Hammer's German Grammar and Usage

I'm a grad student who teaches elementary German. Born and raised in the U.S., I learned German as a second language. I've exhausted the grammars I own, but I know that there are still many constructions and subtleties I've never learned. This has become more apparent as I've worked in a department filled with Muttersprachler.The reviews for Hammer's grammar made it sound perfect for my needs. They were right on! This grammar is 550 pages of DETAILED explanations illustrated by many helpful examples. I've only just begun the first chapter (less than ten pages) and I've already learned invaluable information.Did you know, for example, that the gender of 80% of all German nouns can be determined just by looking at the form and/or meaning of the noun? I knew of a dozen or so clues, but after working through these first pages I have learned many, many more and am much more confident with using nouns I know for which I've never memorized the article. Only 20% of nouns actually need to have their gender memorized. I'm now working through similar tips for determining the plurals, which are equally easy to determine just by looking at the noun - once you know how.There is also a small section tucked away in a corner that explains how to determine whether one uses an, auf, in, zu, or nach as a preposition to indicate going "to" a location. I thought these also just had to each be memorized for each possible case. Nope, it's very logical and this book will explain it to you along with countless other details that will bring your German much closer to a native level (like whether to use genitive, "von", or apposition in measurement phrases).Now, if this is nothing new to you, Hammer might still be helpful (though if your German is really great and you only have problems that natives have, you probably just need to work through the various volumes put out by Duden). I know I've never learned this stuff, and I certainly don't teach it in my college courses. Hammer's grammar is likely too much for beginners (a bit like drinking out of a fire hydrant), but its perfect for intermediate and advanced learners who have questions that have just never been answered by their textbooks or by the grad students who teach them.Also, the workbook is the newest edition, matching the grammar, even though the image here on Amazon is from the older edition (at least at the time that I am writing this). It has excellent exercises, and I do recommend it. For rounding out your vocab, I recommend Cambridge UP's " Using German Vocabulary ." It is far more exhaustive than the vocab books by Baron and others.EDIT: I wrote this review in December of 2006 and it is now November of 2009. This grammar has proven to be indispensable. I have read it cover to cover multiple times now and refer to it consistently as both a student and teacher of German.As far as the discussion on the index and cross-referencing here in the reviews is concerned: I think they are both great. They make it so easy to find anything I have a question about quickly. In three years, I have not yet been let down by the index and can find what I need in at most 30 seconds. The table of contents has also proven to be useful as I've gotten more familiar with the book and need to find a specific point quickly.Hammer's has also proven to be very useful for producing translations in my academic writing. The section discussing all of the subtle shades of meaning added by modal particles has been especially useful in accurately rendering the nuances of the original (modal particles are words that add expression or attitude like auch when it doesn't mean "also," ja when it doesn't mean "yes," or doch; there are 36 of them). In many other respects Hammer's helps me produce accurate translations when unabridged dictionaries let me down.I've only grown in appreciation of Hammer's thoroughness and its clarity. Every serious student of German should own a copy.

I commenced learning German in college and concluded with enough credits to earn a minor. Two summers were spent in Germany taking intensive German language classes (Munich and Mannheim), while two additional summers were spent working as an intern with Deutsche Telekom in Frankfurt. Upon concluding my Masters in EE, I married a German and subsequently lived in Germany for 10 years. For 5 of those years I was general manager of my own consulting company. All of our business was in German.Inspite of this background, on any given page of this manual, there are tips and tricks to assist me in refining my language skills. This book has it. If it is not there, you in all likelyhood don't need to know it. The themes are logically laid out. Any and every topic is easy to find. This book is highly recommended. Beginners should not resist having this gold mine in his library.

This is hands-down the single book I would want to have if stranded on a desert island. Words cannot describe the awesomeness that is this book. Mr. Durrell's masterpiece demands superlatives. As far as printed material goes, this is all you need to go from intermediate to fluent in German. (Of course you still need to practice speaking, listening, and writing to become fluent). I am a U.S. citizen now living in Germany, and this book vastly improved my German. I can't say enough about it. Get it! Keep a copy next to your bed and review a chapter before you sleep. What makes it so good? It's comprehensive without being watered down. It's dense and succinct without lacking necessary examples. It's accurate - I have impressed native speakers with my command of German word usage learned from this book. Simply wonderful!

Hello, I'm an American student of German. I have taken two college courses before picking up this book. I am a big fan of German music. I enjoy German bands that play schlager, Rock, Euro härte, Euro Techno, and even more traditional music.I have not finished this book yet. Although, from my initial look. I see a very complete set of rule of German grammar for the English speaker.This book is very dense. I would suggest, for most that have just started learning German, to consider a good overview of German before looking at this book, and consider reading it latter as a review or reference.This book is a necessary addition for any English student's library seriously studying German.

I've been using Hammer's Grammar (3rd Ed. and now 4th) since I first began learning German and have never been disappointed. It's extremely thorough and provides crystal clear explanations of all points, though most beginners would probably find it to be a bit of information overload if they were trying to use this as their sole instructional text for grammar.If you're studying German, you have to purchase this book; there's no debate. Even if you're a beginner and some of it might seem a little "too" detailed, you'll find yourself more and more glad that you have it there as your German improves.

Superb, thorough, clarifies many matters in which other grammars leave a feeling of confusion. Only downside - lacks exercises.

This is a very good book. As a German teacher, I use it for reference and as a source to create excersises for my students. Grammar is structured and explained well.

Hammer is the best German Grammar that I have come across. I used to use it when writing to relatives in Germany.I gave my last copy to a grandson in college and he consults it instead of an assigned textbook.

Había leído los comentarios de varias personas decepcionadas por no haber recibido su pedido y dude mucho al comprar, pero aunque el vendedor asumio que a más tarda recibiría el libro en tres semanas aproximadamente (lo compre en septiembre 2020) y realmente estuvo muy estresado por mi satisfacción y con la angustia de que algún vecino lo hubiera recibido por mi, me llegó casi a finales de octubre 2020. Estoy sumamente emocionada por trabajar con el y mejorar mi alemán. El libro en si lo abarca todo, usos y normas es una joya! Solo hay que tener paciencia con el servicio postal y muchas aptitud para sumergirte en el alemán, desafortunadamente solo encontré este texto en inglés y por ningún lado haye la versión en español pero tal como dije, es un tesoro al que sin duda podrás recurrir cuanto sea necesario.P.d. el único inconveniente fueron unas manchitas en color café en las vistas de las hojas, desconozco si se trata de café o humedad, fuero de eso tiene el aspecto de un libro totalmente nuevo.