General Hindi and English Language
What this domain tests
Hindi: संधि, समास, उपसर्ग-प्रत्यय, तत्सम-तद्भव, पर्यायवाची, विलोम, मुहावरे-लोकोक्ति, वर्तनी एवं वाक्य शुद्धि, कारक और वाच्य. English: grammar (subject-verb agreement, tense, articles, prepositions), vocabulary, idioms, error spotting, cloze and comprehension.
Hindi rules worth memorising
- संधि: स्वर संधि के तीन भेद - दीर्घ (विद्या + आलय = विद्यालय), गुण (महा + उत्सव = महोत्सव), वृद्धि (एक + एक = एकैक).
- समास: तत्पुरुष में उत्तर पद प्रधान (राजपुत्र = राजा का पुत्र); बहुव्रीहि में कोई भी पद प्रधान नहीं, अर्थ तीसरा होता है (चतुर्भुज = चार भुजाओं वाला)।
- मुहावरा अर्थ सहित वाक्य में प्रयुक्त होता है; लोकोक्ति पूर्ण वाक्य है और कहावत कहलाती है।
English rules worth memorising
- 'One of + plural noun + singular verb': One of the boys was absent.
- Neither/either, each, everyone take singular verbs; 'a number of' takes plural, 'the number of' takes singular.
- Idioms are tested literally: 'to bell the cat' = to take the first risk, not to ring a bell.
Worked example
Spot the error: "Each of the students have submitted the form." Reasoning: 'each' is distributive and singular, so the verb must be singular. Correct: "Each of the students has submitted the form."
Traps that cost marks
Mixing तत्सम with तद्भव (अग्नि is तत्सम, आग तद्भव). Choosing a synonym that fits a different context. In English, ignoring prepositions after verbs (comprise of, discuss about, married with). Comprehension answers must come from the passage, not from general knowledge.