Vyakaran (व्याकरण) — Hindi Grammar

Overview

Vyakaran (व्याकरण) forms the backbone of the Hindi language section in SSC GD. This topic tests your understanding of four fundamental grammatical categories: gender (लिंग), number (वचन), case (कारक), and tense (काल). Together, these elements determine how words change form and how sentences are correctly structured in Hindi.

In the exam, you'll encounter questions that ask you to identify the correct grammatical form of a word, spot errors in sentences, or choose the appropriate word based on gender, number, case, or tense. Mastery of vyakaran is essential not just for direct grammar questions but also for sentence correction (वाक्य शुद्धि), comprehension, and translation tasks.

Unlike English, Hindi has a more intricate system of gender agreement and case markers. Every noun has an inherent gender, and adjectives, verbs, and pronouns must agree with it. Understanding these patterns will help you avoid common mistakes and score confidently in this section.

Key Concepts

• **Ling (लिंग) — Gender**: Every Hindi noun is either masculine (पुल्लिंग) or feminine (स्त्रीलिंग). Gender affects verb endings, adjectives, and pronoun forms. For example, "लड़का अच्छा है" (masculine) vs "लड़की अच्छी है" (feminine).

• **Vachan (वचन) — Number**: Hindi has two numbers — singular (एकवचन) and plural (बहुवचन). Plural forms often change the ending of nouns: "लड़का" becomes "लड़के", "किताब" becomes "किताबें". Verb and adjective forms also change accordingly.

• **Karak (कारक) — Case**: Karak shows the relationship between a noun and other words in the sentence. Hindi has eight karaks: कर्ता (nominative), कर्म (accusative), करण (instrumental), सम्प्रदान (dative), अपादान (ablative), सम्बन्ध (genitive), अधिकरण (locative), and सम्बोधन (vocative). Each uses specific postpositions (विभक्ति) like ने, को, से, के लिए, etc.

• **Kal (काल) — Tense**: Hindi verbs conjugate according to three main tenses: भूतकाल (past), वर्तमान काल (present), and भविष्यत काल (future). Each tense has further subdivisions like simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms.

• **Agreement Rules**: In Hindi, the verb must agree with the subject in gender and number. When the postposition "ने" is used (in past tense), the verb agrees with the object instead of the subject.

• **Postpositions (विभक्ति चिह्न)**: These are markers attached to nouns to indicate case relationships — ने, को, से, में, पर, का/की/के, etc. Their correct usage is crucial for sentence formation.

• **Gender Recognition**: Certain endings help identify gender — words ending in आ are usually masculine (लड़का, कमरा), while words ending in ई, इया are usually feminine (लड़की, कुर्सी, चिड़िया). However, exceptions exist (माता, पिता).

• **Verb Root and Conjugation**: Hindi verbs have a root form (धातु) like "जा" (go), "खा" (eat), "पढ़" (read). From this root, various tenses and forms are created by adding appropriate suffixes.

Formulas / Key Facts

**Gender (लिंग) Indicators**:

• Masculine endings: आ, पा, वा (घोड़ा, पंखा, लड़का)
• Feminine endings: ई, इया, नी, आनी (रोटी, चिड़िया, मोरनी, देवरानी)
• Exception words: पानी, दही, घी are masculine; छाया, माया are feminine

**Number (वचन) Conversion Rules**:

• Masculine आ → े: लड़का → लड़के, कमरा → कमरे
• Feminine add एँ or याँ: लड़की → लड़कियाँ, किताब → किताबें, रोटी → रोटियाँ
• Oblique plural masculine आ → ओं: लड़कों को, घोड़ों पर

**Eight Karaks (कारक) and their Postpositions**: 1. कर्ता (subject): ने (in perfective past only) 2. कर्म (object): को 3. करण (instrument): से, द्वारा 4. सम्प्रदान (recipient): को, के लिए 5. अपादान (separation): से (अलग होना) 6. सम्बन्ध (possession): का, की, के 7. अधिकरण (location): में, पर 8. सम्बोधन (address): हे!, अरे!

