German Grammar

by Eric Viele Greenfield

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064600343
• ISBN13: 9780064600347
• Release Date: January 1968
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Nice book for learning to read Old German

I just picked up this book at a used book store, for under $1. I liked the way its based upon the old german alphabet and picked it up mostly as a novelty to have on-hand. I havn't begun to actually use it yet but it does have alot of usefull well organized information. As mentioned in another review, you wont learn how to speak German with this, but its great for the written language. The exercises are essentially translation tasks, in both directions German-English and English to German. I only wish there had been solved translations in the back. All in all, a very good source for pure grammar. And perfect for learning to use/read the old german alphabet. It was originally written in 1940, which I think contributes so much to its excellent no-nonsense approach.

Outstanding for independent study

This book is an excellent introduction to written German. In a very organized fashion, it covers all key parts of German grammar from the copula to passive voice and participial constructions. A typical chapter starts with grammar points and explanations with examples. Then comes a short bilingual list of new vocabulary, followed by a reading text and translation exercises. At the back of the book are an appendix of irregular verbs, and bilingual vocabulary lists. With this book, you can develop a reading knowledge of German very quickly. I was able to cover the entire book in just over 2 weeks of intensive study, doing 4 chapters a day. Afterwards, I was able to make my way through just about any German text, with the help of a dictionary. Since I didn't have any oral component in my studies, I still can't speak very well, but when pressed, I can get my points across. In any case, thanks to this book, I know my grammar, and it's just the pronunciation that gives me problems.A special feature of this book is that all the German is written in old script. Yes, it takes a few minutes to get used to this script, but after working your way through this book in old script, you will be able to read German in any script. I've had friends who were German majors in college who were stymied whenever they came across a text written in old script. "I can't read THAT," they would complain. And yet, I who had only ever studied German with this book, have no trouble with such texts.This book was originally recommended to me for self-study by the head of a German Department at a well-known university. He said to me "If you are serious about learning German, get this book." I would pass on that recommendation to anyone.