Product Description

A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish is widely recognised as the standard English-language reference grammar of Spanish. It provides teachers and students of Spanish with a comprehensive, accessible and jargon-free guide to the forms and structures of the Spanish currently used in Spain and Latin America.

This new edition has been carefully revised and updated, and its explanations have been checked against the findings of the Royal Spanish Academy's Gramática descriptiva de la lengua española and other new works in the field. Many new Peninsular and Latin American examples have been included, the English text has been thoroughly revised and in many places expanded or clarified. A glossary of grammatical terms has also been included. As a result this new version of 'B & B' should now be invaluable to an even wider readership ranging from intermediate to advanced students of Spanish.

A Workbook is available for use with A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish, 4th edition;
Practising Spanish Grammar by Christopher J Pountain and Teresa de Carlos.
ISBN 0340 66223 9

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37742 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 582 pages

Review
'The Butt and Benjamin New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish is an essential reference tool for all interested in the Spanish language. The most extensive and accurate single-volume comprehensive source of information on contemporary Spanish language currently in existence in the English language, it replaces and surpasses the Ramsey-Spaulding Textbook of Modern Spanish.'
George DeMello, Professor of Hispanic Linguistics, University of Iowa

'The most important event to occur in the descriptive linguistics of Spanish for many years'
The Times Higher Education Supplement

From the Back Cover
Author:Butt

ISBN:0071440496

Category:Language/Spanish

Trim Size:6 3/4 x 9 1/2

UPC:639785387497

Price:$32.95

[category] Language/Spanish

"A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish is an essential reference tool for all interested in the Spanish language. The most extensive and accurate single-volume comprehensive source of information on contemporary Spanish language currently in existence in the English language."

George DeMello, Professor of Hispanic Linguistics, University of Iowa

"Although I have several Spanish grammar reference texts in my collection, A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish is the one I reach for first. I find it to be not only comprehensive, but very user friendly."

Patricia Seaver, Assistant Professor of Spanish, State University of New York (SUNY)

A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish is internationally known as the standard English-language reference grammar for the Spanish language. This bestselling resource has provided teachers and language learners with a comprehensive, accessible, and jargon-free guide to the forms and structures of Spanish as it is currently spoken and written in Spain and in across Latin America.

Each grammar concept is introduced by a thorough explanation, including helpful information on the level of usage (formal, familiar, colloquial, and popular) and regional use. Examples from contemporary sources such as the Internet, magazines, and newspapers illustrate each point and clarify the nuances of current usage.

Newly updated throughout, this revised edition includes:

-The latest findings on Spanish usage from the Royal Spanish Academy not found in other grammars
-Fresh example sentences featuring the differences between Spanish and Latin American Spanish
-A new page layout, with more tables and summary sections, to make grammar explanations even more accessible
-A glossary of grammatical terms

John Butt is emeritus Professor of Hispanic Studies, King's College, London. Carmen Benjamin is a former lecturer in Hispanic Studies at King's College, London.

About the Author
John Butt, Emeritus Professor of Modern Hispanic Studies, King's College, London

Carmen Benjamin, Formerly Lecturer in Hispanic Studies, King's College London

Customer Reviews

Spanish Grammar Bible
I was fortunate enough to be taught by John Butt at King's College London and he was one of the most inspirational tutors I've ever had. He made me understand how exciting languages are. I used this book as my Bible throughout University and beyond. I am now training to be a Spanish teacher myself and will recommend it to all future students. As has been said in previous reviews, it may be daunting for beginners, but for intermediate and above, it explains just as clearly the basic ideas as the complexities of the Spanish language. Things you never thought you'd grasp will come easy to you after reading this book!

Comprehensive but not for beginners
This book is incredibly detailed and thorough! However, because of this, it is not recommended for beginners who find out dishearteningly, that there are numerous exceptions to every rule. It's a great book but I'd recommend starting out with something a little simpler and progressing at the intermediate stage to this book.

Superb intermediate-advanced grammar book
Note, if you are looking for a beginners grammar book, take a look at 'Spanish Grammar' by the same author.

(This review applies to the 3rd [2000] edition). I can only recall a couple of times when I could not find a satisfactory answer in this book, so I'll give it 4.9 out of 5, and I'm fairly pedantic.

One example was the use of the subjunctive after 'no saber si'. In peninsular Spanish this is a complete no-no. However, while watching a Latin American [subtitled] version of the Matrix, I noticed the phrase 'No sé si estés listo para ver lo que quiero mostrarte.' (Morpheus talking to Neo near start of film). As I was confused by this usage I had a look in the book and it does concede that use of the subjunctive varies in Latin America after the construction 'no saber si ...', however it didn't go into any more detail.

The other item is that I would have liked more examples in the modal verbs section to differentiate between phrases such as:

Debí ir.
Debí de ir.
Debía haber ido.
Debería haber ido.
Habría debido ir
Hubiera debido ir.

(note it does cover some of these, but not exhaustively)

...and various other forms such as: 'should have', 'would have', 'could have', 'may have' and 'might have'.

But maybe it's just me who found the endless ways modal verbs can be strung together confusing.

Other than these two minor points, I found the book extremely detailed, with thousands of usage examples throughout the book.

This is the only advanced grammar book I have. There is no need for another, as it has answered 99% of all my questions.