**Tense (काल) Basic Forms**:

• Present: मैं जाता हूँ, वह जाती है (regular action)
• Past: मैं गया, उसने खाया (completed action)
• Future: मैं जाऊँगा, वह आएगी (will happen)

**Agreement Rule with ने**: राम ने रोटी खाई (verb agrees with रोटी, not राम)

Worked Examples

**Example 1: Gender and Number Agreement**

Q: Choose the correct form: "सुन्दर ____ बगीचे में खेल रही है।"

• (a) लड़का
• (b) लड़की
• (c) बच्चे
• (d) औरत

**Solution**: The verb "खेल रही है" uses "रही" which is feminine singular. We need a feminine singular noun. "लड़की" (option b) is feminine singular. "लड़का" is masculine, "बच्चे" is plural, "औरत" would work grammatically but "लड़की" fits better with "खेल रही".

**Answer**: (b) लड़की

**Example 2: Karak (Case) Identification**

Q: Identify the karak in: "राम ने रावण को बाण से मारा।"

**Solution**: Breaking down each karak:

• राम ने — कर्ता कारक (subject with ने postposition)
• रावण को — कर्म कारक (object with को postposition)
• बाण से — करण कारक (instrument with से postposition)

**Answer**: कर्ता, कर्म, and करण karak are present.

**Example 3: Tense Conversion**

Q: Convert to past tense: "वह स्कूल जाता है।"

**Solution**:

• Present: वह स्कूल जाता है (He goes to school)
• Past simple: वह स्कूल गया (He went to school)
• Past habitual: वह स्कूल जाता था (He used to go to school)

Since "जाता है" indicates habitual action, the correct past form is "वह स्कूल जाता था" for past habitual or "वह स्कूल गया" for simple past.

**Answer**: वह स्कूल गया (simple past) or वह स्कूल जाता था (past habitual)

Common Mistakes

**Mistake 1**: Using masculine verb forms with feminine subjects.

• Wrong: लड़की खाना खाया।
• Fix: Remember the subject's gender. Correct form is "लड़की खाना खाई" (feminine ending ई).

**Mistake 2**: Forgetting ने-construction agreement in past tense.

• Wrong: लड़की ने किताब पढ़ा।
• Fix: With ने, verb agrees with object (किताब is feminine). Correct: "लड़की ने किताब पढ़ी।"

**Mistake 3**: Incorrect plural formation for feminine words ending in long ई.

• Wrong: लड़की → लड़कीएँ
• Fix: Words ending in long ई change to इयाँ. Correct: "लड़की → लड़कियाँ."

**Mistake 4**: Confusing करण (से meaning "by/with") and अपादान (से meaning "from").

• Wrong: Treating all से as the same karak.
• Fix: Context matters. "चाकू से काटा" is करण (instrument). "घर से आया" is अपादान (starting point).

**Mistake 5**: Using को with every object regardless of animacy.

• Wrong: मैं रोटी को खाता हूँ।
• Fix: Inanimate objects don't require को in simple sentences. Correct: "मैं रोटी खाता हूँ." Use को for animate/specific/definite objects: "मैं राम को बुलाता हूँ."

Quick Reference

• **Gender Rule**: आ-ending nouns usually masculine; ई-ending usually feminine. Always verify irregular nouns.
• **Plural Formation**: Masculine आ → े; Feminine add एँ or याँ.
• **ने Construction**: In past tense with ने, verb agrees with object, not subject.
• **Eight Karaks**: कर्ता (ने), कर्म (को), करण (से), सम्प्रदान (के लिए), अपादान (से), सम्बन्ध (का/की/के), अधिकरण (में/पर), सम्बोधन (हे/अरे).
• **Tense Markers**: ता/ती/ते (present/habitual), आ/ई/ए (past simple), गा/गी/गे (future).
• **Agreement Hierarchy**: Subject-verb agreement in gender and number is mandatory unless ने intervenes in past tense.