Product Description

Developed with the beginner in mind, this Grammar uses abundant examples and extensive cross-referencing to present the language in an engaging and accessible manner. Features include:

• core vocabulary for each unit
• a Dutch-English glossary
• three short stories
• further reading and resources.

This is an ideal companion to a classroom-based course, helping to further explain and reinforce the grammar content of any chosen textbook. It is also an invaluable tool for independent learners.

Customer Reviews (4)

full of flaws, but good examples
I recently began studying Dutch in order to communicate better with my Dutch boyfriend, and so I thought this book would be a nice supplement to Stern's short but informative "Essential Dutch Grammar."The book is nicely organized for the complete beginner, starting with a pronunciation section (which actually is pretty vague), then moving into spelling rules and how to form plural nouns, before even getting to sentence structure and verb conjugation. So it is a nice thing to look at if you have never encountered Dutch before.

BUT! This book is loaded with spelling errors that I, with my vocabulary of maybe 50 Dutch words, was able to spot immediately.For example, in a vocabulary list illustrating the spelling rules, it says the Dutch word for reason is "redden". NO it isn't, it's "reden" with only one D.The very next page says the singular AND plural for bicycle is "fietsen", when actually the singular is "fiets" and the just the plural is "fietsen".The scary thing is that those are just the two that I noticed, who knows how many more mistakes there are.They might just be small spelling mistakes, but when you are learning a new language and your study guide has these kinds of errors, it makes you wonder what else is wrong.

Fortunately, though, the rules in general seem to be true, when compared with what Stern's "Grammar" says, so I would still give this book a shot, because it does give a lot of examples of each grammar rule.Just don't use it for a vocabulary source.

Not for beginners
An earlier edition of this book was on my wish list as I began my second school year of Dutch classes after moving to the Netherlands. It's not a simple book! Had I tried to study with it as a total beginner it would have overwhelmed me, I think. And I'm a product of a double-generation school teacher family, so my English grammar isn't too bad.

But for someone with a bit of the Dutch language under their belt and who wants more structure in the language-learning process, this is the book for you. The rules, such as there are in Dutch, are clearly and in great depth laid out.

My copy of Dutch: An Essential Grammar is well used and still has a place of honor on my desk at work. Even my Dutch colleagues ask to use it occasionally!

a first edition?
I am currently taking a first class in Dutch and using this book as the text.I have found it fine as far a grammar goes, but the organization of vocabulary is terrible.The words are not really grouped according to any theme stronger than a conversation at the end of each chapter.For example the word appel (apple) is found many chapters ahead of the verb eten (to eat).This makes both learning these word lists and carrying on mock conversations quite difficult.I don't know Dutch, but I feel in this respect I could construct a better textbook.

Excellent Grammar Book!
A couple of years ago, I started learning nederlands.I bought CD's and tapes and learned lots of vocabulary, but had no idea how to put the words together to make a coherent sentence.

This book turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.It explains all of the little nuances with regards to spelling, sentence structure and word usage.I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a beginner in the Dutch language. ... Read more

Product Description
Exclusive tips on all the new technologies, units, and Wonders of the World
Expert information on mastering each level of the game, including the most difficult deity level ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The absolute best Civ 2 book - BAR NONE!
This book is the absolute best Civ 2 book.Bar none.It is also the best Civ 2 reference book available. Do not even bother to buy other Civ 2 books; I have read them all and most are a waste of your money, esp. the worthless book by Jason Rich.

This book has excellent suggestions for beginners and intermediates, and is invaluable for experts as a reference.Many of the details of the game are simply not found anywhere in the game's original documentation, but are explained very well in this book.From this excellently formatted wealth of information, one can deduce many advanced strategies of the game.

There are a few minor errors which advanced players will eventually notice (eg, page 309 concerning subversion), but these are very subtle and probably won't be noticed by most beginners and intermediate players.

This book is easily worth the price.If you like Civ 2 (or wish to play and/or understand it better), this is the book for you.This is the first book you should buy after you get the Civ 2 game.

