A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

Spanish Verbs, 15 Sep 2008
Excellent basic text on Spanish verbs. I refer to it time and time again, even after years of study.

Know Spanish Verbs Inside and Out!!!, 21 Jul 2008
This book on Spanish verb tenses is the best I've ever seen. In fact, it is probably the only book of its kind. I haven't seen any other books like this one, probably because it would be a waste of time for someone else to write a book like this.

The book first explains the present tense in great detail. It explains how the present tense is used in every possibleway. Although, it doesn't explain that the present tense is often used to convey a future action more often than the actual future is.

Richmond's explanation of the past tenses is also very good, but I didn't like how the imperfect and the preterit were explained. What I did like was how the author explains that the irregular preterit conjugations have predictable patterns.

The subjunctive is explained towards the end, which is one of the most difficult things to master in Spanish grammar. I didn't particularly care for the author's explanation of the subjunctive because it seems to be a "regurgitation" of how other books explain it.

All in all, this book is well worth its price. Every Spanish student (and teacher) should have a copy of "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses."

Brandon Simpson

This book is the best, 04 Jul 2008
I have read a few books on Spanish verb tenses and grammar, but this one has got to be the best of them all. If you read through this book step by step and do the written exercises as you proceed, you will understand verbs in no time at all.It is easy to follow and set out in a reader friendly way.

clear and practical help for the student of spanish, 08 Jun 2008
In support of the many enthusiastic reviews of this book, I must agree that this is one of the clearest and easiest to understand guides to spanish verbs avaialble. As a very keen student of spanish I have an extensive collection of relevant books, but the Practice Makes Perfect series are refreshingly easy and pleasant to use. The grammar is divided into distinct sections with plenty of explanations, examples and exercises for practice, as well as answers for checking. There are also exercises in the writing of short passages which incorporate the verb conjugations learnt and introduce much new and useful vocabulary. This is a very useful book, not only for learners who attend classes and who would like a little more clarification, but especially for those trying to teach themselves. The relatively large size of print and good layout also enhance the pleasure of using this book.

Use of words, 01 Jun 2008
I have just recieved this book and have found it to be very well thought out and easy to read and understand. My one comment is that the book is obviously written by an American in that there are quite a lot of words, both nouns and verbs, used in the book that are not, popularly used in Spain, where I live. (For example carro instead of coche for car. Quite a few of my spanish friends, some of whom are teachers of English, have mentioned this to me when looking at the book. However, I would recommend this book.

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

Spanish Verbs, 15 Sep 2008
Excellent basic text on Spanish verbs. I refer to it time and time again, even after years of study.

Know Spanish Verbs Inside and Out!!!, 21 Jul 2008
This book on Spanish verb tenses is the best I've ever seen. In fact, it is probably the only book of its kind. I haven't seen any other books like this one, probably because it would be a waste of time for someone else to write a book like this.

The book first explains the present tense in great detail. It explains how the present tense is used in every possibleway. Although, it doesn't explain that the present tense is often used to convey a future action more often than the actual future is.

Richmond's explanation of the past tenses is also very good, but I didn't like how the imperfect and the preterit were explained. What I did like was how the author explains that the irregular preterit conjugations have predictable patterns.

The subjunctive is explained towards the end, which is one of the most difficult things to master in Spanish grammar. I didn't particularly care for the author's explanation of the subjunctive because it seems to be a "regurgitation" of how other books explain it.

All in all, this book is well worth its price. Every Spanish student (and teacher) should have a copy of "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses."

Brandon Simpson

This book is the best, 04 Jul 2008
I have read a few books on Spanish verb tenses and grammar, but this one has got to be the best of them all. If you read through this book step by step and do the written exercises as you proceed, you will understand verbs in no time at all.It is easy to follow and set out in a reader friendly way.

clear and practical help for the student of spanish, 08 Jun 2008
In support of the many enthusiastic reviews of this book, I must agree that this is one of the clearest and easiest to understand guides to spanish verbs avaialble. As a very keen student of spanish I have an extensive collection of relevant books, but the Practice Makes Perfect series are refreshingly easy and pleasant to use. The grammar is divided into distinct sections with plenty of explanations, examples and exercises for practice, as well as answers for checking. There are also exercises in the writing of short passages which incorporate the verb conjugations learnt and introduce much new and useful vocabulary. This is a very useful book, not only for learners who attend classes and who would like a little more clarification, but especially for those trying to teach themselves. The relatively large size of print and good layout also enhance the pleasure of using this book.

