Generic Tips (from Weekly Class)

Question 1

Verbs have tense, number, (1st/2nd/3rd person), but no _____ ?

Answer 1

Gender

Question 2

Nouns have gender, number, and case. But no _____ ?

Answer 2

Tense

Question 3

In Samskrita pose, which part of speech is placed last in a sentence?

Answer 3

Verb

Typical structure of a sentence is Subject - Object - Verb.

Question 4

Do you need to remember the English names of cases (विभक्ति) ?

Answer 4

Familiarize yourself with the English names of cases (विभक्ति). The English nomenclature is often used in the examination.

Question 5

Prathama Vibhakti differentiation between बहुवचन forms of हरि: (पुंलिङ्ग) (Pg 196 1.2) and गौरी (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) (Pg 202 2.3) words

Answer 5

The last consonant is changed to a half letter for गौरी-like (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) words. Gaurya, Nadya whereas in the words similar to Hari, the last consonant remains whole.

Question 6

How to answer प्रहेलिका questions in the examination?

Answer 6

For examinations, when asked to write the meanings of a certain प्रहेलिका (riddle), write all meanings as listed in the book to score complete marks for the question.

Question 7

Tip to remember changing forms of objects to 2nd Vibhakti (Accustive Case) in a sentence

Answer 7

When forming declensions for 2nd Vibhakti, the object is to be taken into consideration and not the subject of the sentence.

Question 8

What is ‘ऽ’ - Avaghra character ?

Answer 8

ऽ - Avaghra character is a form of sandhi (to be learnt later) (Examples: कोऽपि, कॊऽयं). The corresponding sound for this character is ‘aha’.

Question 9

Distinct features of cases (विभक्ति) in Samskrita

Answer 9

Unlike some other languages (especially English), prepositions are not separate words, but attached to words and hence the change in forms of words for the 7 cases. This features enables us to do away with the ‘Subject - Verb - Object’ structure of the sentence required in other languages. One can arrange the words in any order in a sentence without losing its meaning.

Question 10

When does Natvam (णत्वम्) take place, i.e. when do you use ‘ण’ instead of ‘न’ ?

[Not in syllabus, but useful to know when to apply]

Answer 10

र / ष / ऋ - also known as निमित्तम् (Cause/reason for Natvam to occur)

The appearance of any of the above निमित्तम् consonants in a word followed (not necessarily immediately) by the ‘न’ consonant leads to णत्वम्. Rules are as follows:

1. निमित्तम् is immediately followed by ‘‘न’.
   Example: कृष्ण: - क् + र् + ष् + न + अ
2. Intervening letters between the निमित्तम् and ‘न’ are:
   a. vowels (अ, आ, इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ए, ऐ, ओ, औ, ऋ, )
   b. ह य व
   c. कवर्ग: consonants (क ख ग घ ङ्)
   d. पवर्ग: consonants (प फ ब भ म)
   Example: ब्रह्मण: ब् + र् + अ + ह् + म् + अ + न + अ

Note: If any consonant outside of the कवर्ग: / पवर्ग: exists between the निमित्तम् and ‘न’ consonant, णत्वम् will not occur.
E.g: वार्तालापेन: व् + आ + र् + त् + आ + ल् + आ +प् + ए + न् + अ