Great for the beginner to the intermediate.
Definately worthwhile.One of the best books for Civ II I have seen.Some really good info.Strategies for the intermediate player to the beginner.Not only a good strategy guide but a good referance as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Stop talking double Dutch and start talking the official language of the Netherlands! With this unique guide you can build your vocabulary and perfect your grammar using Hugo's proven system. Whether you are conversing with a tulip seller or asking directions to the Van Gogh museum, you will feel confident understanding and speaking this beautiful language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A nice introduction to Dutch
As I near the completion of this book/tape course, I feel that I can write a decent review on the product. I was very impressed with the first several sections of the book. Each chapter offered several clear explainations of grammar and structure, and a nice amount of translating exercises were featured at the end of the unit, so that one is able to review the techniques and vocabulary which he or she learned throughout the chapter. There is also a short vocabulary list at the end of each chapter. I feel that I have easily gained a nice knowledge of Dutch vocabulary by working my way through the various chapters. The book also has a short reading/listening "conversation" at the end of each unit. This exercise is supposed to provide the user with some colloqialisms, although I found them to be rather limited. However, the stories are very amusing, and they kept me entertained while working through the book. Three other good points about the book are as follows: The book has a list of grammatical terms and definitions in the back of the book, the book is accompanied by tapes, and a few short readings are also used to conclude the book. The readings are a nice way to show the user that he or she actually learned a lot of Dutch in a short amount of time, and the tapes easily help one improve his or her pronunciation and listening comprehension. The grammer terms are also nice, if someone needs to brush up on his or her English grammar while learning a concept in Dutch.

Although I feel this is a solid product (especially for the price), I find it has a few minor flaws. If it was possible, I would have rated this product 3 1/2 stars as opposed to 4. First of all, I found some of the vocabulary translations to be a bit strange. Maybe it is because this book was printed in London, but for an American, translations such as "settee" and "down at heel" left me surprised and guessing. I also found some of the words to be strange choices for an introductory course in Dutch (i.e. telephonist, wig, etc), words which I will not use for a long time in Dutch. The two things which bother me most about this package, however, become more apparent as I progressed closer to the back of the book. I felt that some of the chapters could have been organized better (why not include all grammatical structures relating to adjectives in one section as opposed to having one chapter focus mainly on adjectives, while another chapter contains one or two small grammatical notes about adjectives while focusing on an entirely different subject?). I also felt that some of the grammatical explainations were weak towards the end of the book. There were a few topics which seem to have been glossed over, which I will be reading about in a different book, since Hugo's course dropped the ball.

As a student of German for three years, who decided to pick up Dutch through self study, I was able to work through most of the book in two or three weeks, without any trouble. As the book is titled "Dutch in Three Months," I believe this sort of goal is reasonable and obtainable for someone who is starting without any sort of leg up, but at the same time, the book will not have one conducting political conversations in Dutch either. However, one would have a knowledge of the basic Dutch grammar structure, as well as a limited but nice amount of vocabulary, so that he or she could hold basic conversations about every day situations. Overall, this package is a good value for the money.

Excellent grammatical and colloquial text
A sound grammatically based introduction to Dutch which I have found invaluable, since I have studied three other European languages using a grammatically based approach. Each chapter introduces the "next step" grammatically, and also throws in huge amounts of everyday Dutch. If you have a knowledge of German, you'll find Dutch has huge similarities, apart from the devilish pronunciation of course. Probably the hardest language to pronounce that I've ever encountered. But Jan Fenoulhet does an excellent job. ( And for those who never mastered grammar at school, don't be deterred. You can make up a lot of ground from using this book. )

The book is accompanied by CDs which are audio versions of the exercises, drills, and conversations of every chapter in the book. I've ripped these from the CD to my computer, and split them up individually, then burned them onto a CD for the car. This is brilliant, since you can set a car stereo CD to "repeat track", and really get the language imprinted in you mind.

The MP3 originals I've copied to my MP3 player for use in other circumstances.

Edit: I am also looking at "Routledge Intensive Dutch Course" from my local library, and its non-grammatical "progressive" approach to language learning is a real turn-off. Lots of nice colloquialisms and street speech thrown at you from page 1, but an absence of structure that is just confusing. It just serves to confirm my regard for the simple, clear approach of the Hugo book. As a college instructor myself, I understand the need to present the BASICS of any subject right from the start, then build upon them, layer by layer. Hugo does just this, and unlike the Routledge book, never gives you too much to digest at any one time.

BAD BUY!
This book has even spelling mistakes and translating mistakes in it! Bad idea and insulting to the Dutch people as it doesn't particularly make us look good to foreigners.... just a small preview:

first lesson: page 32 converation (chapter 3)
1)Do you see those two women there!
2)do you mean the one with the dress and the long hair?
1)That hair is much too beautiful. It's a wig...