Use of words, 01 Jun 2008
I have just recieved this book and have found it to be very well thought out and easy to read and understand. My one comment is that the book is obviously written by an American in that there are quite a lot of words, both nouns and verbs, used in the book that are not, popularly used in Spain, where I live. (For example carro instead of coche for car. Quite a few of my spanish friends, some of whom are teachers of English, have mentioned this to me when looking at the book. However, I would recommend this book.

Bought for OU Language Course 2008, 30 Sep 2008
I bought this alongside the Spanish Grammar book as they are both set books for the OU course. High St book shops are a lot more expensive,I saved £5.00!! Both books are set out in a really easy & logical format.
Highly recommended

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

Spanish Verbs, 15 Sep 2008
Excellent basic text on Spanish verbs. I refer to it time and time again, even after years of study.

Know Spanish Verbs Inside and Out!!!, 21 Jul 2008
This book on Spanish verb tenses is the best I've ever seen. In fact, it is probably the only book of its kind. I haven't seen any other books like this one, probably because it would be a waste of time for someone else to write a book like this.

The book first explains the present tense in great detail. It explains how the present tense is used in every possibleway. Although, it doesn't explain that the present tense is often used to convey a future action more often than the actual future is.

Richmond's explanation of the past tenses is also very good, but I didn't like how the imperfect and the preterit were explained. What I did like was how the author explains that the irregular preterit conjugations have predictable patterns.

The subjunctive is explained towards the end, which is one of the most difficult things to master in Spanish grammar. I didn't particularly care for the author's explanation of the subjunctive because it seems to be a "regurgitation" of how other books explain it.

All in all, this book is well worth its price. Every Spanish student (and teacher) should have a copy of "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses."

Brandon Simpson

This book is the best, 04 Jul 2008
I have read a few books on Spanish verb tenses and grammar, but this one has got to be the best of them all. If you read through this book step by step and do the written exercises as you proceed, you will understand verbs in no time at all.It is easy to follow and set out in a reader friendly way.

clear and practical help for the student of spanish, 08 Jun 2008
In support of the many enthusiastic reviews of this book, I must agree that this is one of the clearest and easiest to understand guides to spanish verbs avaialble. As a very keen student of spanish I have an extensive collection of relevant books, but the Practice Makes Perfect series are refreshingly easy and pleasant to use. The grammar is divided into distinct sections with plenty of explanations, examples and exercises for practice, as well as answers for checking. There are also exercises in the writing of short passages which incorporate the verb conjugations learnt and introduce much new and useful vocabulary. This is a very useful book, not only for learners who attend classes and who would like a little more clarification, but especially for those trying to teach themselves. The relatively large size of print and good layout also enhance the pleasure of using this book.

Use of words, 01 Jun 2008
I have just recieved this book and have found it to be very well thought out and easy to read and understand. My one comment is that the book is obviously written by an American in that there are quite a lot of words, both nouns and verbs, used in the book that are not, popularly used in Spain, where I live. (For example carro instead of coche for car. Quite a few of my spanish friends, some of whom are teachers of English, have mentioned this to me when looking at the book. However, I would recommend this book.

Bought for OU Language Course 2008, 30 Sep 2008
I bought this alongside the Spanish Grammar book as they are both set books for the OU course. High St book shops are a lot more expensive,I saved £5.00!! Both books are set out in a really easy & logical format.
Highly recommended

Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value.

101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!

Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too.

Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused.

There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image.

I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.

A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

Spanish Verbs, 15 Sep 2008
Excellent basic text on Spanish verbs. I refer to it time and time again, even after years of study.

Know Spanish Verbs Inside and Out!!!, 21 Jul 2008
This book on Spanish verb tenses is the best I've ever seen. In fact, it is probably the only book of its kind. I haven't seen any other books like this one, probably because it would be a waste of time for someone else to write a book like this.

The book first explains the present tense in great detail. It explains how the present tense is used in every possibleway. Although, it doesn't explain that the present tense is often used to convey a future action more often than the actual future is.

Richmond's explanation of the past tenses is also very good, but I didn't like how the imperfect and the preterit were explained. What I did like was how the author explains that the irregular preterit conjugations have predictable patterns.

The subjunctive is explained towards the end, which is one of the most difficult things to master in Spanish grammar. I didn't particularly care for the author's explanation of the subjunctive because it seems to be a "regurgitation" of how other books explain it.

All in all, this book is well worth its price. Every Spanish student (and teacher) should have a copy of "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses."

