Hindi Sentence Types: Simple, Compound, Complex by Structure and Eight Types by Meaning

Two Ways to Sort a Hindi Sentence

Every Hindi sentence can be classified in two independent ways. By रचना (structure) it is सरल, संयुक्त or मिश्र, depending on how many clauses it holds and how they are joined. By अर्थ (meaning) it is one of eight types, depending on what the speaker is doing: stating, denying, asking, ordering, wishing, doubting, setting a condition or exclaiming.

The two systems do not compete. 'यदि तुम पढ़ोगे तो सफल होगे' is मिश्र by structure and संकेतवाचक by meaning, and both labels are correct.

Exams usually ask one system at a time, so the first step is to read the question stem: if it says 'रचना के आधार पर', count clauses; if it says 'अर्थ के आधार पर', read the intent. The next cards give a quick tool for each system and the traps the question-setters like.

1. By structure, the sentence 'राम और श्याम विद्यालय गए।' is:

2. By structure, 'मैं जानता हूँ कि वह ईमानदार है।' is a:

3. By structure, 'वह पढ़ता है, किंतु उसे याद नहीं रहता।' is a:

4. By meaning, 'ईश्वर आपको दीर्घायु करे।' is a:

5. By meaning, 'शायद आज वर्षा हो।' is a:

6. By meaning, 'यदि तुम परिश्रम करोगे तो सफल होगे।' is a:

7. By structure, 'जब वर्षा होती है, तब किसान प्रसन्न होते हैं।' is a:

8. By meaning, 'इस कक्षा में कोई विद्यार्थी अनुपस्थित नहीं है।' is a: