- Paperback: 168 pages
- Publisher: Hodder Arnold (30 Jan 2004)
- ISBN-10: 0340815760
- ISBN-13: 978-0340815762
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 14.6 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,114,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
This book offers explanations of grammatical terms and functions as they apply to English and German. It illustrates the similarities and differences between the two languages and stresses the common linguistics pitfalls for English speakers. It includes review exercises with answers at the back.
About the Author
Cecile Zorach, Franklin and Marshall College, USA
Charlotte Melin, University of Minnesota, USA
Charlotte Melin, University of Minnesota, USA
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
A NOUN is a word that can be the name of a person, animal, place, thing, event, or idea. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
A NOUN is a word that can be the name of a person, animal, place, thing, event, or idea. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I never studied any grammar at school and dipping into a German grammar book was quite daunting! They always assume a knowledge of basic English grammar when words like "accusative" and "dative" would be lost on me. On the other hand I didn't want to read 100s of pages of a dry English grammar book, and then go back to my German.
It starts off explaining what verbs and nouns are - obviously easy, but seeing written definitions and the different types of verb sometimes helps you spot the rules/differences in German more quickly. It ends up on advanced topics and is very comprehensive. I think it would suit most levels.
Every chapter is laid out clearly so a beginner can read it from start to finish and understand. You could also dip into it at random as you need or go back and reference tables and key points to refresh your memory. It explains how every language structure works in both English and German, giving examples for both, so you don't need to flick between any other books, even though in it's title you might think the book only covers English grammar. There are a few questions at the end of every chapter which I've sometimes used as a self-check, but it's not a patronising text book padded out with exercises.
For minute/advanced details the book points you to look in your German textbook, but I think you could get to a very advanced stage on this book alone. I haven't opened my German Grammar book yet. It doesn't give you lists of every irregular verb and things like that, it sticks to the point - grammar. The book is about a cm thick and you can take it anywhere, read on the train. It's really increased my understanding and confidence in my German, I thought I'd never get the hang of the grammar.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am not primarily a student of languages. I would consider myself a scientist. At high school I was required to learn Latin (first 2 years of 5) and French (5 years). I also had an opportunity to take one other language for the last 3 years of 5 leading to O level. I chose Russian rather than German. Although I achieved grade 1 passes in French and Russian, I have always regretted that I had not learned German. I was taught Latin using a system that had been recently introduced that used arbitrary labels ("case A", "case B", etc) for the various cases in the declension of nouns. I found this very confusing. When I started to learn Russian, I was introduced to the proper grammatical terms that describe the various parts of language including noun declensions and verb conjugations. Suddenly, when viewed with retrospection armed with this knowledge, the Latin that I had been taught made sense. I was left wondering why I had been taught the other ridiculous nonsense and why I had not been taught formal English grammar. As I am required to produce unambiguous reports as part of my job I undertook some remedial self-education in English Grammar. During this time I grew fond of Latin (from what I remebered of it and from revisiting some Latin prose) for its terseness and clarity.
Eventually I decided to correct the mistake of my early youth by studying German. I bought a few books that claimed to teach the language simply and painlessly. Studying from these types of books was largely an exercise in remembering phrases that might be useful to tourists asking directions to famous landmarks or ordering food in restaurants. These books do not provide access to the great fund of German literature or even to meaningful dialogue with members of this great culture. The realisation of such ambitions requires an understanding of how the language works. This book attempts to provide the means to acquire this understanding. It is not a complete language course. I am trying to learn German by reading this book and then by reading parallel texts which simultaneously present real German prose with an English translation. I also have a German dictionary and books that confine themselves to German grammar. I consider this particular book one of the key ones that gave me a foothold at the beginning and from which I was able to make meaningful progress. It is said that there are similarities between English and German (which is not surprising given the history of our respective cultures). I find the similarities that are most striking occur in English words that have been isolated from the context of the germanic rulebase but which nevertheless retain echoes of their original grammatical roots. If you understand the subjunctive voice you will be delighted by the discovery of the apparent source of various functor words that are sprinkled messily over English sentences that appear to use a degenerate form of the beautiful German grammar.
If I had to choose again the books that I have been using in my attempt to learn German, this one would be on the top of the list and it would be the one that I would read first.
Eventually I decided to correct the mistake of my early youth by studying German. I bought a few books that claimed to teach the language simply and painlessly. Studying from these types of books was largely an exercise in remembering phrases that might be useful to tourists asking directions to famous landmarks or ordering food in restaurants. These books do not provide access to the great fund of German literature or even to meaningful dialogue with members of this great culture. The realisation of such ambitions requires an understanding of how the language works. This book attempts to provide the means to acquire this understanding. It is not a complete language course. I am trying to learn German by reading this book and then by reading parallel texts which simultaneously present real German prose with an English translation. I also have a German dictionary and books that confine themselves to German grammar. I consider this particular book one of the key ones that gave me a foothold at the beginning and from which I was able to make meaningful progress. It is said that there are similarities between English and German (which is not surprising given the history of our respective cultures). I find the similarities that are most striking occur in English words that have been isolated from the context of the germanic rulebase but which nevertheless retain echoes of their original grammatical roots. If you understand the subjunctive voice you will be delighted by the discovery of the apparent source of various functor words that are sprinkled messily over English sentences that appear to use a degenerate form of the beautiful German grammar.
If I had to choose again the books that I have been using in my attempt to learn German, this one would be on the top of the list and it would be the one that I would read first.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As you learn German you find more information about the mysteries of English. When I went to collage they said I had a pretty good grasp of English and would be wasting my time English 101 and dangling participles. Then it came time to acquire German. This Book opened up a whole new world as I learned the fundamentals of German I also found the parallel principle s of English. This book by placing the differences and similarities side by side helped me to better understand both languages. I am not sure I will get it down pat, but without this book, I would be dead in the water.
Some sample contents:
What is a Noun?
What are Indefinite and Definite Articles?
What is meant by gender?
What is a Participle?
Appendix A - Noun Gender Reference List
This is indispensable knowledge of "English Grammar for Students of German"
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
German Novice
I am a beginner of German, learning on a one to one basis with a native German teacher at my local Grammar school. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Gravesend
A great help
I was taught grammar at school but I had forgotten more than I thought as I discovered when going through this book. Read more
Published 7 months ago by K. Bird
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