A Reference Grammar of Modern Italian (Routledge Reference Grammars)

This is a scholarly work and a very good reference for those who want to learn the finer points of Italian. It is one of the few such references in English, and so it provides a nice transition for those who are not yet able to comprehend similar references in Italian. It is not the kind of book that you read, but rather the kind where are you go to look for authoritative answers. Often this means that you get kind of lost in all the bramble of grammar minutia, but on the other hand when you do find an answer it's really clear. The more I've learned Italian the more I've come to realize how often people break the rules of the language in every day speaking. (Of course this is true in English too.) So it's nice to have a reference that you can go to when you really want a precise, objective answer.

Some reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with this reference grammar. For those who study Romance languages, I might suggest a comparison to Butt & Benjamin in Spanish: lots of detail on usage differences, essential for Spanish as a language of many countries and Italian as a language of many dialects. Both give direction on what is acceptable in the north or south, east or west and are realistic concerning natural variation in acceptable usage. So far I have found grammar points in A Reference Grammar of Modern Italian accessible through the index. Other reviewers have gone into more detail on this so I will just recommend it though without having looked at other comprehensive grammars of Italian. I have found other Routledge Reference Grammars to be extremely useful.

Rcd this today and already learned from it. As other reviewers stated, this is a reference better suited for advanced (3rd yr univ) students. It does not waste time explaining what a noun, verb, etc. are. The organization is somewhat complex, but index is useful for finding topics covered. I plan to mark up and tab it for ready reference. End of book includes excellent explanation of contemporary Italian language usage which has grown less formal. I was puzzled by use of Lei/tu/voi. I think I now understand when to use which and will be more confident in writing and speaking. Finally have all grammar in one book rather than scattered throughout school texts. Will be useful for preparing oral and written assignments and reading modern Italian lit.

scarce book arrived in condition advertised quickly

The content of this grammar is very complete and is organized usefully. It goes into far greater depth than most other English-language grammars I've been able to find. Sometimes less depth is more readily applicable - Soluzioni: A Practical Grammar of Contemporary Italian, by De Rome and Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, by Proudfoot and Caro come to mind - but this volume takes a deeper dive.Given how much work went into this volume and the heavy use I plan to make of it, it's a shame that Routledge chose to not to give the hardcover edition a sewn binding. Instead, they took the perfect-bound pages from the softcover edition and slapped a hard cover on them. This hard cover will give problems and break away far quicker than the soft cover will. Given that the hardcover edition costs twice as much, this borders on fraud.I also have the digital version, which requires use of proprietary software. Digital cross-linking is very useful, but unfortunately this format presents each chapter as one long vertical scroll. Clicking the right arrow key does not move to the next page as in every other e-reader app, but instead jumps to the next chapter. It's a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things, but it does make the book less usable.Ignoring the bad packaging decisions, this is still a great resource for understanding the intricacies of Italian grammar. The softcover edition is probably the best choice, even if the perfect binding doesn't lay flat and will someday crack.

Just remember it is a reference grammar, not a classroom. It goes well with your regular course material and well worth having.

My book was listed as in "good" condition, but other than an inscription and very minor corner wear, it appeared to be unused. Arrived early and at an attractive price vs. other buying options. Very satisfied with my purchase!

I love this book. My dream is that one day I will have time to just stay in bed for a week and read it from cover to cover. I have little sticky-notes to mark anything I find interesting so I can learn about it in more detail, and every page is just filled with them.

As a learner of foreign languages (6, and counting) I consider the grasp of grammar to be the foundation that will support efficient learning. For this reason having a "grammar reference/usage" manual is key and although initially it is more than is needed, you will gradually "grow" into the book as your knowledge and curiosity develops.I have only just received this book, but I can tell already that it has been a good choice and I have already spent considerable time diving in and out of chapters and look forward to getting into more detail as my increasing knowledge demands.It is true that a lot of grammar can be explained via YouTube (of which I am a great fan), but I use those videos as a primer to get me interested in a particular subject. There is nothing like the compactness of a book such as this to give you the whole picture all in one place.I know from attending numerous language classes that many people moan when the subject of "grammar" is mentioned and I personally know people who have spoken a language "fluently" for decades, but whose grammar is atrocious. Speaking a foreign language is an all-round skill, which requires more than just being able to find the right words and put them in the right order. Using the correct grammar shows a respect and mastery that will give both you and your listener that extra bit of enjoyment.Buy the book, read it, enjoy it and put it into practice - it's worth the effort! Thank you.

This is one of the best Italian Grammar books I have ever bought. It goes into great detail on every aspect of grammar and sentence construction. One reviewer has remarked that some of the examples are over formal - a justifiable comment, but the inclusion of such examples has it place since much written Italian IS very formal in style and one needs to be prepared for this.This isn't a book to be read through as a course in learning Italian - it is, as its title states, a reference grammar. If you're ever stuck for knowing whether to use 'avere' or 'essere' in a compound tense, this book will tell you all that you're ever likely to want to know.Thoroughly recommended!

とても詳しいので調べるのにちょうど良い。動詞の時制のニュアンスも書いてあり本気でイタリア語やるなら持っていい本です。「イタリア語のABC」という本とこの本とでわからないことが解消できる。もちろんある程度の英語力を持っているのが前提である。値段がちょっと高いので★4つです。

I was unhappy with a couple of other grammar books that I bought so I decided to take a risk with this one. I was very pleased to find out that it is an excellent analysis of the language. I am glad it has a proper pronunciation guide at the front. I'm not sure what a beginner would think of this as it may be too heavy for them but would still be beneficial.I would recommend this book to anyone who wants accurate and detailed information. I think you need this if you want to master the language.

Every imaginable aspect of Italian grammar is covered along with copious examples of how to use it in practice. Considering the nature of the subject, this is also a book that one can read from cover to cover.