Customer Reviews

Using Spanish: A Guide to Contemporary Usage

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4 star:		(2)
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This book was an amazing tool in my study of Spanish. It is not a traditional grammar, but it is still amazingly quick, succint, and too-the-point. It is technical book, in the sense that it doesn't waste time or space with those corny dialogues and phrases that seem to abound in beginner books. Instead, this book fills a critical gap: what you need to know about the structure and syntax of the language in order to go from low-intermediate speaker to advanced fluency. Most intermediate-advanced books resemble "readers", this book is the opposite. There is a wealth of information on false cognates, "registers" (ways of speaking according to the situation), and - my favorite - the right prepositions to use after nouns and verbs, a constant source of errors for non-native speakers who have trouble grasping how "pensar en" means "to think about". This book was just what I needed to move from intermediate foreign Spanish speaker to a fluent speaker. It is especially accessible and meaningful for language learners who - like me - actually find "grammar" to be one of the exciting and valuable parts of language learning.

Excellent book for serious students of Spanish and treats the language at some depth. Includes usages from both Spain and Latin America in various registers. Words and and phrases appropriate for informal and more formal usage. Quibble in that the book has come apart with fairly light and careful use.

I really like this book because it explains subtle differences in Spanish words and expressions that other grammars treat as synonyms. It's loaded with expressions that Spanish speakers really use, rather than stilted examples. I credit this book for the praise I've been receiving lately on how much my Spanish has improved.

Having English as my first language I have appreciated the virtues of this book for a number of years. It is well organized with clear explanations and many examples. One of the features I value highly is the classification of words and expressions by their "register", meaning the social context in which the usage occurs. Anything from obscene to formal and legalistic. You will need a year or two of Spanish before the book can be useful.

I was a little skeptical buying yet another Spanish usage book. I already have an entire bookcase full of Spanish material. But when it arrived, I realized that it was amazingly well put together and a really valuable tool. My favorite section is the one where they break down all of the applications of various verbs and show the wide manner of meanings possible and common verb combinations used. There is also a really great section with Nouns that gives the subtle distinctions between noun variations (i.e., just a chaqueta vs. all the various types of coats). I can't wait to really dig into this thing. Well laid out, easy to read and to grasp. Really a wonderful reference.

This is for people who already know Spanish well and need to use it in an educated way with educated people. It points out many pitfalls in grammar and vocabulary, explains some common slang and in general offers material you won't get in a conventional text. NOT for beginners.

I have found the book an excellent help and enjoy using it - one of the best. Now and then there are still more interpretation or applications of a word lacking - but it is very comprehensive and thoroughly compiled.