Vyakaran (Sandhi-Samas) Questions for IBPS RRB CLERK

Sandhi — Basics and Why It Matters

Sandhi means joining. When two sounds (varnas) come together, they change each other and form a new combined sound. This is called Sandhi. The reverse process — splitting the joined word back into its original parts — is called Sandhi Viched. Example: Vidya + Aalay = Vidyaalay. There are three main types of Sandhi in Hindi: Swar Sandhi (vowel + vowel), Vyanjan Sandhi (consonant involved), and Visarg Sandhi (visarg : involved).

• Swar Sandhi: Two vowels join. It has 5 subtypes — Deergha, Guna, Vriddhi, Yaan, Ayaadi.
• Deergha Sandhi: Same vowel + same vowel = long vowel. Ram + Aas = Ramaas (a+a=aa).
• Guna Sandhi: a/aa + i/ii = e; a/aa + u/uu = o; a/aa + ri = ar.
• Vriddhi Sandhi: a/aa + e/ai = ai; a/aa + o/au = au.
• Yaan Sandhi: i/ii/u/uu/ri before a different vowel changes to y/v/r. Example: ati + adhik = atyadhik.
• Visarg Sandhi: Word ending in : (visarg) joins next word — Nir + Aasha = Niraasha, Duh + Kha = Dukh.

Samas — Basics and Why It Matters

Samas means compression or compounding. When two or more words join to form one shorter word — and the middle connecting words (like ka, ke, ki, se, mein) are dropped — the result is a Samasik Shabd (compound word). The process of breaking it back is called Vigrah. There are 6 main types of Samas. IBPS RRB tests identification of type and vigrah most often.

• Avyayibhav Samas: First word is an avyay (indeclinable). The whole compound works as an adverb. Example: Yathashakti = Shakti ke anusar. Easy ID: starts with Yatha, Anu, Prati, Har.
• Tatpurush Samas: Second word is dominant (pradhan). Connecting karak vibhakti is dropped. Example: Rajputra = Raja ka putra (sambandh tatpurush).
• Karmadharaya Samas: First word is a visheshan (adjective) of second. Example: Nilkantha = Nila hai jo kantha. Vigrah uses 'jo hai' pattern.
• Dvigu Samas: First word is a number (sankhyavachak). Example: Trilochan = Teen lochan wala, Saptahik = Saat dino ka samuh.
• Dvandva Samas: Both words are equal and connected by 'aur' or 'o'. Example: Mata-Pita = Mata aur Pita, Ram-Laxman = Ram aur Laxman.
• Bahuvrihi Samas: Neither word is dominant — the compound refers to a third person/thing. Example: Dashaanan = Das hain aanan jiske (woh Ravan hai). Key ID: vigrah ends in 'wala/jiske/jo'.

Sandhi vs Samas — How to Not Confuse Them

A very common confusion in the exam is mixing up Sandhi and Samas. Sandhi is about sound change at the junction of two words — the letters themselves fuse and change. Samas is about meaning compression — words join but may or may not have sound change; the key is that grammatical words in between are dropped. In Sandhi, you can always show a sound-change rule (like Guna, Vriddhi). In Samas, you show a vigrah (sentence-like expansion).

• Sandhi test: Can you show a specific varna-change rule? Yes = Sandhi.
• Samas test: Are connecting words like ka, se, mein, jo dropped? Yes = Samas.
• A word can have BOTH: Devendra has Sandhi (Guna: a+i=e) AND is a Tatpurush Samas.
• Dvandva Samas words often have hyphen: Sukh-Dukh, Aana-Jaana.
• Bahuvrihi is the trickiest — the compound means something beyond its parts. Pitambar = one who wears yellow (Vishnu), not just yellow cloth.

• Confusing Karmadharaya and Bahuvrihi: In Karmadharaya the compound DESCRIBES one of its own parts (Neelambara = neela aasman). In Bahuvrihi it points to a THIRD entity (Neelambara as name of Vishnu = neela hai ambar jiska).
• Marking Dvigu as Dvandva: Dvigu always has a number as first word. Dvandva has two equal nouns. Panchatantra = Dvigu (5 tantras), not Dvandva.
• Forgetting Sandhi Viched rules: Writing Ram + Aas = Ramaas but the correct Deergha viched is Rama + Aas = Ramaas. Missing the elongation point costs marks.
• Missing Avyayibhav because it looks like a prefix: Pratyek, Anuroop, Yathayogya all are Avyayibhav but students often call them prefixed words (Upsarg).
• In Visarg Sandhi, confusing Nih/Nir/Duh/Dur forms: Before a voiced consonant or vowel, visarg becomes r (Nir+Aasha=Niraasha). Before unvoiced consonant, it changes differently. Learn 2-3 fixed examples by heart rather than the rule.

• SAMAS types mnemonic — A TaKDDb: Avyayibhav, Tatpurush, Karmadharaya, Dvigu, Dvandva, Bahuvrihi. Say it as 'Ek TaKaDDa Bahadur' (A T K D D B).
• Bahuvrihi trick — always ask 'Kaun?' (Who?). Dashaanan kaun? Ravan. If the answer is a THIRD person not in the word, it is Bahuvrihi.
• Guna vs Vriddhi: Guna = Grade 1 mix (a+i=e, a+u=o). Vriddhi = Grade 2, one step up (a+e=ai, a+o=au). Think of Vriddhi as VR = Very Raised vowel.
• Yaan Sandhi memory: 'IURI becomes YVR before another vowel' — I=Y, U=V, RI=R. Like a shortcut key on a keyboard.

• IBPS RRB Office Assistant Hindi section usually has 40 questions. Sandhi-Samas together contribute around 2-4 questions. These are direct identification questions — fast and scorable if prepared.
• The most tested Samas types in recent papers are Bahuvrihi and Tatpurush. Learn at least 10 fixed examples of each cold — Nilkantha, Dashaanan, Pitambar for Bahuvrihi; Rajputra, Vanvas, Pathshala for Tatpurush.
• Sandhi questions usually give you a joined word and ask which type of Sandhi it is, or give two words and ask the Sandhi result. Practice Guna and Vriddhi most — they appear most.
• Vigrah (splitting) questions are common: they give Samasik Shabd and ask you to choose the correct vigrah from 4 options. Eliminate by checking which option uses the right karak vibhakti.
• Time strategy: Sandhi-Samas questions should take no more than 30-40 seconds each. If you are unsure, use elimination — wrong vigrahs usually have wrong connecting words like mixing ka with se.