My boyfriend after 3 chapters learnt only how to tell my mum that she has a wig on her head! Get it?!?

So so
It is more grammatical. It can help as a reference and it is simple, but if you want to learn the language to live in a country who's language is Nederlands (Dutch), then don't buy this as your priority book... only as a simple reference book it is ok.

Een uitstekend cursus!
As a beginner I was looking for a course which would help me start speaking the language. I think I found it. The dialogs and exercises are very well chosen to give the student a good understanding of the structures most commonly used in Dutch. The tapes are of a very good quality. So, what else does one need to start learning the language? ... Read more

Product Description

An all-audio survival program for beginners that will get them conversing in no time!

Product Description
For the beginning or intermediate language learners. Over 12,000 terms in each language. Wide range of contemporary vocabulary. Easy to understand definitions.Basic conversational phrases. Mini-grammar section with irregular verbs. Unique menu reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Decent Woordenboek but lacking...
A Dutch friend of mine from Amsterdam sent me this book as a little gift for Christmas, to aid me along in my study of the Dutch language. A Van Dale it isn't. But then, one usually doesn't lug around an $80 Van Dale on their trips around Amsterdam, do they?

So this dictionary does its job as a quick little reference. However, Langenscheidt really perfected the class of small dictionaries. My little Langenscheidt Deutsch-Englisch/English-German Wörterbuch contains far more information in a much smaller package.

My biggest grievence with this dictionary is the supposed help it gives to English speakers with pronunciations of Dutch words. It's absolutely abysmal in some respects. I don't know if they were basing it on dialect or what, but, for example, if you pronounced "koninklijk" (royal) the way they transcribe "koan-ing-klerk" you would be far off. So it definitely lost some ground here. Otherwise it's decent.

I would try and find a Prisma, as they're far superior, popular with the Dutch themselves, and not that expensive. Bottom line, you get what you pay for, and I think had I actually paid for this I wouldn't have been disappointed, but it still remains in my eyes only average.

Not great
Since most Dutch speak English, I mainly wanted this book to interpret restaurant menus. It's not very helpful, even with the separate food section. For example, one thing you see all over Amsterdam is "broodjes." The dictionary definition is "roll; bun." That's true, but when you see this in a window, they're talking about sandwiches.

I'm looking for another travel dictionary! ... Read more

Product Description
Contains over 1200 phrases and 2300 words, organized by situation and colour-coded for ease of reference by both holidaymakers and business travellers. The book includes: a phrase-linked dictionary; an easy-to-use phonetic system to assist pronunciation; and the basic rules of grammar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Oops, I'd like to correct my earlier review-submittal
It was the Rough Guide Dutch dictionary and phrasebook I bought to replace the Berlitz phrasebook, not the Lonely Planet.

Lacks Dutch-to-English dictionary
I bought what is perhaps an earlier edition of this phrasebook via Amazon, used; it arrived promptly in fine condition. However, as we tried to use the book in Amsterdam, its lack of a Dutch-to-English dictionary was revealed as a serious flaw (there is an English-to-Dutch dictionary). We subsequently bought the Lonely Planet Dutch phrasebook and dictionary, which did have a Dutch-to-English dictionary as well as an English-to-Dutch dictionary. We needed Dutch-to-English mostly for signs; everyone in Amsterdam seems to speak English pretty well! ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you want to reserve a hotel room, sample the local beer or simply buy a bunch of flowers – The Rough Guide Dutch Phrasebook will help you all the way. With A-Z English to Dutch and A-Z Dutch to English translations, this pocket-sized phrasebook will have you speaking the language as soon as you arrive. This revised phrasebook includes 16-pages of additional scenario material, from buying a train ticket and changing money to posting a letter and asking for directions. Recorded by native Dutch speakers, the scenarios are available as downloadable audio files either to your computer or iPod – perfect for practicing your pronunciation. The phrasebook also includes a detailed grammar section and a helpful menu and drinks list reader to ensure you always get what you want in a restaurant. With this phrasebook in your hand you will never run out of things to say! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

convenient but not useful for travellers
I used the book for two weeks driving around and doing business in The Netherlands and Belgium.It's sized so that I can keep it in a back pocket so I always had it with me.It might be a great book for people who have had some instruction and need refreshing.Since I had "never seen Dutch before" it was impossible to have a conversation using it.
I never expected to talk, just read signs.But each time I tried, I only found half the words I needed.(I was driving and parking on my own and I'm sure I bypassed legal parking or parked illegally but was lucky.I also completely misunderstood a "there's major traffic problems, find alternate route" sign because too many key words weren't listed.)A section of "common signage" would be really helpful.
The menu section was useful for $5-10/meal restaurants (whose staff may not be very good with English), but leaves out most of the fancy things at a good restaurant. (where there will often be someone who speaks enough English)(And if you're going to be in the area you have to treat yourself to good food - there's so much of it).
I try not to be an Ugly American, but found that it was better to greet someone in English, because they'll instantly switch over to continue the conversation.But if you start in Dutch they assume you understand and chatter on too fast to follow.Get a local to show you how to say "thank you" and "goodbye" and other key phrases for the end of your conversation - there are lots of locals out there laughing at our mispronunciation of words that can't be described through dictionary phoenetics and include sounds that don't exist in American words.

I wouldn't go back without it, but I'm still looking for a replacement that meets my needs for my return in a few months.

Not Incredibly Useful (And You Won't Need It, Anyway)
I took a copy of this along with me on a trip to the Netherlands, primarily for assisting in understanding signs and menu items more than as a phrase book.Unless you plan to travel to very rural areas, you will have absolutely no problem getting along/around in NL.Just learning a few phrases of greeting, please/thanks, and goodbye (for courtesy's sake) is sufficient.

A plus for providing some Dutch grammar basics, which might spark an interest in more in-depth study.A minus for an unnecessary section on vulgarisms.The translations of some phrases are a bit too "interpretive" for my taste, some of the translations could be a bit more literal (or provide a literal meaning of the Dutch phrase).The pronunciation guide is not completely accurate, either.

If you're just heading to the Netherlands or Belgium on a brief holiday, you really won't *need* a phrase book.A waiter will be happy to decipher the menu for you if it is not multi-lingual.You won't really need to know the road signs unless you're driving (and with the excellent public transportation system and bicycle paths/lanes, you probably won't).And if you're seriously interested in learning Dutch, it won't offer you anything you can't learn in a more substantial book.

Save the money, and put it toward your Lonely Planet guidebook.

Somewhat useful for tourists, maybe
I agree with the first reviewer in that the pronounciation is off for the -en sounds (and a couple others, perhaps), but this book seems to be a useful guide for the casual tourist. Most of the travel items are the often-used phrases that folks would need. (Especially if you're in amsterdam or Rotterdam, where dropping that -en for the -eh is typical)

Very unuseful; do not buy
I bought this book before going over to the Netherlands for a business trip. I found the book VERY confusing and VERY unusable. The pronunciation guide is very misleading. For example, it leads you to think that the "n" at the end of every word should be pronounced as "u" as in bus, which is totally untrue. The content is arranged in dictionary format, and is thus unhelpful at all for the beginner. I highly recommend AGAINST this book. BTW, most people in the Netherlands can understand and many can speak English, so if you go over there for a short stay, you don't need to learn Dutch at all.

What a USEFUL book
Since I am a beginner in studying Dutch, I try every possible way to look for books and courses which are able to help myself improve my knowledge of the Netherlands. To know a country or a state or a nation, the best way is to understand what the people think, how the people lead their lives and the language they use. "The Rough Guide to Dutch" I think it is good for the beginners. It is a so-called "dictionary phrasebook." you can get not only basic vocabulary and phrases but also daily life information. In my opinion, to choose the book is a good idea to help yourself. It is a pocket book that you can bring it to everywhere without any trouble. Everytime and everywhere you want to enlarge your vocabulary, it is at hand. It is full of basic & daily vocabulary. The more you attempt, the more you earn! ... Read more

Product Description
Dutch is a Germanic language spoken in the Netherlands, the northern part of Belgium (also called Flemish there) and parts of Suriname. It is the ancestor language of the Afrikaans spoken in South Africa, which is still quite similar to Dutch.

