Grammar and usage (morphology, syntax, parts of speech)
What the grammar section tests
ASSEB HSLC Khasi grammar tests parts of speech, sentence structure, agreement, tense and aspect, plural formation, question forms, and correct usage. Khasi grammar differs from English in important ways, so translating English patterns mechanically causes errors.
Core rules
- Articles and number: u is singular masculine, ka singular feminine, and ki plural. Khasi commonly marks plurality with ki rather than a plural suffix on the noun.
- Verbs: Khasi verbs generally do not change for person or number. Tense and aspect are shown by particles: la for past, yn for future, dang for progressive.
- Negation and questions: ym negates; hato often introduces a yes/no question.
- Classifiers: numeral classifiers depend on the noun’s shape or class, for example tylli and kynta. Learn the classifier with the noun rather than inventing one.
- Word order: Khasi commonly follows subject–verb–object order. Do not drop the subject pronoun or the tense particle.
Worked example
Parse U khun u la leit sha skul mynhynnin (The son went to school yesterday). U before khun marks the singular masculine noun; the second u is the subject pronoun; la marks past; leit is the verb; sha means to; skul is school; mynhynnin is yesterday. The reasoning shows why the sentence needs both the article and the pronoun, and why la cannot be omitted.
Traps that cost marks
Do not use ka for a male person or u for a female person. Do not add an English-style plural ending after ki. Do not translate ‘is going’ with a bare verb; use dang. Do not omit ym in negative answers. Do not assume every English preposition has one fixed Khasi equivalent.
Exam habit
When correcting a sentence, label each word’s job first: article, pronoun, verb, particle, noun, preposition. Most errors become visible at that stage.