Parts of Speech (Shabd Bhed)
Sangya, Sarvanaam, Visheshan, Kriya etc.
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Overview
Parts of Speech (Shabd Bhed) form the grammatical foundation of Hindi language. In CG TET Paper I and II, this topic appears consistently in the Language I section, with 2-4 questions testing your ability to identify and classify words correctly. Questions typically present sentences asking you to identify the type of noun, pronoun, or verb used.
Mastering this topic is essential because it directly connects to other grammar areas like gender (ling), number (vachan), and sentence structure (vakyarachna). A clear understanding of the eight parts of speech helps you answer comprehension questions more accurately and improves your ability to teach Hindi grammar effectively at the primary level.
The key to scoring well is memorizing the subtypes of each category and practicing identification in context. Most errors occur when students confuse similar-sounding categories or fail to recognize words in their functional role within sentences.
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Key Concepts
- **Hindi has eight parts of speech (Shabd Bhed)**: Sangya, Sarvanaam, Visheshan, Kriya, Kriya-Visheshan, Sambandh Bodhak, Samuchaya Bodhak, and Vismayadi Bodhak.
- **Sangya (Noun)** names people, places, things, qualities, or actions. It is the subject or object in most sentences.
- **Sarvanaam (Pronoun)** replaces a noun to avoid repetition. It changes form based on person, number, and case.
- **Visheshan (Adjective)** describes or qualifies a noun/pronoun. It always appears before or after the word it modifies.
- **Kriya (Verb)** expresses action or state of being. It is essential for completing a sentence's meaning.
- **Kriya-Visheshan (Adverb)** modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, telling how, when, where, or how much.
- **Sambandh Bodhak (Postposition)** shows relationship between nouns/pronouns and other words. Hindi uses postpositions (after the noun), not prepositions.
- **Context determines classification** — the same word can function as different parts of speech in different sentences.
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Formulas / Key Facts
### Sangya (Noun) — 5 Types
| Type | Definition | Examples | |------|-----------|----------| | Vyakti Vachak | Proper noun — specific name | Ram, Ganga, Raipur, Bharat | | Jati Vachak | Common noun — class/category | Ladka, Nadi, Shahar, Desh | | Bhav Vachak | Abstract noun — quality/state/action | Sundarta, Mitrata, Bachpan | | Samuh Vachak | Collective noun — group | Sena, Sabha, Jhund, Kaksha | | Dravya Vachak | Material noun — substance | Sona, Doodh, Loha, Pani |
### Sarvanaam (Pronoun) — 6 Types
| Type | Function | Examples | |------|----------|----------| | Purush Vachak | Person indicator | Main, Tu, Vah, Ham, Tum, Ve | | Nishchay Vachak | Definite/demonstrative | Yah, Vah, Ye, Ve | | Anishchay Vachak | Indefinite | Koi, Kuchh | | Sambandh Vachak | Relative | Jo, Jisko, Jinhe | | Prashna Vachak | Interrogative | Kaun, Kya, Kisko | | Nij Vachak | Reflexive | Apna, Apne aap, Swayam |
### Visheshan (Adjective) — 4 Types
| Type | What it shows | Examples | |------|--------------|----------| | Gunvachak | Quality | Sundar, Accha, Lal, Mitha | | Sankhya Vachak | Number | Ek, Do, Pahla, Dusra, Kai | | Pariman Vachak | Quantity | Thoda, Bahut, Kuch, Sara | | Sarvanamik | Pronoun-based | Yah pustak, Vah ghar, Kaun ladka |
### Kriya (Verb) — Key Classification
- **Sakarmak Kriya** (Transitive): Requires object — Ram ne khat likha.
- **Akarmak Kriya** (Intransitive): No object needed — Bachcha sota hai.
- **Sahayak Kriya** (Auxiliary): Hai, Tha, Hoga, Raha hai.
### Other Parts of Speech
- **Kriya-Visheshan (Adverb)**: Dheere, Jaldi, Yahan, Vahan, Bahut, Kabhi
- **Sambandh Bodhak (Postposition)**: Mein, Par, Ko, Se, Ke liye, Ki taraf
- **Samuchaya Bodhak (Conjunction)**: Aur, Lekin, Ya, Isliye, Ki, Parantu
- **Vismayadi Bodhak (Interjection)**: Arey!, Vah!, Haye!, Shabbash!, Uff!
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Worked Examples
### Example 1: Identify Sangya type **Question**: "Sundarta sabko achchhi lagti hai" — Underlined word "Sundarta" is which type of Sangya?
**Solution**:
- Step 1: "Sundarta" means beauty — it's not a person, place, or physical thing
- Step 2: It expresses a quality/abstract concept
- Step 3: Abstract concepts = Bhav Vachak Sangya
- **Answer**: Bhav Vachak Sangya
### Example 2: Identify Sarvanaam type **Question**: "Kaun aa raha hai?" — What type of Sarvanaam is "Kaun"?
**Solution**:
- Step 1: The sentence is a question
- Step 2: "Kaun" is asking about an unknown person
- Step 3: Pronouns used to ask questions = Prashna Vachak Sarvanaam
- **Answer**: Prashna Vachak Sarvanaam
### Example 3: Identify Visheshan and Visheshya **Question**: "Mujhe thanda pani chahiye" — Identify Visheshan and Visheshya.
**Solution**:
- Step 1: Find the noun — "Pani" (water)
- Step 2: Find word describing it — "Thanda" (cold)
- Step 3: Visheshan = Thanda (Gunvachak type), Visheshya = Pani
- **Answer**: Visheshan — Thanda; Visheshya — Pani
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Common Mistakes
- **Confusing Bhav Vachak and Gunvachak Visheshan**: "Sundarta" (beauty) is Bhav Vachak Sangya, but "Sundar" (beautiful) is Gunvachak Visheshan. The noun form (-ta, -pan, -i endings) indicates Bhav Vachak Sangya.
- **Mistaking Sambandh Vachak for Prashna Vachak Sarvanaam**: "Jo" relates two clauses (Jo aaya vah gaya), while "Kaun/Kya" asks questions. Check if the sentence is a question or a relative clause.
- **Ignoring context for dual-function words**: "Bahut" can be Kriya-Visheshan (Vah bahut daudta hai) or Pariman Vachak Visheshan (Bahut log aaye). Look at what word it modifies — verb or noun.
- **Forgetting Sahayak Kriya**: Students often identify only the main verb. In "Ram ja raha hai," both "ja raha" (main) and "hai" (auxiliary) are Kriya.
- **Treating postpositions as separate words**: In Hindi, Sambandh Bodhak words like "mein, par, ko" always come after the noun, unlike English prepositions.
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Quick Reference
- **Sangya**: Vyakti, Jati, Bhav, Samuh, Dravya — 5 types
- **Sarvanaam**: Purush, Nishchay, Anishchay, Sambandh, Prashna, Nij — 6 types
- **Visheshan**: Gun, Sankhya, Pariman, Sarvanamik — 4 types
- **Kriya**: Sakarmak (with object) vs Akarmak (without object)
- **Bhav Vachak Sangya endings**: -ta, -pan, -i, -tva (Sundarta, Bachpan, Garmi)
- **Test for Visheshan**: Ask "Kaisa/Kitna/Kaun sa?" before the noun