Brandon Simpson

This book is the best, 04 Jul 2008
I have read a few books on Spanish verb tenses and grammar, but this one has got to be the best of them all. If you read through this book step by step and do the written exercises as you proceed, you will understand verbs in no time at all.It is easy to follow and set out in a reader friendly way.

clear and practical help for the student of spanish, 08 Jun 2008
In support of the many enthusiastic reviews of this book, I must agree that this is one of the clearest and easiest to understand guides to spanish verbs avaialble. As a very keen student of spanish I have an extensive collection of relevant books, but the Practice Makes Perfect series are refreshingly easy and pleasant to use. The grammar is divided into distinct sections with plenty of explanations, examples and exercises for practice, as well as answers for checking. There are also exercises in the writing of short passages which incorporate the verb conjugations learnt and introduce much new and useful vocabulary. This is a very useful book, not only for learners who attend classes and who would like a little more clarification, but especially for those trying to teach themselves. The relatively large size of print and good layout also enhance the pleasure of using this book.

Use of words, 01 Jun 2008
I have just recieved this book and have found it to be very well thought out and easy to read and understand. My one comment is that the book is obviously written by an American in that there are quite a lot of words, both nouns and verbs, used in the book that are not, popularly used in Spain, where I live. (For example carro instead of coche for car. Quite a few of my spanish friends, some of whom are teachers of English, have mentioned this to me when looking at the book. However, I would recommend this book.

Bought for OU Language Course 2008, 30 Sep 2008
I bought this alongside the Spanish Grammar book as they are both set books for the OU course. High St book shops are a lot more expensive,I saved £5.00!! Both books are set out in a really easy & logical format.
Highly recommended

Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value.

101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!

Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too.

Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused.

There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image.

I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.

A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.

One of the best reference books ever released by Oxford University press, 30 Sep 2006
The book that I have eagerly rated at 5 stars is one of the most comprehensive pocket-edition grammar booklets I have ever purchased.

Consisting of one hundred and forty-eight pages, John Seely's reference book is divided into grammar and punctuation sections in alphabetical order . Each category is enriched by several examples that allow readers to understand how to apply a general rule within a context ; what is more, there is a very explicable sub-category dedicated to the commonest grammar mistakes many a student - and writer - may happen to commit during his/her writing .

Being an English major , I have come across a multitude of grammar books , and I have always had to operate a selection to discern which ones would be useful to me and which ones might be too prolific and superfluous .This edition represents a valid compromise to find when looking for a general grammar book : although the explanation for each rule is reduced to the classic pattern definition-example ,the explanation provided is concise and sufficient for any reader to grasp the meaning of each entry .



A good quick reference, 09 Aug 2005
The grammar is a little patchy but the punctuation entries are excellent as quick guides (to solve problems when writing or teaching without having to plough through hundreds of pages of 'exceptions' to rules).

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

Spanish Verbs, 15 Sep 2008
Excellent basic text on Spanish verbs. I refer to it time and time again, even after years of study.

Know Spanish Verbs Inside and Out!!!, 21 Jul 2008
This book on Spanish verb tenses is the best I've ever seen. In fact, it is probably the only book of its kind. I haven't seen any other books like this one, probably because it would be a waste of time for someone else to write a book like this.

The book first explains the present tense in great detail. It explains how the present tense is used in every possibleway. Although, it doesn't explain that the present tense is often used to convey a future action more often than the actual future is.

Richmond's explanation of the past tenses is also very good, but I didn't like how the imperfect and the preterit were explained. What I did like was how the author explains that the irregular preterit conjugations have predictable patterns.

The subjunctive is explained towards the end, which is one of the most difficult things to master in Spanish grammar. I didn't particularly care for the author's explanation of the subjunctive because it seems to be a "regurgitation" of how other books explain it.

All in all, this book is well worth its price. Every Spanish student (and teacher) should have a copy of "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses."

Brandon Simpson

This book is the best, 04 Jul 2008
I have read a few books on Spanish verb tenses and grammar, but this one has got to be the best of them all. If you read through this book step by step and do the written exercises as you proceed, you will understand verbs in no time at all.It is easy to follow and set out in a reader friendly way.

clear and practical help for the student of spanish, 08 Jun 2008
In support of the many enthusiastic reviews of this book, I must agree that this is one of the clearest and easiest to understand guides to spanish verbs avaialble. As a very keen student of spanish I have an extensive collection of relevant books, but the Practice Makes Perfect series are refreshingly easy and pleasant to use. The grammar is divided into distinct sections with plenty of explanations, examples and exercises for practice, as well as answers for checking. There are also exercises in the writing of short passages which incorporate the verb conjugations learnt and introduce much new and useful vocabulary. This is a very useful book, not only for learners who attend classes and who would like a little more clarification, but especially for those trying to teach themselves. The relatively large size of print and good layout also enhance the pleasure of using this book.

