb book.

I have used many verb books (here are a couple of the more common that I've seen here): Kendris' (ugh, he arranged it so that it looks cute and simple, but it does NOT accurately illustrate the verb moods in spanish, i.e., indicativo should be grouped together not thrown into the soup of 14 subgroups of simples y compuestos), Living Language's 2,000+ (much closer to González Hermoso's book, but one of the biggest differences, among others, is the lack of color for irregularities -see below for more on this).

Simply put, if you want a desktop reference EACH and EVERY time that you need to conjugate a verb in spanish, buy Kendris' reference...on second thought, his book still can't compare; more about that later. But if you want a compact, informative book of verbs that will allow you to LEARN how to conjugate verbs in spanish on your own, buy this book. Gonzalez Hermoso's book delivers on what this student of spanish has looked for in a spanish verb book: it has about 80 tables of fully conjugated verbs (irregularities in red!); the tables are organized into 3 parts (-ar,-er,-ir verbs); approx 5,000 additional verbs that refer to the previously-mentioned tables; rules (yes, rules...in order to be able to actually learn verb conjugation, we must learn some basic rules) that break down how to work with the irregularities of many spanish verbs; tons of extras like commonly-used verb/preposition combinations (this is one of the keys to sounding like you get the language); verbs and their many expressions as they pertain to specific regions/countries, etc.,...

Word of advice for those with not-so-great sight: One of the reasons that I prefer this book is its size; it makes it very portable, unlike the others out there. Barron's mini verb book is super tiny but, blech, it's nearly identical to its biggie-sized brother. Without measuring, the smallest font in this book is found within the ~80 basic verb tables: it looks similar in style to Times New Roman with about an 8/9-point font. The rest of the book uses at least 3 different font styles and are larger, 10+. If you think this might be too small, I STRONGLY suggest that you at least take this book for a spin, especially side-by-side with the other books. If you are certain that the font is too small, try Living Language's book.

No clay feet here!

It's a small, thin, inexpensive paperback, but don't let that fool you.
It explains how to choose and use Spanish tenses,
gives the English equivalents for the tenses and moods,
reveals patterns that help you remember many "group" irregularities,
conjugates every verb whose details are either unique or useful for a group of verbs,
and gives you thousands more verbs indexed to the conjugated verbs.

Carry this handy hero with
the Spanish-language paperback you're enjoying,
your favorite compact dictionary,
Keith Chambers' "Teach Yourself Beginner's Spanish Grammar" (ISBN 0844226874),
and Clarkson & Campos' "¡Buscalo!" (ISBN 0471245607).

This manual is by far the best verb manual I have ever used. As a French major in college, I swore by my "Becherelle" on French verbs, carring it around like a totem. Gonzalez Hermoso's manual is even better . With it as my indispensible reference guide, I have mastered the languge in a few months.

In comparing the two books, here are some points to consider:

1. 501 Spanish Verbs really does conjugate 501 Spanish verbs. Spanish Verb Manual conjugates 82, and identifies lots of others as falling in the conjugation pattern of one of the 82. I don't doubt that 82 is enough to show all patterns. Regardless, 501 actual conjugations are better than 82.

2. 501 Spanish Verbs is a lot bulkier than Spanish Verb Manual -- somewhat more than twice the bulk, I would say.

3. Spanish Verb Manual has the verbs in a logical order rather than an alphabetical one. 501 Spanish Verbs has the verbs in strictly alphabetical order, which makes it quicker to find a verb.

4. Spanish Verb Manual has irregularities printed in red, a great feature.

So which is better? To my mind, Spanish Verb Manual, but someone who weighs the features differently could reasonably conclude otherwise.

I have purchased and used a number of Spanish language resources and, without question, this is the best and most useful.

Not only has SVM helped me with the obvious, Spanish verb conjugation, it has also given me hope. I'm quite serious about this. By reducing the number of verbs that are actually conjugated to around 80 and by connecting nearly 5000 verbs to "families" or patterns of conjugations, it makes Spanish appear MUCH more attainable than the 501 Verbs resource (where every verb is conjugated completely, creating the impression that every verb is a unique conjugational event).

Also, in each chart SVM notes verb irregularities in red. Thus, rather than panic at the thought of another irregular verb, it is possible to see that, for example, 'conocer' breaks a regular "er" pattern in only one point in all forms of the indicative and, consequently, only in the present subjunctive. "Hey, I can do this!"

Additionally, this book includes a helpful guide to prepositions, to idiomatic expressions, and regional variations in verb usage.

When you first pick up this book, it looks difficult to use. But look up three different verbs, and it's a piece of cake.

Because of the format of this book, it has about 5 times as many verbs as "the big red book", and it's about 1/3 of the size. Put this in your bookbag, and carry it with you.