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A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - nescio - 2012-09-24
I heard a lot about this book. How it covers everything and such. But I didn't find anything saying how to actually use it.
Isn't it just, as the name suggests, a dictionary and not a learning tool?
If I understand it right you are not supposed to go from cover to cover but just use it for reference when you encounter a grammar point that confuses you.
But wouldn't the internet be just as good for that? Even on the rare occasions you don't find your answer you can always ask in a forum and usually get a reply.
I heard a lot of recommendation on this book series but I'm still not sure it really is that worth buying.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - nihongonotame - 2012-09-24
I think that for a beginner it may look harsh tough there is a nice deck of the First volume as an anki shared deck.
You can also use it for picking up vocabulary and sentence mining.That's why a 8555 sentences deck exists.
Taking vocabulary right from inside a grammar rule help to not make it just a boring grammar book.
So as I could get a copy of the intermediate one and as my level isn't that way of reading a novel or anything I just use it as I would use a novel.(after I worked on some textbooks)
That way i'm sure to have a pretty much amount of grammar and vocabulary just by going through it as a simple book containing phrases.
Maybe I should get a drill book too because I found myself being able to understand but mine while never use it .
Using it along a textbook is the best choice in my opinion.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - comeauch - 2012-09-24
To be honest, I'm not really sure either... I guess they were designed to be used when you're reading something and understanding every word, but not the grammar. However, I've read the first one cover to cover and sometimes read parts of it just for fun. The thing about this is that it's comprehensive... Although your textbook might explain the general use of the "no" particle, the grammar dictionary lists all the uses, explain how/when it's formed, contrasts it with other similar particles, etc.
Yeah, you could always use Internet instead (after all, they are expensive, especially the third one...), but I think they're great to browse through. So my final answer: Comprehensive explanations + Fun to browse through, you always learn new stuff.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - meeatcookies - 2012-09-24
Read it once and use it as a reference, there's a lot of information there, and what's surprising, when you encounter the grammar you've read about in dictionary you remember quite well what it was about. Check it again in dictionary and you pretty much got solid knowledge about that grammar point, all you need is to encounter it more times, but you dont need to look into dictionary again.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - rahsoul - 2012-09-24
I use it a long with other sources, as it breaks things down quite nicely and it's really easy to find the grammar points in it. When I was studying Genki I would look up the grammar points in the dictionary as I went along. I'm now going through Japanese Sentence Patterns (JSPfEC) and I'm using that in conjunction with DoBJG, it really helps concrete things in my head.
It's extremely easy to navigate and find quick "answers" to what you are looking for (what does this grammar point mean), it's concise so there's no rambling, just a short explanation and sentences, plus a list of similar grammar points and sometimes the differences. It really is packed with information.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - GreenAirth - 2012-09-24
I've never regretted buying the first two books in this series (never got round to picking up Advanced). I think the basic one was probably the first book I ever bought in Japan soon after I arrived. Even though they are kind of dry, I've read through them from cover to cover a few times and still go back to them today.
Yes, you could probably find the same information out there on a website somewhere, but I like the layout of the books and the comprehensive way they deal with each point. Though I concede they are on the fat side and not the most convenient things to lug around, nothing beats being able to browse through them over a nice cup of tea. At least, not for an old fashioned person like me.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - Javizy - 2012-09-24
nescio Wrote:I heard a lot about this book. How it covers everything and such. But I didn't find anything saying how to actually use it.You don't just use it as a reference; it is a reference, and probably the definitive English language one. It has pretty much all the basic grammar points you need to know in alphabetical order with syntax and examples (that are available as an Anki deck), and, best of all, detailed explanations and comparisons with other expressions that cover the nuance of the expression better than anything else I've seen. It'll answer questions that you didn't even ask, and you'll probably learn something about points you already think you've mastered. If you believe there's any value in studying grammar, then you'll want a copy of at least the first two volumes. The sections comparing the various conditional and conjecture expressions really saved me when I was a beginner.
Isn't it just, as the name suggests, a dictionary and not a learning tool?
If I understand it right you are not supposed to go from cover to cover but just use it for reference when you encounter a grammar point that confuses you.
But wouldn't the internet be just as good for that? Even on the rare occasions you don't find your answer you can always ask in a forum and usually get a reply.
I heard a lot of recommendation on this book series but I'm still not sure it really is that worth buying.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - rich_f - 2012-09-24
It's an excellent resource for understanding how the language works, and it's better than most textbooks at explaining, because it doesn't assume that you're in a class with easy access to a teacher of Japanese. It also gives you LOTS of examples and counter-examples, which really help me grok exactly what's going on.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - gaiaslastlaugh - 2012-09-24
rich_f Wrote:It's an excellent resource for understanding how the language works, and it's better than most textbooks at explaining, because it doesn't assume that you're in a class with easy access to a teacher of Japanese. It also gives you LOTS of examples and counter-examples, which really help me grok exactly what's going on.I just took out Intermediate from the local library, and I really, really like it. I like the examples, and also the way it differentiates similar patterns - e.g., について from のこと, or こと from ということ. It's much more detailed and illustrative than anything you'll find online, IMO.
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - rich_f - 2012-09-25
In a similar thread a few weeks ago, someone recommended 日本語表現文型辞典. I just got a copy today, and it's pretty cool. All in Japanese, so it's not for 初心者, but it's a well-thought-out resource. (In the same vein of offering examples of what a grammar point does and more importantly, does NOT do.)
So many books, so little time...
A dicrionary of Japanese grammar - what is it for? - gaiaslastlaugh - 2012-09-25
rich_f Wrote:In a similar thread a few weeks ago, someone recommended 日本語表現文型辞典. I just got a copy today, and it's pretty cool. All in Japanese, so it's not for 初心者, but it's a well-thought-out resource. (In the same vein of offering examples of what a grammar point does and more importantly, does NOT do.)I just started digging into 新完全マスター２級文法、which is similar - all Japanese w/ short explanations of where the grammar point does and does not apply, followed by examples. All in Japanese. I'm using Intermediate as a backup in cases where things are still unclear, or just for additional examples.
So many books, so little time...
Yeah...waaaay too many books. Or, rather, not enough hours in the week.