Kannada Grammar and Language Structure
Kannada grammar and language structure
This domain covers sandhi, samasa, vibhakti, kriya, linga-vachana, kaala and vakya types. The exam asks you to identify a category, split or join words, and correct errors in sentences.
Core rules
- Sandhi: look at the junction between two words. If a vowel meeting changes sound, name the sandhi by that change.
- Samasa: split the compound into a vigraha vakya; the relationship between the parts decides the samasa type.
- Vibhakti: identify the case suffix and the question it answers (who, whom, by whom, to whom, from where, whose).
- Kriya: match the verb to the subject in person, number and tense.
- Linga and vachana: check whether the noun is masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, and keep agreement.
- Vakya: a simple sentence has one finite verb; a compound sentence joins clauses with conjunctions; a complex sentence has a dependent clause.
Worked example
Word: 'ದೇವಾಲಯ' Question: 'ಸಂಧಿ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ, ಹೆಸರಿಸಿ.' Reasoning: split as ದೇವ + ಆಲಯ. The final ಅ of ದೇವ meets the initial ಆ of ಆಲಯ; ಅ + ಆ becomes ಆ. That is ಸವರ್ಣದೀರ್ಘ ಸಂಧಿ. Write: 'ದೇವ + ಆಲಯ = ದೇವಾಲಯ; ಸವರ್ಣದೀರ್ಘ ಸಂಧಿ.' If the question asked for samasa, you would give the vigraha 'ದೇವನ ಆಲಯ' instead.
Traps
- Mixing sandhi and samasa; they are different operations.
- Missing a hidden vowel at the junction.
- Applying English tense labels to Kannada kaala without checking the verb form.
- Forgetting plural agreement between subject and verb.
- Giving the vigraha without naming the samasa, or the reverse.