Schaum's Outline of Italian Grammar

I started learning Italian with Pimsleur and I nearly gave it up until I ran across this grammar. I mean, don't get me wrong, Pimsleur is really great, but... Italian is not the first foreign language I've learnt, and I'm used to (or maybe prefer) studying in a rather structured way, learning the grammar of the language while building conversational, reading and writing skills. So Pimsleur, which is based almost exclusively on listening and repetition, didn't work ideally for me...This book, however, was just the right thing that helped me move on and made the whole experience of learning with Pimsleur enjoyable. It is very user-friendly, highly suitable for beginners, and presented in a very clear way, making it very easy to find everything quickly. So whenever while listening to my Pimsleur CDs a "why" question arises in my mind, I open this book and find the answer quickly - really quickly. Basically, I would recommend it to any beginner who started to learn Italian with one method or the other. Like I said, very clear, quite comprehensive and at the same time beginner-friendly. Even if you started learning Italian this week, this grammar is for you, because everything is laid-out in plain English. I believe it will also provide me with a convenient way to bridge the gap after I finish with Pimsleur to move on to more advanced speaking, reading and writing.

Re: SCHAUM'S OUTLINE OF ITALIAN GRAMMAR, THIRD EDITION, 2007. While checking the accuracy of the book whose copies I have just received from McGraw-Hill, I have noticed three mistakes. The corrections are as follows: 1. The correct number of pages is 353 (not 330)! 2. On the front cover it is stated that there are 389 exercises with answers; NO: the exact number is 480 EXERCISES WITH ANSWERS. Also, for the reader's benefit, I would like to mention that this THIRD EDITION has NEW FEATURES: A) A new chapter on Comparatives and Superlatives, CHAPTER 4; B) For the first time, in any of Schaum's Foreign Language Outlines, this Italian Grammar - Third Edition - offers end-of-book GLOSSARIES that comprise around 2,200 entries: ITALIAN-ENGLISH and ENGLISH ITALIAN, PP. 327-345; C) A THOROUGHLY REVISED SUBJECT INDEX, PP. 347-353; D) All CHAPTERS HAVE BEEN UPDATED; E) A TOTAL OF 70 BRAND NEW PAGES HAVE BEEN ADDED; F) Because of the recent switch from LIRA to EURO of the Italian Monetary System, the PREFACE has a long PARAGRAPH ON THE EURO detailing its use in GRAMMAR, AND THE WRITTEN FORM OF EVERY COIN and BANK NOTE. G) On every page of the ANSWERS section appears the number of the CHAPTER for easy reference. -THANK YOU.

If you want to learn Italian or want to improve your knowledge of Italian grammar you should get this outline. It covers the whole Italian grammar and also includes drills which will help you to improve. However since it does not cover vocabulary I would recommend you the Langenscheidt Standard English-Italian dictionary and a vocabulary outline such as the Schaum's Outline of Italian vocabulary. 501 Italian verbs could also be of good use for you.

I have purchased MANY help books in my quest to learn Italian. But this one has caught me by surprise. It is the first one that seems to be actually helping me, especially remembering the rules.

Of all the reference books and grammars out there, this is the single best: comprehensive, clear, nonacademic (in the best sense) and very intelligently laid out. Don't miss it.