Use of words, 01 Jun 2008
I have just recieved this book and have found it to be very well thought out and easy to read and understand. My one comment is that the book is obviously written by an American in that there are quite a lot of words, both nouns and verbs, used in the book that are not, popularly used in Spain, where I live. (For example carro instead of coche for car. Quite a few of my spanish friends, some of whom are teachers of English, have mentioned this to me when looking at the book. However, I would recommend this book.

Bought for OU Language Course 2008, 30 Sep 2008
I bought this alongside the Spanish Grammar book as they are both set books for the OU course. High St book shops are a lot more expensive,I saved £5.00!! Both books are set out in a really easy & logical format.
Highly recommended

Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value.

101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!

Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too.

Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused.

There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image.

I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.

A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.

One of the best reference books ever released by Oxford University press, 30 Sep 2006
The book that I have eagerly rated at 5 stars is one of the most comprehensive pocket-edition grammar booklets I have ever purchased.

Consisting of one hundred and forty-eight pages, John Seely's reference book is divided into grammar and punctuation sections in alphabetical order . Each category is enriched by several examples that allow readers to understand how to apply a general rule within a context ; what is more, there is a very explicable sub-category dedicated to the commonest grammar mistakes many a student - and writer - may happen to commit during his/her writing .

Being an English major , I have come across a multitude of grammar books , and I have always had to operate a selection to discern which ones would be useful to me and which ones might be too prolific and superfluous .This edition represents a valid compromise to find when looking for a general grammar book : although the explanation for each rule is reduced to the classic pattern definition-example ,the explanation provided is concise and sufficient for any reader to grasp the meaning of each entry .



A good quick reference, 09 Aug 2005
The grammar is a little patchy but the punctuation entries are excellent as quick guides (to solve problems when writing or teaching without having to plough through hundreds of pages of 'exceptions' to rules).

Not very castellano, 16 Jul 2007
Book is a good on getting refresh on verbs but I found there quite a many "errors" (not really errors but weird way of putting sentence together, looked like it was translated directly from English. I am not native English speaker so I spotted those). There was sentences is Spanish that you wouldn't say in castellano perhaps something that is common in Latin America.
IMHO If you want to learn castellano find some book written by Spanish but if you just want to play around verbs and get some refresh on Spanish I think this is ok.

One part of an excellent 3-book set., 14 Mar 2007
I also have the other two books in this series, 'Spanish Verb Tenses' and 'Spanish Prepositions & Pronouns'. The three together form a really first class set. This book, covering grammar, unavoidably duplicates considerable amounts of the other two but I wouldn't dissuade you from getting this one if you already have either or both of the others. Buy all three.

The tuition and exercises are presented clearly and in well structured form. There are answers to the questions in the back of the books. TIP! Don't do the exercises on the pages provided for your answers! I did - in pencil, fortunately - and spent ages rubbing out my answers when I realised I wanted to revise/recap. I would have needed an ocean of Tippex if I'd done them in ink.

No: do the tests on loose sheets or your pc. The answer pages in the back are perforated. This is very handy [other publishers note - do the same] because it means you can tear them all out, put them in a folder and avoid endless flipping back and forth between questions and answers. If you do your exercises on loose sheets, you can file them with the answer pages and monitor how well you're progressing.

I like the large format, too. It has enabled the publisher to lay the text out in a clear and logical way. The Oxford U.P. books are good, but the small format leads to a very dense and cramped presentation. These books are far superior in that respect.

I thoroughly recommend them.

Another learner, 05 Aug 2006
My level of Spanish is advanced -not fluent by any means- and I can say that this is a superbly laid out book from start to finish both for the complete beginner and the advanced student. However, I would suggest that if you're looking to learn Spanish make sure this is not your sole teacher. As you would expect it is full of grammar exercises which could become tiresome if like me you prefer to speak the language. But I divulge.. For what it is -a grammar book- it's very good indeed.

Fantastic!, 02 Feb 2005
This book is so good. The grammar points are explained very well and not in a 1,000 words, just enough for us to get the most of it. Plenty of exercises put the lessons in practice and when they are all done the lesson is understood and can be applied easily.
Moreover a lot of vocabulary is provided as well, so it is not a boring grammar book!
This book is perfect for poeple who want to master Spanish or just to catch the key feature of the grammar.