Learn quick, concise, Dutch phrases! Whether you're going on a vacation, communicating with friends or co-workers or just living in an area of the country with a high Dutch speaking population, this book can help you to understand. Here's a short and simple list of what you will find inside this little gem:PRONUNCIATION/COMMON EVERYDAY PHRASES/ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS PHRASES/NUMBERS/TIME/COLORS/TRANSPORTATION/ASKING DIRECTIONS/HAILING A TAXI CAB/LODGING & ACCOMODATION/MONEY/DINING & EATING OUT/VISITING BARS & PUBS/SHOPPING/AUTOMOTIVE & DRIVING/DEALING WITH POLICE & AUTHORITIES/COUNTRY NAMES

Thank you.
Dank u. (DAHNK uu) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hate Classes, LOVE This!
I've taken language courses in high school and college, and I hated them all.This program made it fun for me to learn some basic vocabulary.Honestly, it felt more like a game than an exercise.The points system encourages anyone with a competitive spirit to out-perform anyone else in their lessons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Don't Bother
This dictionary is certainly not exhaustive, but I could live with that fact. What I CANNOT live with is the fact that this dictionary does not provide you with the definite artice (DE or HET) for any of the nouns listed.

Don't waste your money here. In both spoken and written dutch, you really need to know if the word "The" is going to take the form of DE or HET, and since there is no rule in dutch to tell you which form of the article goes with which noun, you must learn the article as you learn the word. And this dictionary DOES NOT tell you that information...

woefully inadequate
Of minimal usefulness. Very confusing to use because of the following:1)no parts of speech listed, 2)single word definitions 3)few synonyms provided

The Rare Dutch-English Dictionary for English Speakers
Dutch-English dictionaries for English speakers are rare.Nevertheless, I'm afraid I have a dissenting opinion of this vintage 1950's dictionary not meaningfully updated since. MANY important words appropriated since the1950's are missing, not to mention the new spelling.Most irritatingly,there is very little usage included (i.e. idioms, examples of usage, linkedprepositions, etc.).Much better to rely on Hugo's or Hipolet's (sic).IfHugo's et al is too limited for you, then you're ready for a DutchDutch-English dictionary of which many good examples exist, e.g. Prismawhich is complete withextensive usage and cheap.Whatever you do,supplement it with Donaldson's "Beyond the Dictionary in Dutch"to avoid as much public humiliation as possible when speaking withNederlanders.

I very much liked this Dutch dictionary
This dictionary rocks! It has all the important words and a whole lot more for a very low price and for such a small size. I recommend this to anyone out there who likes concise and comprehensive dictionaries ... Read more

Product Description
A revised edition of an excellent introductory course for modern andcolloquial Dutch. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Useful for an experienced language learner
I found this the most useful text for learning Dutch of the several I own.The tapes and the exercises are excellent.In particular, the exercises are very, very extensive.If you work your way through all of them, you will really get a firm handle on issues like word order that others gloss over. (And Dutch word order is tricky enough that you really need a lot of explicit exercises.)

BUT the course is entirely in Dutch, with no translations.You have to use your dictionary and look at the pictures to figure it out, and a few times I had to go read up some subject in a Dutch grammar so I could figure out the point being made.If you've had experience in learning other languages, or you have access to a Dutch person who can help you from time to time, this course is terrific.If you're learning on your own and don't have much experience with learning languages, this may be too difficult, and I'd recommend Donaldson's Colloquial Dutch instead.

very useful guide
very useful guide to learn modern dutch ... but don't forget to practice! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Die vorliegende Untersuchung stellt einen weiteren markanten Beitrag fÜr die Erforschung eines noch stets vernachlÄssigten Gebietes dar: der sprachlichen Interaktion innerhalb Anatoliens. Der sprachliche Mikrokosmos dieser Region bietet ein Überaus reiches und buntes Forschungsfeld, dessen grÜndliche Bearbeitung erst in den letzten Jahrzehnten begonnen hat. Ein Hauptziel dieser Monographie ist es, den Mechanismus sprachlicher Interaktion anhand von armenischem und tÜrkischem Dialektmaterial zu veranschaulichen. In vielen Punkten ist diese Arbeit daher eine WeiterfÜhrung und Vertiefung der Studien des in dieser Reihe erschienenen Bandes Armenisches Lehngut im TÜrkeitÜrkischen. Einmal mehr beschreibt und etymologisiert der Autor eine große Zahl von tÜrkeitÜrkischen DialektwÖrtern aus dem Hem_ingebiet im NO der TÜrkei. Dabei beschrÄnkt er sich aber keineswegs auf die blose Zusammenstellung des armenischen und tÜrkischen Materials, vielmehr wird gerade der arealen Verbreitung Rechnung getragen; es finden sich daher regelmÄßig auch Ausblicke auf das Kurdische, das Griechische und die sÜdkaukasischen Sprachen.
... Read more

Product Description
We all use euphemisms. We ask for directions to the "ladies room" or convey the news that someone has recently "passed away." In fact, euphemisms have existed throughout recorded history: they are used by preliterate peoples, and have probably been around since human language first developed. And the same is true of offensive language, or "dysphemisms"--words used as weapons against others, or as release valves for anger and frustration.

