The topic of Word Classes, also known as Parts of Speech, plays a significant role in the English section of the NDA and CDS exams. Understanding Word Classes is fundamental to mastering the structure and meaning of sentences. Questions from this topic test a candidate’s grasp of the essential building blocks of language, making it a vital area of study for these competitive exams.
Why Word Classes Matter?
Word Classes refer to the categories into which words are grouped based on their function in a sentence. These categories include:
- Nouns: Names of people, places, or things.
- Pronouns: Words that replace nouns.
- Verbs: Words that express actions or states.
- Adjectives: Words that describe nouns.
- Adverbs: Words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words.
- Conjunctions: Words that link clauses or sentences.
- Interjections: Words that express emotion.
Knowledge of these parts of speech is crucial for correctly interpreting and forming sentences, which is tested in the NDA and CDS exams through direct questions or embedded in comprehension passages, sentence completion, and error spotting sections.
Directions: Each of the following sentences has a word or phrase in bold. Read the sentences carefully and find which word class the bold word belongs to. Indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Q) Don’t worry, the dentist’s office isn’t scary.
(a)Adjective
(b) Adverb
(c) Preposition
(d) Interjection
Ans. (a)
Q) We buy our stamps at the post office.
(a)Verb
(b) Noun
(c) Adverb
(d) Pronoun
Ans. (b)
Q) The dog had to stay outside the house.
(a)Interjection
(b) Preposition
(c) Conjunction
(d) Noun
Ans. (b)
Q) After skipping dinner, I was hungry.
(a)Adjective
(b) Adverb
(c) Preposition
(d) Interjection
Ans. (a)
Q) The car moved slowly around the track.
(a)Verb
(b) Noun
(c) Adverb
(d) Pronoun
Ans. (c)
For more questions, check out NDA-CDS-AFCAT 1 2025 Exam English Live – Word Classes – Class 1
How Word Classes Appear in NDA & CDS Exams
- Identifying Parts of Speech or Word Classes: Candidates are provided with sentences with underlined words and they need to identify the parts of speech the underlined words belong to.
- Sentence Structure and Error Spotting: Candidates are often asked to spot errors in sentences, where incorrect usage of word classes is a common mistake. For example, using an adjective in place of an adverb or mixing up nouns and pronouns.
- Sentence Completion: This involves filling in the blanks with the correct word form. A strong understanding of word classes helps in identifying whether the blank requires a noun, verb, adjective, etc., based on sentence structure and context.
- Cloze Tests: These tests assess the candidate’s ability to understand the flow of a passage, where knowing the role of each word class helps in choosing the correct word.
- Vocabulary Questions: Questions on synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and phrases also hinge on knowing the word’s function in a sentence, as they often include questions that test subtle differences between similar words from different word classes.
How to Master Word Classes for NDA & CDS Exams?
- Understand Basic Grammar Rules: Mastering basic grammar rules related to each word class is the first step. Knowing how each part of speech functions within a sentence ensures a better understanding of sentence construction.
- Practice Regularly: The best way to master word classes is through consistent practice with mock questions, quizzes, and sample papers.
- Focus on Common Errors: Pay attention to common mistakes, such as mixing up adjectives and adverbs or using the wrong verb tense. These often appear in error-spotting and sentence completion questions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering Word Classes is an essential skill for candidates appearing for the NDA and CDS 1 2025 exams. A strong grasp of these basic grammar rules will help candidates tackle various types of questions, from sentence completion to error spotting, and ultimately improve their overall performance in the English section. Familiarity with word classes will provide a solid foundation for answering both direct and complex questions effectively.