Gem English Dictionary gives you practical, applied knowledge in your pocket.. With encyclopaedic supplement. 39,000 references. Paperback with vinyl cover. ISBN: 0-00-720877-4

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

Spanish Verbs, 15 Sep 2008
Excellent basic text on Spanish verbs. I refer to it time and time again, even after years of study.

Know Spanish Verbs Inside and Out!!!, 21 Jul 2008
This book on Spanish verb tenses is the best I've ever seen. In fact, it is probably the only book of its kind. I haven't seen any other books like this one, probably because it would be a waste of time for someone else to write a book like this.

The book first explains the present tense in great detail. It explains how the present tense is used in every possibleway. Although, it doesn't explain that the present tense is often used to convey a future action more often than the actual future is.

Richmond's explanation of the past tenses is also very good, but I didn't like how the imperfect and the preterit were explained. What I did like was how the author explains that the irregular preterit conjugations have predictable patterns.

The subjunctive is explained towards the end, which is one of the most difficult things to master in Spanish grammar. I didn't particularly care for the author's explanation of the subjunctive because it seems to be a "regurgitation" of how other books explain it.

All in all, this book is well worth its price. Every Spanish student (and teacher) should have a copy of "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses."

Brandon Simpson

This book is the best, 04 Jul 2008
I have read a few books on Spanish verb tenses and grammar, but this one has got to be the best of them all. If you read through this book step by step and do the written exercises as you proceed, you will understand verbs in no time at all.It is easy to follow and set out in a reader friendly way.

clear and practical help for the student of spanish, 08 Jun 2008
In support of the many enthusiastic reviews of this book, I must agree that this is one of the clearest and easiest to understand guides to spanish verbs avaialble. As a very keen student of spanish I have an extensive collection of relevant books, but the Practice Makes Perfect series are refreshingly easy and pleasant to use. The grammar is divided into distinct sections with plenty of explanations, examples and exercises for practice, as well as answers for checking. There are also exercises in the writing of short passages which incorporate the verb conjugations learnt and introduce much new and useful vocabulary. This is a very useful book, not only for learners who attend classes and who would like a little more clarification, but especially for those trying to teach themselves. The relatively large size of print and good layout also enhance the pleasure of using this book.

Use of words, 01 Jun 2008
I have just recieved this book and have found it to be very well thought out and easy to read and understand. My one comment is that the book is obviously written by an American in that there are quite a lot of words, both nouns and verbs, used in the book that are not, popularly used in Spain, where I live. (For example carro instead of coche for car. Quite a few of my spanish friends, some of whom are teachers of English, have mentioned this to me when looking at the book. However, I would recommend this book.

Bought for OU Language Course 2008, 30 Sep 2008
I bought this alongside the Spanish Grammar book as they are both set books for the OU course. High St book shops are a lot more expensive,I saved £5.00!! Both books are set out in a really easy & logical format.
Highly recommended

Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value.

101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!

Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too.

Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused.

There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image.

I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.

A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.

One of the best reference books ever released by Oxford University press, 30 Sep 2006
The book that I have eagerly rated at 5 stars is one of the most comprehensive pocket-edition grammar booklets I have ever purchased.

Consisting of one hundred and forty-eight pages, John Seely's reference book is divided into grammar and punctuation sections in alphabetical order . Each category is enriched by several examples that allow readers to understand how to apply a general rule within a context ; what is more, there is a very explicable sub-category dedicated to the commonest grammar mistakes many a student - and writer - may happen to commit during his/her writing .

Being an English major , I have come across a multitude of grammar books , and I have always had to operate a selection to discern which ones would be useful to me and which ones might be too prolific and superfluous .This edition represents a valid compromise to find when looking for a general grammar book : although the explanation for each rule is reduced to the classic pattern definition-example ,the explanation provided is concise and sufficient for any reader to grasp the meaning of each entry .



A good quick reference, 09 Aug 2005
The grammar is a little patchy but the punctuation entries are excellent as quick guides (to solve problems when writing or teaching without having to plough through hundreds of pages of 'exceptions' to rules).

Not very castellano, 16 Jul 2007
Book is a good on getting refresh on verbs but I found there quite a many "errors" (not really errors but weird way of putting sentence together, looked like it was translated directly from English. I am not native English speaker so I spotted those). There was sentences is Spanish that you wouldn't say in castellano perhaps something that is common in Latin America.
IMHO If you want to learn castellano find some book written by Spanish but if you just want to play around verbs and get some refresh on Spanish I think this is ok.

