This is a guide to German usage for those who have already acquired the basics of the language and wish to extend their knowledge. It provides important information on recent trends and changes in the German language, and on style, register and regional variation, which are often ignored by conventional grammars and surveys of vocabulary. It concentrates on the particular needs of the English-speaking user, and is clear, readable and easy to consult.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
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"Not only is this book a valuable resource for teachers and advanced students, but it is one of the few books on the market that is well suited as a text in an advanced course on the structure of German." Monatshefte
Book Description
This is a new, thoroughly revised edition of the acclaimed Using German, first published in 1992. It provides guidance for those who have already acquired the basics of German and wish to extend their fluency and confidence. Focusing on the particular needs of the English-speaking user, it incorporates important information on recent trends and changes in the German language, including the 1998 spelling reforms, and on style, register and regional variation, frequently ignored by conventional textbooks. It will be an invaluable source of up-to-date guidance on grammar and vocabulary.
--This text refers to the
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding German usage guide,
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This review is from: Using German: A Guide to Contemporary Usage (Paperback)
This book is outstanding for native English speakers looking to acquire fluency in German. Although it seems to be aimed at the advanced learner, I'd guess pretty much anyone after the 2nd year of study (high school) would profit from it, because of how it explains the differences and relationships in actual usage There are many categories of usage and many examples - English and German phrases compared with each other, with detailed explanations. Note that this is a usage guide and, while certainly informed with explanations about grammatical details, it is not a German grammar. For that I would strongly recommend Durrell's other 2 excellent books, 'Essential German Grammar' and (of course), the classic 'Hammer's German Grammar and Usage'. The latter is usually said to be aimed at advanced (i.e. after 3rd year at university level) learners, but it is also an excellent reference work for anyone attempting to attain fluency and looking to understand the subtle nuances of German. I have the 2nd edition; fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, each edition seems to differ from the others, not only in content (i.e. additional information) but also layout and organisation. This makes them slightly different books, so what I'm saying is, a real 'crack' might like to have a copy of each, since they're kind of complementary (at least that's my impression).
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Explaining the nuances other books never do...,
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This review is from: Using German: A Guide to Contemporary Usage (Paperback)
I was totally surprised by the wealth of useful information in this book.
Most all German books explain the basics of the German language. However, German in common use is so complex due to colloquialisms. This book breaks down all the strange uses of words simplified in other German language texts, as well as providing great coverage of the different dialects across European German. It's definitely meant for an intermediate or advanced German student, preferably for those wanting to go overseas and mingle amongst Germans.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great source of information for serious students of German,
By Linguist-wannabe "Xav" (Spain) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Using German: A Guide to Contemporary Usage (Paperback)
What can I say? This is probably the best book ever for advanced students of German... It covers it all from the subtle differences in word choice to Austrian and Swiss vocabulary. This book is a must for everyone who really wants to learn perfect German.
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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vor etw, inseparable verbs, prepositional adverb, inseparable compounds, few set phrases, spoken colloquial, revised spelling, verb sein, more formal registers, prepositional objects, sie sagte, negative tag, modal particles, foreign learners, hat gesagt, past subjunctive, dative object, dative case, accusative object, opening bracket, register variation, genitive case, closing bracket, strong endings, accusative case Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
North East, North West, South East, South West, Der Brief, Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural Nominative, Area Regional Hochdeutsch, Die Welt, Freundin Monika, Mein Vater, Der Film, Italiens Eintritt New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
vor etw, inseparable verbs, prepositional adverb, inseparable compounds, few set phrases, spoken colloquial, revised spelling, verb sein, more formal registers, prepositional objects, sie sagte, negative tag, modal particles, foreign learners, hat gesagt, past subjunctive, dative object, dative case, accusative object, opening bracket, register variation, genitive case, closing bracket, strong endings, accusative case Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
North East, North West, South East, South West, Der Brief, Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural Nominative, Area Regional Hochdeutsch, Die Welt, Freundin Monika, Mein Vater, Der Film, Italiens Eintritt New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 2
books:
6
books
cite this book:
See all 6 books citing this book
- Dictionary of German Synonyms by R. B. Farrell in Front Matter
- A Practical Dictionary of German Usage by K. B. Beaton in Front Matter
- German Federalism: Past, Present, Future by Maiken Umbach in Front Matter
- Thinking German Translation (Thinking Translation) by Ian Higgins in Back Matter
- The German Language Today: A Linguistic Introduction by Charles Russ on page 53
- Standardvariation: Wie Viel Variation Vertrdgt Die Deutsche Sprache? (Jahrbuch des Instituts fur deutsche Sprache) (German Edition) by Ludwig M. Eichinger on page 333
- Thinking German Translation: A Course in Translation Method (Thinking Translation) by Sándor Hervey in Back Matter
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