Parts of Speech and Sentence Structure
Parts of Speech and Sentence Structure
Part-I is the qualifying paper. It carries 30 questions, of which 15 are English, and you only need 30 per cent overall to clear it. The marks do not enter the merit list, so the aim here is safe, quick accuracy on basics — not depth. This topic covers the base every other question rests on.
The Eight Parts of Speech
| Part of speech | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Names a person, place or thing | Rahul, Patna, book |
| Pronoun | Replaces a noun | he, she, it, they |
| Verb | Shows action or state | runs, is, wrote |
| Adjective | Describes a noun | tall, blue, three |
| Adverb | Describes a verb or adjective | quickly, very, yesterday |
| Preposition | Shows relation | in, on, at, between |
| Conjunction | Joins words or clauses | and, but, because |
| Interjection | Shows sudden feeling | Oh!, Alas! |
One word can belong to more than one class depending on how it is used. In He runs fast, fast is an adverb; in a fast train, it is an adjective. So decide by the work the word does in that sentence, not by the word alone.
✗ The word 'fast' is always an adverb | ✓ It is an adverb in 'he runs fast' but an adjective in 'a fast train'
Sentence Structure
Every sentence has two parts: the subject, which tells who or what, and the predicate, which tells what is said about the subject. In The teacher wrote on the board, the teacher is the subject and the rest is the predicate.
| Type | Ends with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Assertive | full stop | She is a teacher. |
| Interrogative | question mark | Is she a teacher? |
| Imperative | full stop | Close the door. |
| Exclamatory | exclamation mark | What a day! |
In an imperative sentence the subject you is understood and not written — Close the door really means (You) close the door. That hidden subject is a common question.
Simple, Compound and Complex
- Simple — one clause. He came home.
- Compound — two independent clauses joined by and, but, or, so. He came home and slept.
- Complex — one main clause with a dependent clause. He came home because he was tired.
The quick test is the joining word. And, but, or, so give a compound sentence; because, although, if, when, that, who give a complex one.
पहचान का सरल तरीका: जोड़ने वाला शब्द देखिए — and, but, so से compound; because, if, when से complex वाक्य।
TRE pointer: This is a qualifying paper, so questions stay at school level and the same basics repeat. Learn the eight parts of speech with one example each and the joining-word test for compound against complex. Remember the hidden you in imperative sentences. With five options, a wrong answer costs −1/3 and a blank costs the same, but marking option E costs nothing — so never leave a bubble empty.
60-Second Recap
- There are eight parts of speech; a word's class depends on its use in the sentence.
- Every sentence has a subject and a predicate.
- In an imperative sentence the subject 'you' is understood, not written.
- Simple has one clause; compound has two independent clauses.
- Complex has a main clause plus a dependent clause.
- And, but, so signal compound; because, if, when signal complex.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to score in Part-I?
Thirty per cent of the paper, which is qualifying only. The marks of Part-I do not count towards the merit list, so the goal is simply to clear the bar safely rather than to maximise the score. That is why this material stays at basic level.
Can the same word be two different parts of speech?
Yes. The class depends on the work the word does in that particular sentence. Fast is an adverb in he runs fast and an adjective in a fast train. Always look at the function in the sentence rather than trying to fix one label to a word.
How do I tell a compound sentence from a complex one?
Look at the joining word. And, but, or and so join two independent clauses and give a compound sentence. Because, although, if, when, that and who introduce a dependent clause and give a complex sentence. The joining word alone settles most questions.
What is the subject of an imperative sentence?
The pronoun you, which is understood but not written. Close the door actually means you close the door. This hidden subject is asked directly, so it is worth remembering that imperative sentences are not subjectless.