In this fascinating study, Keith Allan and Kate Burridge examine the linguistic, social, and psychological aspects of this intriguing universal practice. They cover the many shapes euphemism can take, from circumlocution and acronym to hyperbole and understatement, metaphor, and even technical jargon (many medical terms ultimately derive from euphemisms--stool, for instance, comes from "go to the stool," and diabetes comes from a Greek word meaning "to go a lot," since people with diabetes urinate frequently). They discuss the many euphemisms and dysphemisms for tabooed body parts (there are, the authors point out, at least 1,200 terms for vagina and 1,000 for penis), bodily functions, death, and disease. They describe euphemisms used to avoid religious blasphemy, from the archaic "egad" and "zounds" and "gadzooks" to the modern equivalents, such as "Jiminy Cricket" and "golly" or "gosh." They even discuss the political use of euphemism; for instance, when at war, to shield the public from upsetting details (or shield politicians from the voter), concentration camps become "pacification centers," bombing raids become "surgical strikes," and bombs dropped on our own troops become "friendly fire." (President Reagan, a master of euphemism, insisted that the attack on Grenada was not an "invasion," but rather a "rescue mission.") Along the way, the authors provide illuminating discussions of word origins, the use of bawdy language in Shakespeare, and many other fascinating topics.

With thousands of examples drawn from speech, literature, newspapers, television, and film, Allan and Burridge invite us all to ponder and enjoy the creative products of the human mind as it confronts the problem of talking in different contexts about sex, lust, disapproval, anger, disease, death, fear, and God. ... Read more

Product Description
A Reference Grammar of Dutch is aimed at English-speaking students of Dutch at beginner/intermediate level. It is designed to be practical and user-friendly: it is arranged alphabetically to allow for quick and easy access and linguistic terminology is kept to a minimum, with a glossary provided. Examples are taken from modern, everyday Dutch, and numerous charts and tables help the student focus on the main points. Each entry is linked to a set of exercises, and a key to the exercises and a comprehensive index are provided. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very useful book
I bought this book because i wanted to learn dutch starting from the beginning and found it very useful as it explains all the grammatical uses of different articles, verbs... For me it is very useful but I also had to buy a dictionary to understand all the words in the book, maybe you should learn some words before starting this book but it's highly recommended.

Modern Dutch Grammar
I would recommend this grammar to anyone who has some background knowledge of Dutch and who needs an easy-to-use reference work. The grammar is clearly explained, the exercises are adequate. All examples are providedwith English translations, and the book distinguishes between beginning andintermediate learners of Dutch. As a result, it tells the reader what isessential and what is more sophisticated knowledge. The book tries to be"user-friendly:" This means that grammatical terminology has beenkept to a minimum.The only part that I did not like about this book isthat the topics are arranged alphabetically. So, if you are interested in,say, the present tense formation of Dutch, you look it up under"present tense", the past tense is located under"past," etc. Such an organizing principle does not give a clearoverview of the verbal system in Dutch. The same can be said aboutpronouns, adjectives, etc. This organization of topics also defeats theneed for an index at the end of the book. But, in spite of thisshortcoming, this is a good tool for intermediate learners of Dutch.

Modern Dutch Grammar
I would recommend this grammar to anyone who has some background knowledgeof Dutch and who needs an easy-to-use reference work. The grammar isclearly explained, the exercises are adequate. All examples are providedwith English translations, and the book distinguishes between beginning andintermediate learners of Dutch. As a result, it tells the reader what isessential and what is more sophisticated knowledge. The book tries to be"user-friendly:" This means that grammatical terminology has beenkept to a minimum.The only part that I did not like about this book isthat the topics are arranged alphabetically. So, if you are interested in,say, the present tense formation of Dutch, you look it up under"present tense", the past tense is located under"past," etc. Such an organizing principle does not give a clearoverview of the verbal system in Dutch. The same can be said aboutpronouns, adjectives, etc. This organization of topics also defeats theneed for an index at the end of the book. But, in spite of thisshortcoming, this is a good tool for intermediate learners of Dutch. ... Read more

Product Description
Speak Italian with confidence in just 6 weeks!

