I do not know if you are committing the same mistake as Callum – one of my American friends. He once told me how much time he spends learning Spanish grammar and how he does not enjoy it, to say it cautiously.
Then he showed me his grammar book. I do not remember the exact title of this book, but it was something like “The complete Spanish grammar” or “Concise Spanish grammar”. Anyway, the table of contents told it all. There were chapters named like “Futuro perfecto” “Pluscuamperfecto” “Pretérito anterior”. If you are not familiar with grammatical terms or if you did not study Latin you would have trouble finding out what this book is all about. And definitely you wouldn’t get the feeling what all this grammar is for.
And the drills and exercises: sooo many gap fillings and correcting mistakes. No wonder Callum did not enjoy it, to put it delicately.

Generally, I am convinced that if you are using good software for your Spanish or a good texbook with audio materials, you do not need any other grammar textbook. Your course materials will introduce the grammar gently and gradually, while providing the relevant context.

However, if you still need a more structured approach or if you like to have a reference when you would like to go if you want to solve a particular grammar problem, I recommend you grammar textbooks that adopt a functional approach. That is, the chapters are organized around the aspects of a language, for example: expressing the past, expressing the future, etc. This is not only more comfortable and useful, but also gives you the sense of feeling of purpose: what all this grammar is for.

I remember when I learnt English as a second language, an invaluable help for me was “English in Use” by Raymond Murphy. The book met all the criteria I told you about.

But when I learnt Spanish, there were not many grammar textbooks available on Polish market, so I have always thought there must be some good Spanish grammar textbook somewhere else. Can you recommend one?

Is there a more controversial subject in language learning than grammar? Is there another question than “to learn or not to learn grammar” more often discussed?

So many commercial language programs providers have built a whole religion and based their marketing ploy on “not learning grammar”, that it is very uncool to defend grammar.

I strongly believe and tested it on myself many times that learning grammar the right and efficient way is the best shortcut to learn any foreign language.

It is a great time saver. How much time would I need to explain you all that stuff with “to be” in Spanish, that is “ser” and “estar” and teach you all the forms both verbs take in the present tense? I bet 1 to 5 minutes. After this, you could get round relaxed to learning more interesting Spanish aspects, like conversational phrases or reading fun stuff. Then how much time would you need to understand, and more importantly to use “ser” and “estar” in everyday conversation only by listening and repeating sentences like “You estoy contenta”, “Ese niño es adorable”? Well, it is very probable that, since such phenomenon is not known in English, you will end up frustrated and discouraged to Spanish.

I think the major problem with grammar is the misunderstanding how to learn it. When you hear “grammar” probably you remind yourself of long and boring grammar drills that you had to do in school.

And this is the point where you should stop learning grammar. No exercises, no drills. It is perfectly enough to read a short comment on grammar topic with several examples of usage. You will learn the rest form the context, by using the language.

It really works. Do you know how I learnt Spanish grammar? I used to take with me a Spanish grammar textbook when I was commuting to my university. I was just reading chapter by chapter different grammatical topics and found them interesting.

Did I memorised everything? Of course not, but next time when a found a sentence in a Spanish text, I had this “aha!” effect. Things clicked. The rest is history or rather practice, practice, practice.

Lots of success in your Spanish!

Martina