One part of an excellent 3-book set., 14 Mar 2007
I also have the other two books in this series, 'Spanish Verb Tenses' and 'Spanish Prepositions & Pronouns'. The three together form a really first class set. This book, covering grammar, unavoidably duplicates considerable amounts of the other two but I wouldn't dissuade you from getting this one if you already have either or both of the others. Buy all three.

The tuition and exercises are presented clearly and in well structured form. There are answers to the questions in the back of the books. TIP! Don't do the exercises on the pages provided for your answers! I did - in pencil, fortunately - and spent ages rubbing out my answers when I realised I wanted to revise/recap. I would have needed an ocean of Tippex if I'd done them in ink.

No: do the tests on loose sheets or your pc. The answer pages in the back are perforated. This is very handy [other publishers note - do the same] because it means you can tear them all out, put them in a folder and avoid endless flipping back and forth between questions and answers. If you do your exercises on loose sheets, you can file them with the answer pages and monitor how well you're progressing.

I like the large format, too. It has enabled the publisher to lay the text out in a clear and logical way. The Oxford U.P. books are good, but the small format leads to a very dense and cramped presentation. These books are far superior in that respect.

I thoroughly recommend them.

Another learner, 05 Aug 2006
My level of Spanish is advanced -not fluent by any means- and I can say that this is a superbly laid out book from start to finish both for the complete beginner and the advanced student. However, I would suggest that if you're looking to learn Spanish make sure this is not your sole teacher. As you would expect it is full of grammar exercises which could become tiresome if like me you prefer to speak the language. But I divulge.. For what it is -a grammar book- it's very good indeed.

Fantastic!, 02 Feb 2005
This book is so good. The grammar points are explained very well and not in a 1,000 words, just enough for us to get the most of it. Plenty of exercises put the lessons in practice and when they are all done the lesson is understood and can be applied easily.
Moreover a lot of vocabulary is provided as well, so it is not a boring grammar book!
This book is perfect for poeple who want to master Spanish or just to catch the key feature of the grammar.

Quality keeps on improving!, 18 Jun 2007
I have a copy of a previous edition of this 'easy learning' dictionary and a friend has the penultimate one to this latest copy. As such, I feel well-versed to comment...
This new release is excellent. My wife and I, both in our 50's, are learning the language and we find this dictionary more than just a resource for looking up the meaning of words. It is a big help to us with our verb tables, especially the tenses and gives good grammatical breakdowns on many aspects of the language.
Perhaps if there was more help with pronounciations, it could claim to be a language course in one book. But that aside, it is very, very, good value and we both love referring to it at every opportunity. Definitely five stars from us!

180,000 references. HardbackCollins English Dictionary has evolved into a glorious great slab of a reference book since its relatively modest first appearance in 1979. The 2003 version, rooted in the Bank of English, a 524-million word database launched in 1991, is the sixth edition.

Strong on clear definitions, derivations, cross-referencing, acronyms, technical and scientific terms and geographical place names, Collins English Dictionary also includes occasional boxed "language notes". Thus, for example, after "mitigate" we are usefully reminded that "Mitigate is sometimes used where militate is meant: 'His behaviour militates (not mitigates) against his chances of promotion.'" Interestingly, users of English are evidently becoming more relaxed about their language. Seventy words previously deemed taboo, including "arse," "crap" and "wank" are now described merely as slang. Perhaps rows of asterisks will soon be a thing of the past. Language changes continually and so do attitudes to it. There is a distinct sense of celebration in the latest Collins English Dictionary because English is one of the richest and most diverse of the world's languages and it is rapidly becoming a global lingua franca.

Jeremy Butterfield and his colleagues have made a splendid job of recording exactly where English is now. We may need to know what a "sex text" or a "dead-cat bounce" is today but, perhaps, in the quite near future such terms will fall out of use. That's why dictionaries need to be continuously updated, leaving earlier editions as reference works for language historians to study. It's also what makes dictionaries in general and Collins English Dictionary in particular so fascinating and why word lovers need the latest version on their shelves. --Susan Elkin

A Must Have For Young Fans Of The Show, 10 Oct 2008
This book is fantastic! My son watches Top Gear with me all the time and when he saw the book advertised on amazon, he begged me to buy it for him and he certainly wasn't disappointed. It is packed with information and fun things to do. It will keep him amused for hours. There aren't really any books for children with an interest in cars, so this was a great buy and fantastic value

Critical Thinking Skills, 25 Jul 2007
If you are unsure about how to critically think, or pinpoint an argument, then get this book. It has plenty of excersises to help hone your skills, and I'm glad I got this book before going into 2nd Year Uni.

