A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish
by Carmen Benjamin, John Butt
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Book Summary Information
Author: Carmen Benjamin, John ButtEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-08-01
ISBN: 0071440496
Number of pages: 576
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Book Reviews of A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish
Book Review: Absolutely the best Spanish grammar for English speakers. Period.
Summary: 5 Stars
I keep B&B close at hand. My only slight disagreement with some of the other glowing reviews here is that if you love Spanish, you'll find this book to be not only a superb reference, but a highly enjoyable reading experience. I will frequently look something up, and end up re-reading an entire chapter or two. I never fail to learn something new. The many real-world literary examples are wonderful, and it's hard to read a chapter without an "Ahah!!" moment.
Unlike other textbooks, this is where you learn Spanish with all its ambiguities, national and regional quirks, and the marvelous subtleties that make Spanish such a rich and rewarding language. And while the technically correct answers are all here, this is where you'll learn the differences of opinion about what is correct, how Spanish is evolving, and how people actually use the language.
Do you have to be an intermediate or advanced speaker to read this book? Absolutely not. While this is definitely not a basic textbook, even if you're a relative beginner but want to progress beyond just getting by and truly learn the language, you can follow up your beginning texts by reading the appropriate chapters of B&B and learn much more. You won't absorb or even understand everything the first time, but that's perfectly OK. It just means that this book will never be boring, because over time, as you come back to the same chapters, you'll learn (and retain) something new each time.
Is everything you'll ever want to know about Spanish here? No, of course not. This isn't where you'll learn (or be able to look up) all of the rich and colorful expressions that are so much a part of the Spanish language, for instance, although hundreds of examples of idiomatic speech are used throughout the book. There are other books that are dedicated to Spanish expressions. That's not the purpose of B&B.
I am a believer that you can't learn a language well without actually studying grammar. Sure, you can buy one of the popular programs that teach through repetition, and I'm sure those programs get you to a certain level of proficiency, and help greatly with pronunciation and common expressions. But unless you're born speaking a language, you'll never be fluent and correct without actually sitting down and learning the rules of grammar, IMHO. And there's no better resource than B&B to accomplish that.
Butt and Benjamin should be commended on achieving something rare: writing and keeping current and alive a scholarly but readable and very accessible work that contributes immensely to the enjoyment and ability to more fully participate in a entire world of language and culture.
Summary of A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish
Recognized internationally as the most authoritative and comprehensive guide to contemporary Spanish for English speakers, A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish is an accessible, jargon-free guide to the forms and structures of Spanish as it is currently spoken and written. Examples from contemporary sources from throughout the Spanish-speaking world are used to illustrate grammatical points. Levels of usage--formal, familiar, colloquial, and popular--are indicated, and regional differences in usage are highlighted. This edition has been updated and revised to include the latest findings of the Royal Spanish Academy.
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