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Recommend a good book on grammar?

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Tecktight
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 Message 1 of 5
08 August 2011 at 1:10am | IP Logged 
I'll be starting my second year of Russian at uni in a few weeks.
I had great difficulty understand the grammar last year, but I think it's because the textbook we used (Golosa) isn't
compatible with my style of learning. I know this because I consulted a book printed in Moscow that explained the
grammar in a different way, and it was quite easy for me to follow.

Unfortunately, we will be using Golosa again this year.

That said, I need another book that I can actually learn from. I know
Would Terrance Wade's "A Comprehensive Russian Grammar" be too advanced for me, you think? Any other books
you'd recommend?
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Radu-1987
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 Message 2 of 5
08 August 2011 at 4:38pm | IP Logged 
Here's one I've just bought a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.teachyourself.com/books.aspx?isbn=9781444107647

"Complete Russian" - Publisher: Teach Yourself. Year 2010.

It's written by a British lady who's taught Russian for about 20 years.

It has about 400 pages and it has 20 chapters on daily subject matters.

It teaches and covers from level 1 to level 4 of the international standard of CEFR. I've pasted the chart of CEFR from wikipedia below FYI.

A. Basic Speaker
---------------
A1 [level 1] Breakthrough or beginner
A2 [level 2] Waystage or elementary

B. Independent Speaker
---------------------
B1 [level 3] Threshold or intermediate
B2 [level 4] Vantage or upper intermediate

C. Proficient Speaker
--------------------
C1 [level 5] Effective Operational Proficiency or advanced
C2 [level 6] Mastery or proficiency

*more details on the chart below link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Re ference_for_Languages


I consider myself to be right about the center of level 3, and I find it refreshing on the grammatical points, explains it clearly in plain English.

Although, I've notice seldomly some misprints/mistakes by the author[?] and you may spot them too but not such a big deal to overall rating, and it is very well worth the price, 16 british pounds.

Edited by Radu-1987 on 09 August 2011 at 10:05am

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Chung
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 Message 3 of 5
08 August 2011 at 9:36pm | IP Logged 
Tecktight wrote:
I'll be starting my second year of Russian at uni in a few weeks.
I had great difficulty understand the grammar last year, but I think it's because the textbook we used (Golosa) isn't
compatible with my style of learning. I know this because I consulted a book printed in Moscow that explained the
grammar in a different way, and it was quite easy for me to follow.

Unfortunately, we will be using Golosa again this year.

That said, I need another book that I can actually learn from. I know
Would Terrance Wade's "A Comprehensive Russian Grammar" be too advanced for me, you think? Any other books
you'd recommend?


I'd recommend Schaum's Outline of Russian Grammar (James Levine) or Oxford Russian Grammar and Verbs (Terrence Wade). They're reasonably cheap and written clearly enough for beginners. Schaum's outline also has the advantage of being a workbook-textbook combination and so you can get some practice in using the grammar.

Even though Russian's popularity means that it's rather easy to find books for little money, you can also find reference material online that's free and legally-downloadable.

Russian Grammar
Online Russian Reference Grammar
Beginning Russian Grammar
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Tecktight
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 Message 4 of 5
08 August 2011 at 10:47pm | IP Logged 
Thanks for the advice!
I opted for both "Complete Russian" and Schaum's book. I hope to use both in conjunction.

It's funny, because these books are the ones I'll actually be using, whereas Golosa I'm forced to have just to be able
to complete homework and other assignments...
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Radu-1987
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 Message 5 of 5
09 August 2011 at 12:58pm | IP Logged 
Just a couple of more points regarding "Complete Russian;"

This book, if read from a beginner's point of view who's just started learning recently, it may appear as rather taught-in-fast-paced manner, however, this view will vary depending on each user's level. And since you say this is your second year, I am curious to know how you find it, that is, if you decide to get this book. As for myself, I find it as a great reviewer; I have been studying Russian for about 8 years now ever independently, thus making a very slow progress, but for you since you learn in school, hopefully, will find it useful as much as I found it to be.

P.S. I bought it only the book and it didn't come with the CD, although it is available separately if you wish to have; I didn't.

Edited by Radu-1987 on 09 August 2011 at 1:01pm



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