Modern Russian: An Advanced Grammar Course

by Derek C. Offord

Release Date: February, 1994

Edition: Paperback

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Overpriced, but an Excellent Reference

This book was given to me by a friend, and I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it. The price would be more reasonable if it were cut in half.

I first started reading this book in Januaray or February of 1998, when I was living in Ufa, the largely Muslim capital of the Bashkirian province in southern Russia. At that time I spoke the language reasonably well, and I hadn't studied grammar in depth in over a year. I picked this book up thinking it would be a good review, and was surprised at how little I really knew.

The chapters are well organized and full of good information. Especially helpful are the numerous sentences shown in both Russian and English to demonstrate how various Russian words are used in context. There are even exercises at the end of each chapter, but unfortunately there is no answer key to check yourself by. There are several indexes at the back of the book to make for a convenient reference. One thing that struck me about this book is how it glosses over basic principles and instead goes into remarkable depth on exceptions to the rules. If you want the basics, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking for a treatment of the numerous exceptions to the rules, this book is well worth reading.

The book lives up to its title--it's an advanced grammar course. Beginners would do better working from the New Penguin Russian Course, by Nicholas J. Brown. But for those who already know the basics and are looking to deepen their understanding of Russian grammar, this book is excellent.