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TNPSC General English - A Deep Dive into Parts of Speech

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Parts of Speech, the foundational topic in the TNPSC General English syllabus. Understanding these building blocks is crucial for mastering grammar, which accounts for 25 questions in the exam.

Learning Patterns & Strategies​

  • Grammar First: Grammar is the most important section with 25 questions. Start your preparation here to build a strong foundation. இலக்கணப் பகுதிக்கு முதலில் முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுங்கள்.
  • Master the Basics: Parts of Speech are the "fundamental building blocks" of the English language. If you understand them well, other topics like Tenses, Voice, and Sentence Patterns will become easier. (ஆங்கில மொழியின் அடிப்படைக் கட்டுமானத் தொகுதிகள் Parts of Speech தான். இதை நன்கு புரிந்து கொண்டால், மற்ற தலைப்புகள் எளிதாகிவிடும்.)
  • Focus on Function: Learn what each part of speech does in a sentence. For example, a noun names something, a verb shows an action, and an adjective describes a noun.
  • Practice Daily: Spend time every day identifying parts of speech in sentences from newspapers or books. This will improve your accuracy and speed. (தினசரி பயிற்சி செய்வது அவசியம்.)
  • Pay Attention to Key Areas: Topics like Nominalization (changing a word into a noun), Quantifiers, and the correct Order of Adjectives are frequently tested. இந்த தலைப்புகளில் சிறப்பு கவனம் செலுத்துங்கள்.

Key Topics Explained: The Eight Parts of Speech​

Parts of Speech are categories of words based on their function in a sentence. There are eight main parts of speech.

1. Noun (பெயர்ச்சொல்)​

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. It is the fundamental building block of a language.

A Noun is a naming word. It can be tangible (தொட்டு உணரக்கூடியவை) like a book or car, or intangible (தொட்டு உணர முடியாதவை) like honesty or freedom.

Types of Nouns​

A Proper Noun is the specific, unique name of a person, place, organization, or thing.

Rules:

  1. It always begins with a capital letter.
  2. It refers to a unique entity.
  3. It usually does not have a plural form.
  • People: John, Mary, Mahatma Gandhi
  • Places: Chennai, India, Mount Everest
  • Organizations: United Nations, Google
  • Things: The Bible, Mona Lisa
  • Days/Months: Monday, January
  • Historical Events: World War II

2. Pronoun (பிரதிப்பெயர்ச்சொல்)​

A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun to avoid repetition. (ஒரு பெயர்ச்சொல்லுக்குப் பதிலாகப் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் சொல்.)

  • Example: Ram is a good boy. He is my student. (Here, He is the pronoun for Ram.)
TypeFunctionExamples
PersonalRefers to a person/thingI, we, you, he, she, it, they
PossessiveShows ownershipmine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs
DemonstrativePoints to specific thingsthis, that, these, those
ReflexiveRefers back to the subjectmyself, yourself, himself, itself
RelativeConnects a clause to a nounwho, whom, which, that, whose
InterrogativeUsed to ask questionswho, what, which, whose

3. Verb (வினைச்சொல்)​

A verb is a word that describes an action, an event, or a state of being.

Three main categories:

  1. Action Verbs: Show physical or mental action.
    • Examples: run, walk, think, read, write
  2. State of Being Verbs (Linking Verbs): Connect the subject to a noun or adjective that describes it. (ஒருவரின் நிலையைக் குறிக்கிறது.)
    • Examples: is, am, are, was, were, become, seem
    • Sentence: He is a doctor. She became a singer.
  3. Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs): Help the main verb to form tenses, moods, or voices.
    • Examples: be, do, have, will, shall, can, may

4. Adjective (உரிச்சொல்)​

An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. It provides more information about its quality, size, shape, color, etc. (பெயர்ச்சொல்லை விவரிக்கும் சொல்.)

