Essential Portuguese Grammar

I have encountered only a few books like Essential Portuguese Grammar over the years of this language project: small, simple, and clear. It is a gift that, after seeing some of the junk out there, I do not take for granted.

For serious students of language, writer Alexander da R. Prista offers an excellent overview of how Portuguese functions. No bells and whistles, no fancy graphics, just good writing.

Essential Portuguese Grammar was first published in 1966 and has endured well into the 21st century. The author says something in the introduction I really like: “No self-study or academic course or series of courses is ever ideally suited to all students. You must rely on and be guided by your own rate of learning and your own requirements and interests.”

A few sentences later he continues: “You can learn to speak a language without learning its grammar. But because of its systematic approach, grammar is a short-cut to language learning for those who feel at home with it.”

Yes! That is so true!