Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses
by Dorothy Richmond
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Book Summary Information
Author: Dorothy RichmondEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1996-01-11
ISBN: 0844273341
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Book Reviews of Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses
Book Review: Best book available for understanding Spanish verb conjugation
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite some flaws, I'm giving this book 5 stars because it is the best book out there on Spanish verb conjugation. In my opinion, other books that focus on lists and rote memorization of verb conjugations without explaining how and why to conjugate the verbs are a waste of time. This book systematically explains the rules for how and when to conjugate Spanish verbs in each tense, so whenever you learn a new Spanish verb, unless it's irregular, you'll already know how to use/conjugate it in all its tenses. In addition to lessons on verb conjugation, there are several other useful related lessons included, such as use of personal a, Hay, saber vs conocer, and the author's insightful observations on how many spanish verbs include a preposition. For example, Busco mis zapatos = I'm looking "for" my shoes. Mira eso = Look "at" that, etc., and she includes an appendix on verbs that take on prepositions and how it changes meaning.
I have a couple of criticisms of this book. The chapter on present tense doesn't mention that present tense verbs in Spanish, unlike in English, are often used for future actions and events. To use a common example, the literal tranlation of "nos vemos" is "we see each other". But in Spanish, since present tense is often used to communicate future events, nos vemos means "we'll see each other (later)". Unfortunately, this book doesn't mention this important dual-use aspect of present tense Spanish verbs. In addition, I found the explanations/rules in when to use Ser and Estar to be lacking, as the book provides lists of rules, of which there are too many exceptions and too many situations not listed to be useful (my opinion). For example, would you use ser or estar when in the context of prices in a store? From the rules given in this book, you wouldn't know the answer to that question or many other 'hard case' situations.
The biggest shortcoming of this book is that all examples and drills for each tense, are limited to the chapter on those particular tenses. So, for example, after you learn about past tense preterite and past tense imperfect verbs, the book never challenges you with any exercises using a combination of the two in which you would have to know to select one tense or the other. It's either exercises using all preterite or all imperfect. Same with subjunctive tenses. The exercises do not really build on what you learned in previous chapters, and that was an unfortunate oversight on the part of the author.
Speaking overall, if you're a beginner or intermediate spanish learner, the material taught in this book far outweighs its shortcomings. I haven't seen another book like it, and I've seen plenty. Verb conjugation is the most important aspect of learning any language, and for native English speakers learning Spanish, the task can seem daunting, as Spanish verb conjugation is much more complicated than in English. This book does an excellent job in explaining both the rules for verb conjugation, as well as explaining when you would choose one verb construct over another. It really 'holds your hand' through the material. Bottom line is that it will help you move to the next level in less time than it would take you if you didn't have this book.
On a side note, in order to help other readers/students, I'd like to request that anyone reading this who knows of a better book on Spanish verb conjugation to leave a comment or make a post naming the book with an explanation. Despite its flaws, I honestly haven't seen another book come close to this one as far as walking students through the necessary methodical process teaching how to conjugate verbs in Spanish while explaining when to choose a particular tense/mood. But this book does have a number of shortcomings, which is why I'm making this request. I'll ask those pimping their own books/courses not to respond, and I would further ask that you not post verb conjugation "lists" books which do not teach conjugation rules with explanation as to when and why you choose a particular verb tense. I'm genuinely curious as to whether another book exists on Spanish verb conjugation which is better than this one.
Summary of Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses
A workbook to help you master Spanish tenses
Some things just take a lot of practice to learn, and verb tenses are one of them! Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses goes beyond the scope of many other books that deal with verbs. Typical verb books often present little more than charts of conjugations with perhaps some mechanical exercises that do little to help you really master when and why a particular verb tense should be used.
Spanish Verb Tenses fills this void by offering clear, concise, and at times, humorous explanations that pinpoint why a certain tense works in a given situation. The hundreds of varied exercises offer the added plus of allowing for lots of practice.
The book is divided into three main parts: Part I deals exclusively with the present tense-including the conjugation of regular verbs, formation of questions, essential differences between ser and estar, use of the personal a, reflexive verbs, and the present progressive mood.
Part II covers the other six tenses of the indicative mood: preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, present perfect, and past perfect.
Part III presents the imperative and the subjunctive, as well as the future perfect, conditional perfect, and the passive voice.
Two appendices complete the text-one lists verb conjugations, and the other highlights certain verbs and their corresponding prepositions. There are also two bilingual glossaries that define vocabulary introduced in the exercises.
As a companion to a basic text, as a review workbook, or as a reference source, Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses is an indispensable tool for all those who want to practice and perfect their use of Spanish verbs.
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