In the competitive exams conducted by UPSC such as the NDA (National Defence Academy) and CDS (Combined Defence Services), a strong foundation in English is essential—not just to clear the written exam, but to stand out in the subsequent SSB interview. One of the most fundamental yet frequently tested topics in the English section is ‘Word Classes’, also known as Parts of Speech.
In the Word Classes Live MCQ Class 1, candidates were introduced to MCQs that tested their understanding of how words function in different grammatical contexts, focusing on nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, pronouns, prepositions, interjections, and articles. This topic plays a crucial role in the development of grammatical accuracy and linguistic confidence.
Directions: Each of the following sentences has a word or phrase underlined. Read the sentences carefully and find which word class the underlined word belongs to. Indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Q) I was pleasantly surprised when she showed up at the door unannounced.
a) adverb
b) adjective
c) verb
d) conjunction
Ans. (a)
Q) Everybody hates him for his repulsive looks.
a) Verb
b) Adjective
c) Adverb
d) Noun
Ans. (b)
Q) I think the latter part of the film is more interesting than the former part.
a) Adverb
b) Adjective
c) Conjunction
d) Preposition
Ans. (b)
Q) It is more expensive to travel on Friday, so I will leave on Thursday evening.
a) Adverb
b) Adjective
c) Preposition
d) Conjunction
Ans. (a)
Q) In my opinion, she should have resigned earlier.
a) Adverb
b) Conjunction
c) Preposition
d) Adjective
Ans. (a)
For more questions, check out NDA & CDS 2 2025 Exam English Live – Word Classes – MCQ Class 1
Why ‘Word Classes’ Is a Core Topic
- Forms the Base of English Grammar:
Understanding word classes is essential for sentence construction. Every sentence is built using different parts of speech—knowing how and where to use them ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in communication. - Improves Sentence Interpretation & Error Spotting:
Many questions in the NDA & CDS exams involve spotting errors, sentence improvement, and sentence completion. These require a candidate to quickly identify the grammatical function of a word within a sentence. For instance, recognizing whether “fast” is used as an adjective or adverb can change the entire interpretation of a sentence. - Enhances Vocabulary Usage:
Word classes also help aspirants understand the flexibility of words. For example, the word “run” can be a verb (“I run daily”), a noun (“Go for a run”), or even part of a phrasal verb. Questions in the MCQ class tested such variations and helped candidates become more adept at identifying the correct usage based on context. - Crucial for Cloze Test & Comprehension:
Word classes are frequently embedded in cloze test passages. If a candidate cannot identify whether a blank requires a verb or a noun, they are likely to choose the wrong word. Mastery over word classes leads to more logical deduction and context-based accuracy in such questions.
What Was Covered in Word Classes Live MCQ Class 1
During the session, the focus was on identifying parts of speech of words based on their position in the sentence, surrounding words, and intended meaning. Some examples included:
- Differentiating between gerunds and participles
- Identifying function-shift words (e.g., present as noun/verb/adjective)
- Recognizing compound nouns or phrasal verbs
- Spotting common traps in error spotting where the part of speech is misused
The exercises not only refreshed candidates’ theoretical understanding but also pushed them to apply their knowledge in real-time, exam-like scenarios.
Conclusion
The ‘Word Classes’ topic lays the foundation for grammatical accuracy, vocabulary usage, and sentence structure understanding, all of which are indispensable for success in the English section of NDA & CDS 2 2025 Exams. The Word Classes Live MCQ Class 1 served as an essential refresher and practice session, helping candidates revise the core grammatical elements and test their real-time application skills. Aspirants who master this topic are more confident in tackling a wide range of English questions, making it a must-revise area in the final leg of their preparation.