Pointing

Pointing and Introduction Problems

"I am Rahul's father" → Rahul's father = speaker.

"My father's only son" → if speaker is male, could be himself; if female, brother.

"The man in the photo is my father's brother" → man = uncle to speaker.

At Meera's cousin's wedding photo, she points to a lady: "She is my mother's only sister." Lady = aunt (masi/bua).

NCERT anchor: CBSE Class 4 logical reasoning — decode phrases like 'my father's only son'

Pointing to a boy: 'He is my mother's only son.' Who is the boy if speaker is a girl?

Step 1 — Mother's only son = one brother.
Step 2 — Speaker is a girl → boy is not herself.
Step 3 — Boy = speaker's **brother**.
Answer: **Brother**

A man says: 'She is my wife's only daughter.' Who is she to him?

Step 1 — Wife's daughter = his **daughter** (step-daughter if from earlier marriage — assume biological here).
Answer: **Daughter**

Mistake	Why it happens	Fix
My father's son is always my brother	Speaker could be male → himself	If speaker is male, father's son could be himself
Only daughter means sister always	Could refer to self if speaker is female	Check if speaker is the only daughter
Ignoring 'only' keyword	Missing uniqueness clue	Only restricts to one person
Confusing wife's son with nephew	Direct child vs sibling's child	Wife's son to him = son

My father's father is my ___?
He is my mother's brother → he is my ___?
If I am my father's only son, who am I to my sister?
Stretch: 'My mother's mother's only son' — who is he to me? Work step by step.

Revision tip: Circle only, only son/daughter in every question before solving.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Pointing and Introduction Problems.