Definatley a must-have in my opinion.

Longer than necessary, but very useful, 14 Aug 2006
If like me your lecturers constantly tell you that you need to "critically analyse" but don't actually tell you how to do it, this book will be very useful!

It gives you examples of the difference between describing and analysing and also has tests for you to check you understand each concept. There are also examples of how to write essays and when to use references to back up facts. It is also useful in pointing out how to avoid making assumptions or being biased.

The only slight downside to the book is that there is maybe too much information than is necessary. A lot of the introductory chapters may not be useful for those at university as it may all seem obvious but the book is also aimed at those at 6th form/college.

I bought this at level 3 and it taught me a few simple things which definately helped me pick up some extra marks and I ended up with a 2:1. Had I bought this at the start of level 2 I think I could have ended up with a 1st. Critical analysis is not difficult. Once you realise the simple process of doing this it comes naturally and this book certainly helped develop these skills.

Spanish Verbs, 15 Sep 2008
Excellent basic text on Spanish verbs. I refer to it time and time again, even after years of study.

Know Spanish Verbs Inside and Out!!!, 21 Jul 2008
This book on Spanish verb tenses is the best I've ever seen. In fact, it is probably the only book of its kind. I haven't seen any other books like this one, probably because it would be a waste of time for someone else to write a book like this.

The book first explains the present tense in great detail. It explains how the present tense is used in every possibleway. Although, it doesn't explain that the present tense is often used to convey a future action more often than the actual future is.

Richmond's explanation of the past tenses is also very good, but I didn't like how the imperfect and the preterit were explained. What I did like was how the author explains that the irregular preterit conjugations have predictable patterns.

The subjunctive is explained towards the end, which is one of the most difficult things to master in Spanish grammar. I didn't particularly care for the author's explanation of the subjunctive because it seems to be a "regurgitation" of how other books explain it.

All in all, this book is well worth its price. Every Spanish student (and teacher) should have a copy of "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses."

Brandon Simpson

This book is the best, 04 Jul 2008
I have read a few books on Spanish verb tenses and grammar, but this one has got to be the best of them all. If you read through this book step by step and do the written exercises as you proceed, you will understand verbs in no time at all.It is easy to follow and set out in a reader friendly way.

clear and practical help for the student of spanish, 08 Jun 2008
In support of the many enthusiastic reviews of this book, I must agree that this is one of the clearest and easiest to understand guides to spanish verbs avaialble. As a very keen student of spanish I have an extensive collection of relevant books, but the Practice Makes Perfect series are refreshingly easy and pleasant to use. The grammar is divided into distinct sections with plenty of explanations, examples and exercises for practice, as well as answers for checking. There are also exercises in the writing of short passages which incorporate the verb conjugations learnt and introduce much new and useful vocabulary. This is a very useful book, not only for learners who attend classes and who would like a little more clarification, but especially for those trying to teach themselves. The relatively large size of print and good layout also enhance the pleasure of using this book.

Use of words, 01 Jun 2008
I have just recieved this book and have found it to be very well thought out and easy to read and understand. My one comment is that the book is obviously written by an American in that there are quite a lot of words, both nouns and verbs, used in the book that are not, popularly used in Spain, where I live. (For example carro instead of coche for car. Quite a few of my spanish friends, some of whom are teachers of English, have mentioned this to me when looking at the book. However, I would recommend this book.

Bought for OU Language Course 2008, 30 Sep 2008
I bought this alongside the Spanish Grammar book as they are both set books for the OU course. High St book shops are a lot more expensive,I saved £5.00!! Both books are set out in a really easy & logical format.
Highly recommended

Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value.

101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!

Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too.

Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused.

There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image.

I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.

A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.

One of the best reference books ever released by Oxford University press, 30 Sep 2006
The book that I have eagerly rated at 5 stars is one of the most comprehensive pocket-edition grammar booklets I have ever purchased.

Consisting of one hundred and forty-eight pages, John Seely's reference book is divided into grammar and punctuation sections in alphabetical order . Each category is enriched by several examples that allow readers to understand how to apply a general rule within a context ; what is more, there is a very explicable sub-category dedicated to the commonest grammar mistakes many a student - and writer - may happen to commit during his/her writing .