  • Example: She is a beautiful woman. He has a big house.
Order of Adjectives (OSASCOMP)

When using multiple adjectives before a noun, they should follow a specific order: Opinion - Size - Age - Shape - Color - Origin - Material - Purpose

  • Example: a beautiful (O) small (S) antique (A) brown (C) German (O) wooden (M) clock (Noun).

5. Adverb (வினையுரிச்சொல்)​

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It often answers questions like How?, When?, Where?, or How often? (ஒரு வினைச்சொல், உரிச்சொல் அல்லது மற்றொரு வினையுரிச்சொல்லை விவரிக்கும் சொல்.)

  • Example: He walks slowly. (modifies the verb walks)
  • Example: She is very beautiful. (modifies the adjective beautiful)
  • Example: He works extremely hard. (modifies the adverb hard)
Adverb TypeQuestion AnsweredExamples
MannerHow?slowly, carefully, fast, hard
TimeWhen?yesterday, now, soon, then
PlaceWhere?here, there, everywhere
FrequencyHow often?always, often, never, daily
DegreeTo what extent?very, too, extremely, fully

6. Preposition (முன்னிடைச்சொல்)​

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. It usually indicates position, direction, or time.

  • Example: The cat is under the table. (Position)
  • Example: He is going to the school. (Direction)
  • Example: The meeting is at 5 PM. (Time)

7. Conjunction (இணைப்புச் சொல்)​

A conjunction is a word used to connect words, phrases, or clauses.

Connects two independent and equally important clauses. Remember FANBOYS.

  • For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
  • Example: She went to the market, and she bought vegetables.

8. Interjection (வியப்பிடைச்சொல்)​

An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses a sudden, strong emotion or feeling. It is often followed by an exclamation mark (!). (திடீர் உணர்ச்சிகளை வெளிப்படுத்தும் சொல்.)

  • Joy: Wow!, Hurray!
  • Sorrow: Alas!
  • Surprise: Oh!, What!
  • Greeting: Hello!

Determiners and Articles​

Determiners are words that are placed before a noun to introduce it and specify its quantity or reference. Articles (a, an, the) are the most common type of determiners.

Articles (A, An, The)​

A and An (Indefinite Articles): Used for non-specific, singular countable nouns.

  • Use a before words beginning with a consonant sound.
    • Examples: a book, a car, a University (sounds like 'Yuniversity'), a European
  • Use an before words beginning with a vowel sound.
    • Examples: an apple, an elephant, an hour (h is silent), an honest man

The (Definite Article): Used for specific nouns.

  • When talking about a particular person/thing: The book on the table is mine.
  • For unique things: the Sun, the Earth, the Sky
  • For rivers, oceans, mountain ranges: the Ganga, the Pacific Ocean, the Himalayas
  • When mentioning something for the second time: I bought a book. The book is interesting.

Quantifiers​

Quantifiers are determiners that indicate the quantity or amount of a noun.

Used with...Quantifier Examples
Countable Nounsmany, a few, few, several
Uncountable Nounsmuch, a little, little, a bit of
Both Countable & Uncountablesome, any, all, a lot of, plenty of

Practice Questions​

Let's test your understanding with some examples from the exam pattern.

1. Identify the part of speech for the underlined word:

  • The students listened carefully to the teacher.

    • (a) Adjective
    • (b) Noun
    • (c) Adverb
    • (d) Verb
    • Explanation: carefully describes how the students listened (verb), so it is an adverb.

  • Wow! What a beautiful painting.

    • (a) Conjunction
    • (b) Noun
    • (c) Interjection
    • (d) Pronoun
    • Explanation: Wow! expresses a sudden feeling of admiration.

2. Choose the correct conjunction:

  • ______ he was honest, he was punished.
    • (a) Because
    • (b) Though
    • (c) So
    • (d) And
    • Explanation: The sentence shows a contrast between being honest and being punished. Though is used to show contrast.

3. Form a noun from the given word:

  • Change the verb decide into a noun.
    • Answer: decision