Parts of Speech (Shabd Bhed)
Bihar TET — Language I (Hindi/Urdu/Bengali)
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. 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.
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!
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:
- Visheshan always comes before or relates to a Visheshya (the noun it qualifies).
- Kriya-visheshan modifies Kriya, not Sangya — this is the most common exam trap.
- Sarvanaam has no gender/number of its own; it takes the gender/number of the noun it replaces.
- Sambandh-bodhak in Hindi are postpositions (come after noun), unlike English prepositions.
- Samuchchaya-bodhak connects equal grammatical units — two nouns, two clauses, etc.
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
Common Mistakes
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- Forgetting sub-types in MCQs
- Wrong: Marking any adjective as just "Visheshan" → Correct: Exam may ask specific type — Gunvachak, Sankhyavachak, etc.
- Mistaking Vismayadi-bodhak for other parts
- Wrong: "वाह" is an adverb → Correct: Exclamatory words expressing emotion are always Vismayadi-bodhak.
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!