Demystifying-Spanish-Grammar
I came across this book the other day and downloaded it onto my kindle. It's really very good and would probably be a useful source for teachers of Spanish as well as learners.
Check it out: Demystifying-Spanish-Grammar
The explanations are adapted away from the usual generalised meandering over-intellectualised confusion found in numerous grammar books to sharp succinct applicable tools. There are exercises after each explanation so you can test the method.
There are some good feedback comments on Amazon et al as well. Give it a try.
8 Answers
Is it really an advanced level grammar book? Explaining accent marks, por vs para; Ser vs Estar, imperfect vs preterite sound basic/intermediate level to me. And the subjunctive...that requires a book of its own.
I downloaded a free pdf version of Grámatica de la lengua española by Emilio Alarcos Llorach (I don't remember the site, but I found it using google), which is the 1994 rae book on Spanish grammar for Spanish people. I have been reading it for a while and it has cleared up many points of Spanish grammar for me--when I have finished, I believe I will have an intermediate level understanding of Spanish grammar, which is how I would rate my level of understanding of English grammar. It does have some of the same problems that a typical English grammar book has, namely it assumes you already know how to use the language and is simply explaining the rules behind it, so it may not be helpful for everybody. However, I feel that there are distinct advantages to studying Spanish grammar in Spanish.
The point is not that it is "advanced" or indeed especially worthy of or needy of categorisation.
The main point is contained in the title, "demystifying".= no time-wasting no circumlocution.. People have different learning styles and there are even those who just love to curl up with an over-intellectualised nerd-fest of linguistic terminology, on the other hand there are those who just want to cut to the chase.
The charm, if you will, of this book, is it's ability to give concise effective explanations and strategies for dealing with those old chestnuts that plague Spanish learners. The reason I suggested teachers have a look as well is, above all, it produces useful strategic approaches to making seemingly obscure elements accessible and more easily comprehensible...which is surely the aim of any teacher worth their salt.
Personally I am unimpressed by his handling of ser and estar. It is a bit unsettling, for example, that he begins the chapter by condemning the method followed by Juan and Susan Serrano in their book Spanish Verbs: Ser and Estar as being too vague, only to end the chapter with the following words of advice:
To further understand the differences between ser and estar, consult Spanish Verbs: Ser and Estar by Juan and Susan Serrano.
His own method boils down to two seductively simple yet (in my opinion) flawed acronyms: "JETCO" and "LET." The initial claim, largely unsubstantiated, is that these acronyms are less vague than other methods such as "nature/essence vs state of being (very similar to Lazarus' CID rule)" or "Whatness vs. Howness (as espoused by the Serranos)." In the end, however, I was simply left with the impression that the author's main impetus for this chapter was not to provide real clarity on the subject nor to provide insight into the Spanish way of thinking, but simply to hawk his own method.
You're right of course Lorenzo and I tend to read a lot of information in Spanish. What interested me about this book is that it's by a practising teacher who is fully aware of all the grammar books and explanations out there but has found it necessary to come up with other strategies to get the ideas across to students. As he points out many explanations are vague or flawed.
His objective is to give explanations that work. I like his attitude his approach. As an ex language teacher myself I instantly identified with his approach of not just accepting what's in the books and reiterating it but to find a path through the maze which clarifies, on a useable easily applied basis, the essence of what the students need to take away and process and practice.
Birdland said:
The main point is contained in the title, "demystifying".= no time-wasting no circumlocution.. People have different learning styles and there are even those who just love to curl up with an over-intellectualised nerd-fest of linguistic terminology, on the other hand there are those who just want to cut to the chase.
I am definitely a "cut to the chase' learner. Although, I do love the nerds!!! 
Billy said:
For a fiver, its worth the risk lol. I've just ordered it, your recommendation is good enough for me
Do you believe I had to go to all the trouble to go to the Amazon U.S. page!! 
How should I know what a "fiver" is? 
All kidding aside, thanks for the recommendation Birdland. I just had it downloaded to my Kindle for $3.99 U.S., which is a bargain. Even though it is material I have already covered, I always like reading about the same topics from the perspective of different teachers and authors. For some reason, that seems to help me.
Anyway, I'm sure if I am disappointed in the book for any reason, you will forward me a "fiver"!!
For a fiver, its worth the risk lol. I've just ordered it, your recommendation is good enough for me
Does anyone know if the electronic version is suitable for iPad?
