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Rating: 
Summary: Probably the best textbook for begginers
Review: A good reference for Mandarin grammar and language usage. Not for the uninitiated but decent after a few months of study.
Rating: 
Summary: A good book, requires some knowledge
Review: A good reference for Mandarin grammar and language usage. Not for the uninitiated but decent after a few months of study.
Rating:
Summary: Great review / reference
Review: Having completed 270 hours of study, I bought both this book and the intermediate level book to review and build upon what I had learned. I found the book very suitable for these purposes. Both books together provide comprehensive coverage of all essential Chinese grammar concepts, and there are helpful cross references between chapters. Each grammar point is illustrated with several examples, and possible sources of confusion are clarified. At the end of each chapter are a variety of self-checking exercises and an answer key in the appendix.
My only complaint is that the pinyin is in boldface, which distracts my eyes away from the characters. Any serious student of Chinese learns literacy along with speaking skills, so pinyin should not dominate.
Even here in China, I have not found a comprehensive reference/self-study grammar book. These books are a must for any person who endeavors to master Chinese. These books should not be used alone as model sentences do not provide full context for the language. These books are an excellent supplement to an integrated textbook.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best textbook for begginers
Review: It's clear and concise. It includes tons of exercises in each chapter, and explains the fundamentals in a very friendly and easily understandable way. Intermediate Chinese, written by the same author, is also a must for serious Chinese language students. I highly recommend these books.
Rating: 
Summary: be careful
Review: make sure you have already another method of learning Chinese before you get this book, because it is strictly grammar, not a learning course.
Rating: 
Summary: More of a reference book than a workbook
Review: Routledge put out such a wonderful self-study book on Mandarin Chinese called "Colloquial Chinese". I was rather disappointed though with this book, although I initially found the organization of the chapters appealing. In reality, it sits on my bookshelf and rarely gets opened, as it never seems to address the specific grammar problems that I need help with.
Furthermore, there is no index in the back of the book, which means spending more time than I'd care to -- flipping through the pages in search of an answer. I would have like to have seen a chapter on Word Order, for example.
Rating:
Summary: Basic Chinese A Grammer and Workbook
Review: This book and its companion book "Intermediate Chinese" are very instructive for serious students of the Mandarin Chinese language. The books provide an excellent reference on the various component parts of the language. However, these texts are not for the uninitiated. Some basic knowledge of the language is imperative if you are to get the most out of these texts. Being stationed in Zhongshan China, it was imperative for me to learn the language and learn it quickly. I waded through at least 10 books and tape courses on the subject. My recommendations after much experimentation are as follows: 1. Chinese The Easy Way - Philip F.C. Williams - Ph.D. and Yenna Wu - Ph.D.. This book will ground you in the grammer and pronunciation essentials quickly and in my opinion is the best beginners book on the market for this subject matter. 2. Transparent Languages "Langauge Now - Mandarin Chinese" software. Allows you to actually speak and grades your pronunciation. Following, this, use these two texts to round it all out. The texts would definitely be a bit easier to use if they had an index but this isn't a show stopper at all.
Rating:
Summary: Basic Chinese A Grammer and Workbook
Review: This book and its companion book "Intermediate Chinese" are very instructive for serious students of the Mandarin Chinese language. The books provide an excellent reference on the various component parts of the language. However, these texts are not for the uninitiated. Some basic knowledge of the language is imperative if you are to get the most out of these texts. Being stationed in Zhongshan China, it was imperative for me to learn the language and learn it quickly. I waded through at least 10 books and tape courses on the subject. My recommendations after much experimentation are as follows: 1. Chinese The Easy Way - Philip F.C. Williams - Ph.D. and Yenna Wu - Ph.D.. This book will ground you in the grammer and pronunciation essentials quickly and in my opinion is the best beginners book on the market for this subject matter. 2. Transparent Languages "Langauge Now - Mandarin Chinese" software. Allows you to actually speak and grades your pronunciation. Following, this, use these two texts to round it all out. The texts would definitely be a bit easier to use if they had an index but this isn't a show stopper at all.
Rating:
Summary: A great way to learn Mandarin
Review: This slender tome, organized as lessons, is a fine way to learn the basics of Mandarin grammar. Virtually jargon-free and fleshed out with many examples and exercises, including English, Pinyin and Chinese characters, it could hardly be a clearer or more painless plan for beginning study. Of course, there is an answer key to the exercises in the back of the book. The book does not contain a complete description of Mandarin grammar, since its intended use is as an introductory textbook. Together with its companion volume, Intermediate Chinese, or Chinese: An Essential Grammar, both by the same author, it represents a complete course in the grammar of modern Mandarin. Highly recommended.
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