Grammar and applied language usage (Vyakaran)
व्याकरण: what is tested
This section is rule-based and therefore the easiest to score in. Recurring items: संधि और संधि-विच्छेद, समास, उपसर्ग-प्रत्यय, शब्द-सिद्धि, कारक, वाच्य, काल, वाक्य-भेद and शुद्ध-अशुद्ध वाक्य.
Core rules
- स्वर संधि: अ/आ + इ/ई → ए; अ/आ + उ/ऊ → ओ; अ/आ + ए/ऐ → ऐ. Identify the two vowels before naming the संधि.
- व्यंजन संधि: when the first word ends in a consonant, the change usually follows the point of articulation (उत् + हार = उद्धार).
- समास: count the words in the विग्रह. 'चार राहों का समूह' = द्विगु (number first). 'राजा का पुत्र' = तत्पुरुष. 'नीला कमल' = कर्मधारय. When the meaning points to someone other than the words themselves, it is बहुव्रीहि ('दशानन' = रावण).
- मुहावरा answers need a full sentence in which the idiom carries its figurative sense.
Worked example
'विद्यार्थी' का संधि-विच्छेद कीजिए। Step 1: विद्या + अर्थी. Step 2: final आ + initial अ. Step 3: आ + अ = आ, which is दीर्घ स्वर संधि. Answer: विद्या + अर्थी = विद्यार्थी, दीर्घ संधि.
Traps
Writing a विग्रह without naming the समास; confusing द्विगु with बहुव्रीहि; explaining a मुहावरा literally; guessing an उपसर्ग where the word actually carries a प्रत्यय; changing the tense while doing वाच्य परिवर्तन.