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Shabd aur Pad

Hindi Vyakaran: Shabd aur Pad

Shabd aur Pad

शब्द और पद (Shabd aur Pad)

What you'll learn

  • Difference between shabd (word) and pad (contextual word-form).
  • Types of words in Hindi grammar.
  • How words change form when used in sentences.

Key concepts

Shabd (शब्द) — Word

Shabd is any meaningful unit of sound/script that exists independently in a dictionary.

शब्द = स्वतंत्र अर्थपूर्ण भाषिक इकाई

Examples: राम, जाना, सुंदर, धीरे

Pad (पद) — Contextual Word Form

When a shabd is used in a sentence with grammatical markers (vibhakti/case endings, tense markers), it becomes a pad.

पद = वाक्य में प्रयुक्त शब्द का व्याकरणिक रूप

ShabdPad (in sentence)Change
रामराम नेने (nominative marker added)
लड़कीलड़की कोको (object marker)
जानाजाता हैConjugated verb form

Types of Shabd (Word Classification)

By meaning:

TypeHindiExamples
Nounsसंज्ञाराम, दिल्ली, पुस्तक
Pronounsसर्वनाममैं, तुम, वह, यह
Adjectivesविशेषणसुंदर, बड़ा, लाल
Verbsक्रियाखाना, जाना, पढ़ना
Adverbsक्रिया-विशेषणधीरे, जल्दी, यहाँ
Postpositionsपरसर्ग / विभक्तिने, को, से, में, पर
Conjunctionsसमुच्चयबोधकऔर, या, किन्तु
Interjectionsविस्मयादिबोधकअरे!, वाह!, हाय!

By origin:

TypeHindiExamples
Tatsamतत्समपुस्तक, विद्यालय (Sanskrit unchanged)
Tadbhavतद्भवपानी (from Sanskrit 'paniya'), काम
Deshajदेशजखिड़की, लोटा (native Indian)
Videshiविदेशीस्कूल (English), कमरा (Arabic)

Vibhakti (विभक्ति) — Case Markers

Hindi uses postpositions to indicate grammatical role:

VibhaktiMarkerRole
Karta (nominative)नेSubject (ergative)
Karma (accusative)कोObject
Karan (instrumental)से, द्वाराMeans/instrument
Sampadan (dative)के लिए, कोRecipient
Apaadan (ablative)सेSeparation/origin
Sambandh (genitive)का/के/कीPossession
Adhikaran (locative)में, परLocation
Sambodhan (vocative)हे, अरेAddressing

Practical Tips

  • A shabd in isolation has no grammatical role.
  • The same word can function as different parts of speech: "बहुत अच्छा" (adj.) vs "अच्छा, ठीक है" (interjection).
  • Vibhakti markers are crucial — wrong marker changes meaning entirely.

Quick check

  • What is the difference between shabd and pad? Give an example.
  • Name the eight vibhaktis with their markers.
  • Classify: राम, सुंदर, धीरे, और, वाह!
  • What type of word is "स्कूल"? Why?
  • Write the pad forms of "लड़का" in karta, karma, and sambandh vibhakti.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Shabd aur Pad.

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

  • What you'll learn
  • Key concepts
  • Quick check

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