He realized the genius of the Dai 2-han —the 2nd Edition. The notes in the margins didn't just tell him how to use the grammar; they told him when . They distinguished between written and spoken Japanese, between formal essays and polite conversation. It was the difference between a tourist with a phrasebook and a resident with a voice.
is a grammar bible, but it has two weaknesses: It has almost no reading practice and limited listening (aside from example sentences). To become truly intermediate, pair it with these: --- Chukyu E Iko Nihongo No Bunkei To Hyogen 55 Dai 2-han