Punjabi Language (Compulsory)
What this domain tests
This compulsory section tests Gurmukhi script, grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and comprehension. Accuracy in vowel signs and verb agreement decides most marks.
Script and sound
Gurmukhi has 35 primary consonants (ਪੈਂਤੀ), plus nukta forms such as ਸ਼, ਖ਼, ਗ਼, ਜ਼, ਫ਼, ਲ਼. The ten vowel signs are ਮੁਕਤਾ, ਕੰਨਾ (ਾ), ਸਿਹਾਰੀ (ਿ), ਬਿਹਾਰੀ (ੀ), ਔਂਕੜ (ੁ), ਦੁਲੈਂਕੜ (ੂ), ਲਾਂ (ੇ), ਦੁਲਾਵਾਂ (ੈ), ਹੋੜਾ (ੋ), and ਕਨੌੜਾ (ੌ). A sihari is written before its consonant but sounded after it: ਸਿੱਖ = sikkh, not sikkh with the vowel first.
Grammar
Punjabi nouns have two genders and two numbers. Verbs agree in gender and number. In the transitive perfective, the verb often agrees with the object: ਮੈਂ ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਧੀ (ਰੋਟੀ is feminine) but ਮੈਂ ਫਲ ਖਾਧਾ (ਫਲ is masculine). Punjabi has eight ਕਾਰਕ and three main tenses.
Worked example
Choose the correct form: ਉਹ ਸਕੂਲ ___ ਹੈ (ਜਾਂਦਾ/ਜਾਂਦੀ). If ਉਹ refers to a male, use ਜਾਂਦਾ; if female, ਜਾਂਦੀ. If the reference is honorific plural, use ਜਾਂਦੇ. The decision depends on the gender and respect level of the subject, not on the object.
Traps that cost marks
- Writing ਸਿਹਾਰੀ after the consonant instead of before it.
- Ignoring nukta: ਸ and ਸ਼ are different letters.
- Confusing ਹੋੜਾ (ੋ) with ਕਨੌੜਾ (ੌ).
- Using a singular verb with honorific ਤੁਸੀਂ.
Exam focus
Read aloud mentally; Gurmukhi spelling usually follows sound.