Rating: 
Summary: The most complete Spanish grammar available in English
Review: Actually, having just returned from Spain, I think this book is better than most of the grammar books from Spain as well. Spanish grammar books are hobbled by a weird cultural issue: the "official" grammar is defined by the Spanish academy. However, many (that is, most) writers and publications ignore the Academy prescriptions and proscriptions. This grammar book does not report on what the Academy suggests. Instead it tells you what is actually used and expected by both Spaniards and Latin Americans. As a result, you get the straight scoop. [You want an example? Take the word solo. The Spanish grammar I just bought says that solo should have an accent on the first o only when necessary to distinguish its adjectival meaning from its adverbial meaning. However, every Spanish dictionary lists the adverb solo with an accent. Who's right? I finally checked Butt & Benjamin and there was the explanation: despite the Academy's suggestion of using the accent only when needed to disambiguate the two meanings, most Spanish speakers have retained the accent on the first o when it's used as an adverb. Clear, correct, and to the point.] If you're a serious student of Spanish, this book is a must-buy.
Rating:
Summary: A first class intermediate level grammar
Review: After a year or so of studying Spanish I found it difficult to locate a good book on grammar at the intermediate level. This book however, fills the bill. Well organized, with a large number of examples, clear explanations and a good index, the text was an enormous help to me. The examples are given in both languages but it is easy to cover half the page to hide the language you don't want to see.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Intermediate Grammar
Review: After two years of fairly serious study, I was in dire need of more advanced grammar assistance. This book was just what I was looking for. It takes you beyond even the college level textbooks I have (University of California). This book is well written and informative. It is a grammar reference book, not a story book, not a vocabulary book. An added benefit to me is its attention to European Spanish, which is too often given short shrift by North American texts.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Intermediate Grammar
Review: After two years of fairly serious study, I was in dire need of more advanced grammar assistance. This book was just what I was looking for. It takes you beyond even the college level textbooks I have (University of California). This book is well written and informative. It is a grammar reference book, not a story book, not a vocabulary book. An added benefit to me is its attention to European Spanish, which is too often given short shrift by North American texts.
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive reference for those learning Spanish
Review: An amazingly detailed book designed to answer any question you have regarding the structure of the Spanish language, be it Castillian or Latinoamerican. Each chapter has example after example devoted to the nuances of every aspect of speech or writing you could possibly encounter. My only caveat - you can't possibly "read" the thing. It's better utilized as a reference book. It's the place you'll go when all your slimmer volumes have you stumped. My approach is to carry around "Buscalo" (Clarkson, Campos) which tells me - as an intermediate learner - what I need to know in 219 cleanly-spaced pages instead of 572 densely-packed ones. I've always got this Butt/Benjamin work on the shelf as a "just in case" backup tool.
Rating:
Summary: Forced to buy it, opted to read it!
Review: As a Spanish major in college, I didn't feel like buying any more grammar books to read since they got so damn expensive and I hardly needed to use them (they were kinda ineffective). But, little did I know would I be making an investment of a lifetime with 'A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish'. I sat down one night and, hestitantly, I opened the book...hours later, I was still reading it. I am very much into detail, and man, this book has got details! I love it now and I will never use another grammar reference guide again. So if you want to dissect the Spanish language, I throw my support to this book.
Rating:
Summary: Readable
Review: Besides being very complete and easy to use, this book is something that most Spanish grammars aren't: very, very readable. Sure, it is invaluable as a reference, but I keep my copy by my bed, not by my desk. It is easy to become immersed in such a well-written and informative book.
Rating:
Summary: Readable
Review: Besides being very complete and easy to use, this book is something that most Spanish grammars aren't: very, very readable. Sure, it is invaluable as a reference, but I keep my copy by my bed, not by my desk. It is easy to become immersed in such a well-written and informative book.
Rating:
Summary: Best book for those seriously interested.
Review: For those who want to really know the ins and outs of Spanish, this is unquestionably the best book there is. It's not for beginners.
Rating:
Summary: Lifelong Student of Spanish Linguistics
Review: I have had two of the editions of this book. I wrote a review to the publisher on the previous edition. Most of what I suggested was revised, whether this was a direct consequence of my review or not. I also wrote a review on the latest edition. This edition gets the 1994 revised Spanish alphabet wrong. It still contains 29 letters, although CH and LL are not counted for alphabetization. (RR was never a separate letter.) This book sometimes never gives a definitive answer where a researcher may want to have one to tell a beginning student. For example, no where in the book does it state that the third person singular is used for gustar-like verbs no matter how many complementary infinitives are subject: me gusta leer y nadar. This aspect of Spanish syntax should have been explained. All in all this is a fine book for serious students of Spanish.
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