Being an English major , I have come across a multitude of grammar books , and I have always had to operate a selection to discern which ones would be useful to me and which ones might be too prolific and superfluous .This edition represents a valid compromise to find when looking for a general grammar book : although the explanation for each rule is reduced to the classic pattern definition-example ,the explanation provided is concise and sufficient for any reader to grasp the meaning of each entry .



A good quick reference, 09 Aug 2005
The grammar is a little patchy but the punctuation entries are excellent as quick guides (to solve problems when writing or teaching without having to plough through hundreds of pages of 'exceptions' to rules).

Not very castellano, 16 Jul 2007
Book is a good on getting refresh on verbs but I found there quite a many "errors" (not really errors but weird way of putting sentence together, looked like it was translated directly from English. I am not native English speaker so I spotted those). There was sentences is Spanish that you wouldn't say in castellano perhaps something that is common in Latin America.
IMHO If you want to learn castellano find some book written by Spanish but if you just want to play around verbs and get some refresh on Spanish I think this is ok.

One part of an excellent 3-book set., 14 Mar 2007
I also have the other two books in this series, 'Spanish Verb Tenses' and 'Spanish Prepositions & Pronouns'. The three together form a really first class set. This book, covering grammar, unavoidably duplicates considerable amounts of the other two but I wouldn't dissuade you from getting this one if you already have either or both of the others. Buy all three.

The tuition and exercises are presented clearly and in well structured form. There are answers to the questions in the back of the books. TIP! Don't do the exercises on the pages provided for your answers! I did - in pencil, fortunately - and spent ages rubbing out my answers when I realised I wanted to revise/recap. I would have needed an ocean of Tippex if I'd done them in ink.

No: do the tests on loose sheets or your pc. The answer pages in the back are perforated. This is very handy [other publishers note - do the same] because it means you can tear them all out, put them in a folder and avoid endless flipping back and forth between questions and answers. If you do your exercises on loose sheets, you can file them with the answer pages and monitor how well you're progressing.

I like the large format, too. It has enabled the publisher to lay the text out in a clear and logical way. The Oxford U.P. books are good, but the small format leads to a very dense and cramped presentation. These books are far superior in that respect.

I thoroughly recommend them.

Another learner, 05 Aug 2006
My level of Spanish is advanced -not fluent by any means- and I can say that this is a superbly laid out book from start to finish both for the complete beginner and the advanced student. However, I would suggest that if you're looking to learn Spanish make sure this is not your sole teacher. As you would expect it is full of grammar exercises which could become tiresome if like me you prefer to speak the language. But I divulge.. For what it is -a grammar book- it's very good indeed.

Fantastic!, 02 Feb 2005
This book is so good. The grammar points are explained very well and not in a 1,000 words, just enough for us to get the most of it. Plenty of exercises put the lessons in practice and when they are all done the lesson is understood and can be applied easily.
Moreover a lot of vocabulary is provided as well, so it is not a boring grammar book!
This book is perfect for poeple who want to master Spanish or just to catch the key feature of the grammar.

Quality keeps on improving!, 18 Jun 2007
I have a copy of a previous edition of this 'easy learning' dictionary and a friend has the penultimate one to this latest copy. As such, I feel well-versed to comment...
This new release is excellent. My wife and I, both in our 50's, are learning the language and we find this dictionary more than just a resource for looking up the meaning of words. It is a big help to us with our verb tables, especially the tenses and gives good grammatical breakdowns on many aspects of the language.
Perhaps if there was more help with pronounciations, it could claim to be a language course in one book. But that aside, it is very, very, good value and we both love referring to it at every opportunity. Definitely five stars from us!

Not quite up to standards, 08 Aug 2008
After seeing the good reviews above I feel somewhat guilty about writing a less than glowing one. One of the main purposes of a dictionary is to fill in the gaps in vocabulary. However this dictionary has failed me on several occasions. Try to find the word 'discombobulate' and you will fail miserably. This is not the most obscure word in the English language and if I can't find a word I don't know what's the point in the dictionary?

My new best pal!, 31 Jan 2008
This is The Daddy! I compared this with Oxford, Chambers and Penguin and for me it came out a clear winner. Very clear and includes all those obscure words that the others overlook. It's great value at this price and eats crosswords for breakfast. Just don't drop it on your foot!

Perfect for scrabble and word games, 30 Oct 2007
THE definitive dictionary for all sorts of word games, but especially crosswords and scrabble. Every home should have one and every time I pick it up I discover a new word or one I'd forgotten!

Delightful - modern and new words, 20 Jul 2007
This Collins dictionary consists of mainly new words. There are some words that have been known for a very long time,