Living Language Italian Complete Course is a complete, step-by-step guide to the basics of Italian conversation and grammar. This revised course uses the highly effective speed-learning method developed by U.S. government experts to teach foreign languages to overseas-bound servicemen and diplomats.

40 lessons on three compact disks
Begin with simple words and phrases and progress to more complex expressions.
Just listen and repeat after the native speakers.
Only Italian is spoken on the recordings, so you learn naturally, the way you learned English.
The accompanying Italian coursebook includes the English translations.

Italian Coursebook
The pocket-size book contains all the translated phrases from the recorded lessons, plus additional vocabulary, detailed explanations, and quizzes.
The book also features verb charts with all tenses included and a comprehensive summary of Italian grammar.

Italian-English/English-Italian Dictionary
More than 15,000 words are defined.
Idiomatic expressions and common phrases show how words are used in everyday conversation.
The dictionary doubles as a phrasebook.
1,000 of the most frequently used words are highlighted for easy reference.

The best-selling language course that really works--revised, updated, and expanded!

For Beginners or Those Who Want a Thorough Review ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

CD and Book don't match!
Although this course certainly gets you started in learning Italian, it, by no means, should be used alone.Other books, studied in tandem, are absolutely necessary.This course barely covers grammar basics, except for an extremely brief overview at the end.Most annoyingly, however, is that there are several instances when the CD and the book don't match.Sometimes words and even sentences are omitted from either the CD or the book. One example even had the wrong verb conjugation! In one instance -- lesson 39 -- the entire lesson is completely different on the CD.In other lessons, the same words and phrases are repeated ad nauseum.So, even though I can put together a simple conversation, this CD set is not enough to really learn the language.Perhaps, it's intended that way...so you buy the intermediate set next.

No English translation on tapes
While the content and format of the course is well done, the main complaint that I have about this course is that there is no English translation on the audio cassettes.You can NOT utilize the tapes without the accompaniment of the book.You must read along in the book to understand the audio lesson, therefore, this course is not ideal for someone who is planning on learning Italian in the car.

Too Involved
I found the course to be very comprehensive, but a little too involved forsomeone who wants to get quickly familiar with language and does not wantto look at the written text while hearing the CDs or tapes.For example, Iwould not recommend it for learning the basics of language while driving,which I have been able to do with Berlitz.The recording is strictly inItaliano, no English except for chapter headings.Bummer!

Essential Italian for Travelers
While I am still unable to carry on lengthy conversations in Italian, this course did help me to ask questions and, more importantly, understand the replies while on a recent trip to Italy.A word of caution -- this coursewon't help you read an Italian menu, so if you don't like tripe, learn theword for that before you go.My only complaint is that, in a few places,the CD and the text did not match.This is a minor complaint consideringthe cost of the series and its overall effectiveness.Definitely worth theexpense if you need to take a crash course before you fly...

Effective learning tool to study Italian
I used this book/CD to study Italian before a trip to Italy.I only completed the first 14 lessons (one of the 3 CD's.)I was able to make myself understood and knew all of the basics.I didn't study enough to beable to understand the replies!I wish I had done more, but recommend thisbook. ... Read more

Product Description
This book aims to take users from scratch to having a solid base in Dutch within six months, and to feel comfortable with the language in as little as three months. In only half an hour a day users will move ahead naturally until they are at ease with all the basic structures needed for communication and become familiar with the basic words and grammar of Dutch. The method comprises two phases: the passive phase, in which users simply repeat what they hear and read, and the active phase, in which users begin to create sentences and imagine themselves in a variety of everyday situations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It is easy!
Assimil's Dutch With Ease is exactly that...gemakkelijk!It is based on dialogs which students read and then look at the translation.While I'm not a fan of learning by translation, this method was helpful in the first few lessons until eventially I only had to look up the occasional word.Moreover, the text is amusing with little cartoons throughout the text written in Dutch to keep you motivated to learn.I've enjoyed the method so much that I've bought Assimil's "Le polonais sans peine" (Polish without Punishment: French version) and "German Without Toil" (1950s edition).

When I first undertook my lessons with this book, I had the help of native Flemish-Dutch speakers to guide me with the pronunciations.Dutch pronunciation is easy enough to learn, but I would recommend a native speaker's help rather than going at it on your own from the crude pronunciations guides most self-teaching language books offer.If a native speaker's help isn't available, you probably want to consider buying a cassettes with the book.

Veel geluk! ... Read more