Norwegian Verbs and Essentials of Grammar

by Louis Janus

Book Overview

This compact volume offers an integrated guide to both Norwegian verbs and the basics of grammar. All the major verbal and grammatical concepts of the language are presented.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 084428596X
• ISBN13: 9780844285962
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Best Around, Pretty Much...

Okay... so if your "learning" style consists only of popping a CD in and listening while you paint your toenails or watch a football game (and you have an extra 8 to 10 years to learn a language in this fashion), this is not the book for you! However, if you're not a fan of the so-called "modern" approach, and if you are not afraid to think, and if you believe that learning a language actually takes effort on your part, and if you would like to really get to know the language and how it functions, and if you would like to speak/write with your own sentences (that you made up all by yourself!!!)... well, great! This is a WONDERFUL book for you. Unfortunately, the modern trend in language learning is to treat us all like children. We are not children, and many of us don't want to spend the eight years or so which it takes to reach proficiency using that approach. This book will bridge the gap and give you the details/structure that most of the other course books are afraid to include. It's very organized. And even better, it doesn't get carried away with minute detail as some grammar books tend to do. At the same time, it is thorough enough so that you won't have a bunch of unanswered questions and incomplete concepts. It's a very logical progression and there are plenty of examples. You know, if this book had vocabulary lists with recorded pronunciation, lots of written exercises/translations, about 10 CD's of realistic/native spoken dialog with transcription, oral repetition/exercises, and a good Leitner-System-based flash card software application... well, wouldn't life be grand? (dream on)

very helpful

I enjyed stydying norwegian because i have this close to norway and the people. The book showed me more and more about norwegian, I do recommend for this book for whom wants to be an excillent norwegian speaker!

Nicely done

Let me start by saying I came from a beginning Norwegian language class where the textbook was entirely in Norwegian; the index, instructions, EVERYthing. Does that make sense to speak a language to someone who doesn't know it and is trying to learn? I understand the theory behind it, but it's just not practical. So naturally I looked for outside help. I found that help with this book by Janus. He has a great way of laying out, in an easy-to-read-and-follow format, just EXACTLY how something is said and WHY it's said that way. ------------ The Format: ------------ Each area covers every aspect of formal and informal grammar starting with a paragraph or two about what a given funtion or part of speech means (ex: The present participle are adjective forms based on verbs such as the "ing" in thinking) Then you'll get examples and the book backs EVERYthing up with its English translation right next to them for immediate reference and confirmation. What struck me about this book was that you don't even have to be a student of the Norwegian language and you could still thumb through it in order to see how Norwegians speak, just out of curiosity. It also has several sections for reference like numbers, a healthy list of verbs and their tenses, and even a section listing the 100 most popular names for males and females. Did you know that Kari is a popular Norwegian name and it's actually pronounced CAHD-ee? Cool.

Excellent for beginners

This is the best short reference book on verbs and grammer I have ever found. Longer works usually leave the beginning student confused or frustrated when trying to find a grammer rule or even a simple verb with the bssic tenses. It is an excellent quick reference for someone attempting to learn Norwegian or someone wanting to brush up on the Norwegian they had learned many years before. This book combined with a beginning instructional work and Haugen's dictionary is all a beginner needs. Those wanting detailed lists of verbs should look elsewhere. Even though I have family from (and in) Norway and spent my early years in North Dakota, I was encourged to speak only English. It has been decades since I have heard much beyond a few sentences in Norwegian even from my Aunts and Uncles that were born in Norway. This book was very helpful in giving me a quick overview of basic verb tenses and grammer. I can go on to more detailed works as needed, but would still use this book as a basic reference. To the author I say: tusen takk.

Most helpful Norwegian grammar book I have encountered.

I have been studying Norwegian for a long time, and Mr. Janus' book is one of the best I have found. It is easy to find answers to questions, and the verb list is amazingly complete and helpful. If you can't take an extended trip to Norway, and aren't blessed to live in Minnesota, then you should buy this book.