[.ca] Essential Dutch Grammar (ISBN 0486246752)

Essential.... really?:
This book claims to be 'All the grammar really needed for speach and comprehension...', however, there is much more information needed than what is presented in this book. "Essential Dutch Grammar" is a good primer and introduction to Dutch Grammar- as much as is possible in 100 pages. It includes information on Spelling, Word Order, Negation, Articles & Nouns, Adjectives, Adverbs, Possessives & Possession, Demonstrative adjectives & Pronounes, Pronouns, Verbs, Conjuctions, Prespositions, Telling Time, Idiomatic Constructions and an Appendix. Each topic is presented first with an introduction, then with the applicable grammar rule followed by examples. This format is more user-friendly than other Dutch Grammar texts on the market. I'd reccommend this book to beginning students and native speakers who want to brush up on their grammatical skills (for example, those speakers who have emigrated out of Holland/Belgium) - especially since the price is right. If you'd like a more in-depth study of grammar, then look for "Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar" by Bruce Donaldson, but also be willing to shell out quite a bit more money.

Less is More:
This book is 109 pages of solid info. Henry Stern knows Dutch. He also knows English - as evidenced by his readability. I've bought my share of Dutch course materials - CDs, tapes, dictionaries, etc. "Essential Dutch Grammer" is a great bargain.

Great Introductory Grammar:
This is the perfect grammar for anyone who is just starting to learn Dutch. It presents eveything you need to know clearly and concisely without going into unnecessary detail. And it's a bargain! Those who continue studying will eventually need something more detailed, but this is definitely the place to start. For advanced students I recommend the excellent Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar by Bruce Donaldson (Routledge), but I found it to be too much information for beginners.

A Great Buy:
I'm just starting to study Dutch so that I can talk with a friend of mine from Belgium. I've already bought courses which work very well, such as Hugo. However, the grammer in my courses is spread throughout the book. I wanted a simple reference guide, and this is perfect. It has everything you need when you're learning Dutch, or when simply refreshing your knowledge of it. It's different from other reference books, because it doesn't just give you the information, nor does it give you complicated explanations. It's very easy to understand, and I guess that's why non-native of English speakers enjoy it also. To top all of that off, it's at a very good price. I fully recommend it.

A Good Overview Text:
Definitely a good book to give you an overview of the essentials of Dutch grammar. If you need something a little meatier, though, I highly recommend "Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar" by Bruce Donaldson (Routledge Press). The price difference is significant, but you get what you pay for.