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Hammer's German Grammar and Usage
Long trusted as the most comprehensive, up-to-date and user-friendly grammar available, Hammer’s German Grammar provides you with a complete guide to German as it is written and spoken today. In a new layout to enable better referencing, this new edition Praised for its lucid explanations, this new edition distinguishes the most common forms of usage, both formal and informal. Hammer’s German Grammar also offers you a combination of reference grammar and manual of current usage that you will find invaluable, whether a student or a teacher, at intermediate or advanced level.
632 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 24, 2011
This book helped me (and continues to help me) clear up a lot of confusion I had with certain aspects of grammar throughout my entire autodidactic German-learning process. Its textbook style format is best suited for those who learn from having things explained logically and analytically, as opposed to those who learn from observation or drilling methods. I don't recommend it for beginners as their first German language book, rather as a reference to be used as you progress through the intermediate levels. It is indeed useful to beginners as a general reference, though delving deeply into the lessons would be a headache for most who haven't progressed past beginner levels. The book is very concise and gives lengthy explanations and examples, so you're sure to understand the information given as long as you pace yourself and are a studious type of person. It even includes the most recent updates (and those known to come) to the language as of the published date (1996). Having not yet gone through the Fourth Edition I'm unable to review it, though I believe it to be equal to the Third as far as the learning format, and presumably the most recent updates to German as of 2011 have been included as well.
Of course no one book nor one learning method should be used in the learning process, but as far as having a concise manual in which to refer to while you learn as a beginner or progress through intermediate levels, I think this book (or better even the updated Fourth Edition from 2011) is ideal. Advisably I don't recommended trying to learn any language quickly, and most books claiming to help you do so should be avoided, from my experience most especially with German as a native English-speaker.
Of course no one book nor one learning method should be used in the learning process, but as far as having a concise manual in which to refer to while you learn as a beginner or progress through intermediate levels, I think this book (or better even the updated Fourth Edition from 2011) is ideal. Advisably I don't recommended trying to learn any language quickly, and most books claiming to help you do so should be avoided, from my experience most especially with German as a native English-speaker.
March 25, 2008
For what it is it's great, but it will make your brain sweat buckshot.
April 1, 2023
I think this is the most extensive German grammar in English.
October 4, 2017
Professor Durrell based at the University of Manchester, has produced a comprehensive bank of German Grammar. The German axiom, 'Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache' is evidenced by the many finely rendered complexities Durrell threads into this grammar book.
This grammar book is most certainly not for beginner learners. When I first bought it, I struggled to understand many of the complexities of the language so the depth of Durrell's book was a little more difficult than I then required. Now I am studying at the post-intermediate (B2) level, the real complexities of German grammar are clicking into place and with that my usage of Durrell's book has increased greatly. I am finding it to be an extremely useful resource to dip into whenever I'm a little unsure of some obscure bit of grammar or needing to refresh my memory on the subjunctive mood, accusative/dative prepositions usw.
This grammar book is most certainly not for beginner learners. When I first bought it, I struggled to understand many of the complexities of the language so the depth of Durrell's book was a little more difficult than I then required. Now I am studying at the post-intermediate (B2) level, the real complexities of German grammar are clicking into place and with that my usage of Durrell's book has increased greatly. I am finding it to be an extremely useful resource to dip into whenever I'm a little unsure of some obscure bit of grammar or needing to refresh my memory on the subjunctive mood, accusative/dative prepositions usw.
July 3, 2023
Taught me German. An indispensable tool.
Dont think its valid to buy this sort of book and then complain that it was too difficult or had too much stuff. That is precisely its virtue. Read the cover before you buy. It is my opinion that the only sensible way to criticize a work is by how well it accomplishes the goals it sets out to achieve, and not by how well it accomplishes the goals you yourself want it to achieve. One buys a book only when the two sets of goals align. We must grant the author his world or whatever it is that Frye said. If I were to pick up an excellent book of history, and rate it poorly because I wanted a book of poetry, that would be rather ridiculous. Yet it would be no different.
Sometimes learners, such as students in schools and especially their parents, seem rather entitled to me. An author or a teacher certainly has a part to play, but nobody can understand something for another person. One cannot become a serious reader without a sense of personal responsibility, and an adventurous and intensely curious spirit that thrives off of challenge. You must meet the author at least halfway, and often more.
It is also sometimes the case that certain subject matters are simply difficult, and that is no fault of anyone but Nature. The necessary tradeoff between comprehensiveness and length/complexity of course becomes sharper. In said cases, think twice before you pick up a book with the word "comprehensive" in the title.
Dont think its valid to buy this sort of book and then complain that it was too difficult or had too much stuff. That is precisely its virtue. Read the cover before you buy. It is my opinion that the only sensible way to criticize a work is by how well it accomplishes the goals it sets out to achieve, and not by how well it accomplishes the goals you yourself want it to achieve. One buys a book only when the two sets of goals align. We must grant the author his world or whatever it is that Frye said. If I were to pick up an excellent book of history, and rate it poorly because I wanted a book of poetry, that would be rather ridiculous. Yet it would be no different.
Sometimes learners, such as students in schools and especially their parents, seem rather entitled to me. An author or a teacher certainly has a part to play, but nobody can understand something for another person. One cannot become a serious reader without a sense of personal responsibility, and an adventurous and intensely curious spirit that thrives off of challenge. You must meet the author at least halfway, and often more.
It is also sometimes the case that certain subject matters are simply difficult, and that is no fault of anyone but Nature. The necessary tradeoff between comprehensiveness and length/complexity of course becomes sharper. In said cases, think twice before you pick up a book with the word "comprehensive" in the title.
November 14, 2023
This isn't the kind of book you read straight through. It's a reference book, and a very good one. I highly recommend it if you are interested in German grammar. It hits on some fairly obscure points that I didn't expect to see in a book like this. It's a very thorough and excellent resource.
December 10, 2018
Review of the fifth edition:
Extremely helpful as a first-time German learner who also loves grammar (my other friends found it a little dry). Easily navigable and surprisingly comprehensive.
Extremely helpful as a first-time German learner who also loves grammar (my other friends found it a little dry). Easily navigable and surprisingly comprehensive.
January 2, 2019
I'll never finish this reference book, but i use it a lot. It's awesome. If you want to learn finer points of german grammar, look here. This book is amazing.
September 8, 2023
The German language makes a bit more sense now. Not the easiest read, but definitely an essential one for those aiming for a B2-C2 level of language proficiency
March 20, 2014
Great book for reference.
November 4, 2016
In no small way, this book taught me German.
December 27, 2011
The latest edition, I've added my copy of the fourth edition to Amazon to be sold.
November 17, 2012
Very useful book
Best textbook for german grammar
Ich finde es sehr nützlich
Best textbook for german grammar
Ich finde es sehr nützlich
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews