Sounds, Words and Pad
Sounds, Words and Pad
Part-I is a qualifying paper — thirty questions, fifteen of them in Hindi, and only thirty percent is needed to pass. The marks do not count towards the merit list, so what is wanted here is basic recognition and speed rather than depth. This topic begins from that foundation.
Varn
The smallest unit of language is the varn, which cannot be broken down further. The qualifying paper asks only for the count and a broad classification.
| Class | Count | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Vowels | 11 | अ, आ, इ, ई, उ, ऊ |
| Consonants | 33 | क, ख, ग, च, छ |
| Standard total | 44 | 11 + 33 |
Vowels are those sounded without the help of any other letter, and consonants those sounded with the help of a vowel. That simple definition is enough for the qualifying paper.
✗ A consonant is sounded independently | ✓ Vowels are independent; a consonant needs the support of a vowel
Shabd
Two or more varn together make a shabd, a word with a meaning. Two classifications of the word are asked at this level.
| Basis | Class | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Tatsam | अग्नि, हस्त, दुग्ध |
| Origin | Tadbhav | आग, हाथ, दूध |
| Origin | Deshaj | लोटा, खिड़की |
| Origin | Videshi | स्कूल, कलम, कुर्सी |
| Formation | Rudh | नाक, घर |
| Formation | Yaugik | विद्यालय, पाठशाला |
Learn tatsam and tadbhav in pairs, never separately — अग्नि gives आग, हस्त gives हाथ, दुग्ध gives दूध. If the pair is held, the question is answered whichever way round it is asked.
Pad
When a word is used inside a sentence it becomes a pad. That is the whole difference between shabd and pad, and nothing beyond it is asked here. राम on its own is a shabd; in राम पढ़ता है it is a pad, because it has become part of a sentence.
There are five kinds of pad — noun, pronoun, adjective, verb and indeclinable.
आसान अंतर: शब्दकोश में शब्द होते हैं, वाक्य में पद। शब्द वाक्य में आते ही पद बन जाता है — अर्हता पत्र के लिए यही काफ़ी है।
TRE pointer: This is a qualifying paper, so questions stay at school level and repeat every year. Eleven vowels, thirty-three consonants, forty-four in all and the difference between shabd and pad are two settled questions. Remember also that a blank bubble costs a third of a mark while option E costs nothing.
60-Second Recap
- A varn is the smallest unit of language and cannot be split further.
- There are 11 vowels, 33 consonants and 44 letters in the standard alphabet.
- A vowel is sounded independently; a consonant needs a vowel.
- By origin, words are tatsam, tadbhav, deshaj or videshi.
- By formation, words are rudh or yaugik.
- A word used inside a sentence is called a pad.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks are needed in Part-I?
Thirty percent of the paper, and it is only qualifying. Its marks are not added to the merit list, so the preparation should aim at crossing the line safely rather than at the maximum score. That is why this material is kept at a basic level.
What is the difference between shabd and pad?
A shabd is a meaningful unit on its own, such as राम as it appears in a dictionary. When that same word is used inside a sentence it becomes a pad. In राम पढ़ता है, राम is a pad because it has become part of a sentence.
What separates a vowel from a consonant?
A vowel is sounded without the help of any other letter, as अ, आ and इ. A consonant can be sounded only with the help of a vowel. Hindi is taken to have eleven vowels and thirty-three consonants.
How should tatsam and tadbhav be learnt?
In pairs rather than separately — अग्नि gives आग, हस्त gives हाथ, दुग्ध gives दूध, कर्ण gives कान. Once the pair is fixed, the answer comes at once whether the question asks for the tatsam form or the tadbhav one, and time is saved as well.