Tú and Vosotros or Usted and Ustedes?

Hi,

 

I am doing some self-learning of Spanish and am currently reading an early version of "Teach Yourself Spanish" (Published 1939). I really like the books approach to teaching the language, and would recommend it, but I am not sure whether what it says about tú and vosotros versus usted and ustedes is dated or not. Basically it says that tú and vosotros are for familiar people only and are very rarely used. Instead it suggests using Usted and ustedes to be more polite and formal.

I was wondering how accurate this is nowadays? The book seems to almost stop using tú and vosotros from that point onwards. Whilst this wouldn't really be a problem it means that the terminations of the verbs associated with tú and vosotros also lack later in the book meaning I get less practice. Is this a problem? Would it be useful to know these?

 

Thanks!

 - Ben