Parts of Speech (Shabd Bhed)
Bihar TET — Language I (Hindi/Urdu/Bengali)
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Overview
Parts of Speech form the grammatical backbone of any language. In Bihar TET Language I, you must identify and classify words into their correct categories — whether the passage is in Hindi, Urdu, or Bengali. This topic appears consistently in the grammar section, typically carrying 3–5 direct questions. Mastery here also helps you tackle related areas like sentence construction (vakyarachna), sandhi, and samas.
The exam tests two abilities: (1) recognising which part of speech a given word belongs to, and (2) understanding the function each category performs in a sentence. Questions often present a sentence and ask you to identify the sangya, visheshan, or kriya. Some items test your understanding of subtle distinctions — for instance, differentiating between a kriya-visheshan (adverb) and a visheshan (adjective), or recognising when a word functions as a sarvanaam versus a sangya.
Focus on the eight core categories, their Hindi/Urdu/Bengali equivalents, and the sub-types within each. Concrete examples from everyday language make recall easier during the exam.
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Key Concepts
- **Sangya (संज्ञा / اسم / বিশেষ্য) — Noun**: Names a person, place, thing, quality, or idea. Five types in Hindi: Vyakti-vachak (proper), Jati-vachak (common), Bhav-vachak (abstract), Samuh-vachak (collective), Dravya-vachak (material).
- **Sarvanaam (सर्वनाम / ضمیر / সর্বনাম) — Pronoun**: Replaces a noun to avoid repetition. Six types: Purush-vachak (personal), Nishchay-vachak (demonstrative), Anishchay-vachak (indefinite), Prashn-vachak (interrogative), Sambandh-vachak (relative), Nij-vachak (reflexive).
- **Visheshan (विशेषण / صفت / বিশেষণ) — Adjective**: Describes or qualifies a noun/pronoun. Four types: Gunvachak (quality), Sankhyavachak (numeral), Parimaanvachak (quantity), Sarvnaamik (pronominal).
- **Kriya (क्रिया / فعل / ক্রিয়া) — Verb**: Expresses action or state of being. Classified as Sakarmak (transitive — requires object) and Akarmak (intransitive — no object needed).
- **Kriya-visheshan (क्रिया-विशेषण / متعلق فعل / ক্রিয়া-বিশেষণ) — Adverb**: Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Four types: Kaal-vachak (time), Sthan-vachak (place), Pariman-vachak (degree/manner), Riti-vachak (manner).
- **Sambandh-bodhak (संबंधबोधक / حرف جار / সম্বন্ধসূচক) — Postposition/Preposition**: Shows relationship between a noun/pronoun and other words. Examples: के लिए, की ओर, के साथ.
- **Samuchchaya-bodhak (समुच्चयबोधक / حرف عطف / সংযোজক) — Conjunction**: Joins words, phrases, or clauses. Types: Sanyojak (और, तथा), Vibhajak (या, अथवा), Virodhsuchak (परंतु, लेकिन), Parinamsuchak (इसलिए, अतः).
- **Vismayadi-bodhak (विस्मयादिबोधक / حرف ندا / আবেগসূচক) — Interjection**: Expresses sudden emotion. Examples: अरे!, वाह!, हाय!, अफसोस!
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Formulas / Key Facts
| Part of Speech | Hindi Term | Function | Quick Example | |----------------|------------|----------|---------------| | Noun | संज्ञा | Names | राम, दिल्ली, किताब | | Pronoun | सर्वनाम | Replaces noun | वह, कोई, जो | | Adjective | विशेषण | Describes noun | सुंदर, पाँच, थोड़ा | | Verb | क्रिया | Shows action/state | खाना, सोना, है | | Adverb | क्रिया-विशेषण | Modifies verb | धीरे, यहाँ, कल | | Postposition | संबंधबोधक | Shows relation | के बाद, की तरफ | | Conjunction | समुच्चयबोधक | Joins | और, लेकिन, या | | Interjection | विस्मयादिबोधक | Emotion | अरे!, वाह! |
**Must-Remember Facts:** 1. Visheshan always comes before or relates to a Visheshya (the noun it qualifies). 2. Kriya-visheshan modifies Kriya, not Sangya — this is the most common exam trap. 3. Sarvanaam has no gender/number of its own; it takes the gender/number of the noun it replaces. 4. Sambandh-bodhak in Hindi are postpositions (come after noun), unlike English prepositions. 5. Samuchchaya-bodhak connects equal grammatical units — two nouns, two clauses, etc.
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Worked Examples
**Example 1:** *Sentence:* "सुंदर लड़की धीरे-धीरे गाती है।"
Identify each part of speech:
- सुंदर → Visheshan (Gunvachak — describes लड़की)
- लड़की → Sangya (Jati-vachak — common noun)
- धीरे-धीरे → Kriya-visheshan (Riti-vachak — tells how she sings)
- गाती है → Kriya (action of singing)
**Example 2:** *Sentence:* "वह और मैं बाजार गए, लेकिन दुकान बंद थी।"
- वह → Sarvanaam (Purush-vachak, third person)
- और → Samuchchaya-bodhak (Sanyojak — joins वह and मैं)
- मैं → Sarvanaam (Purush-vachak, first person)
- बाजार → Sangya (Jati-vachak)
- गए → Kriya (Akarmak — no direct object)
- लेकिन → Samuchchaya-bodhak (Virodhsuchak — shows contrast)
- दुकान → Sangya
- बंद → Visheshan (state of दुकान)
- थी → Sahayak Kriya (helping verb)
**Example 3:** *Sentence:* "अरे! कितना सुंदर दृश्य है!"
- अरे! → Vismayadi-bodhak (expresses surprise)
- कितना → Visheshan (Parimaanvachak — degree)
- सुंदर → Visheshan (Gunvachak)
- दृश्य → Sangya
- है → Kriya
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Common Mistakes
1. **Confusing Visheshan with Kriya-visheshan**
- Wrong: "धीरे" qualifies the noun → Correct: "धीरे" modifies the verb (tells HOW the action is done), so it is Kriya-visheshan.
2. **Treating Sambandh-bodhak as Samuchchaya-bodhak**
- Wrong: "के साथ" joins two words → Correct: "के साथ" shows relationship (with whom), not joining. It is Sambandh-bodhak.
3. **Ignoring context for Sarvanaam classification**
- Wrong: All "यह/वह" are Purush-vachak → Correct: They can be Nishchay-vachak (demonstrative) when pointing — "यह किताब है" (this book).
4. **Forgetting sub-types in MCQs**
- Wrong: Marking any adjective as just "Visheshan" → Correct: Exam may ask specific type — Gunvachak, Sankhyavachak, etc.
5. **Mistaking Vismayadi-bodhak for other parts**
- Wrong: "वाह" is an adverb → Correct: Exclamatory words expressing emotion are always Vismayadi-bodhak.
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Quick Reference
- **Sangya** = Naming word → राम, पुस्तक, सच्चाई
- **Sarvanaam** = Replacement word → मैं, तुम, कोई, जो
- **Visheshan** = Describing word (for nouns) → अच्छा, दस, बहुत सारा
- **Kriya** = Action/state word → पढ़ना, होना, जाना
- **Kriya-visheshan** = Describes verb → जल्दी, वहाँ, बहुत
- **Samuchchaya-bodhak** = Joining word → और, या, परंतु, इसलिए
- **Vismayadi-bodhak** = Emotion word with (!) → अरे!, हाय!, शाबाश!