CBSE Class 10 Hindi Grammar Complete Guide — Ras, Alankar, Samas, Sandhi, Vakya, Muhavare

In short: Hindi grammar (vyakaran) carries 16-20 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Hindi paper and is the most predictable, scorable section. The topics — Ras, Alankar, Samas, Sandhi, Vakya Bhed, Muhavare, and Lokoktiyan — follow fixed rules with fixed answers. Unlike literature questions where interpretation varies, grammar has right and wrong answers. If you learn the rules and practice 50-60 questions, you can score full marks in this section. This guide covers every grammar topic with rules, examples, and exam-specific tips.

Why Hindi Grammar Is Your Easiest 16-20 Marks

The Hindi paper in CBSE Class 10 is divided into:

• Reading Comprehension (Apathit Gadyansh)
• Writing (Lekhan) — Letter, Essay, Notice
• Literature (Sahitya) — Prose, Poetry, Supplementary
• Grammar (Vyakaran) — 16-20 marks

Grammar is the only section where:

1. Answers are definitive — either right or wrong, no subjectivity
2. Rules are finite — there are a limited number of rules to learn
3. Patterns repeat — the same types of questions appear every year
4. Full marks are achievable with focused practice of 2-3 days

Most students neglect grammar because they find it "boring" compared to literature. This is exactly why you should prioritize it — it is the highest ROI section in the Hindi paper.

Ras (रस) — Sentiments in Literature

What Is Ras?

Ras literally means "essence" or "flavour." In Hindi literature, it refers to the emotional experience a reader or audience has when consuming poetry or prose. There are 9 primary Ras (Nav Ras).

The 9 Ras (Nav Ras)

How to Identify Ras in Exam Questions

The exam gives you a couplet (doha) or verse and asks you to identify the Ras. Follow this method:

1. Read the verse. What emotion does it evoke?
2. Identify the Sthayee Bhav — what is the dominant emotion?
3. Match the Sthayee Bhav to the Ras using the table above
4. Write: "इस पद्यांश में [रस] है क्योंकि इसमें [स्थायी भाव] की प्रधानता है।"

Exam tip: If the verse mentions love, beauty, or attraction → Shringar Ras. If it mentions battle, courage, or patriotism → Veer Ras. If it mentions death or separation → Karuna Ras. These three cover 80% of exam questions on Ras.

Alankar (अलंकार) — Figures of Speech

What Are Alankar?

Alankar are literary devices that beautify language. In the CBSE exam, the most commonly asked Alankar are:

Shabdalankar (शब्दालंकार) — Sound-Based

1. Anupras Alankar (अनुप्रास अलंकार): Repetition of consonant sounds.

• Example: "चारु चंद्र की चंचल किरणें" — the "च" sound repeats
• Identification: Look for the same consonant appearing at the start of multiple words

2. Yamak Alankar (यमक अलंकार): The same word appears twice with different meanings.

• Example: "कनक कनक ते सौ गुनी, मादकता अधिकाय" — "कनक" means both gold and datura
• Identification: Look for the same word used twice with different meanings

3. Shlesh Alankar (श्लेष अलंकार): A single word has multiple meanings simultaneously.

• Example: "रहिमन पानी राखिये, बिन पानी सब सून" — "पानी" means water, honour, and lustre
• Identification: One word, multiple applicable meanings in context

Arthalankar (अर्थालंकार) — Meaning-Based

4. Upma Alankar (उपमा अलंकार): Direct comparison using words like "जैसा," "सा," "सी," "सम."

• Example: "हरि पद कोमल कमल से" — feet compared to lotus using "से"
• Identification: Look for comparison words (जैसा, सा, सी, सम, तुल्य)

5. Rupak Alankar (रूपक अलंकार): One thing is said to BE another (not just compared to it).

• Example: "चरण कमल बंदौ हरि राई" — feet ARE lotus, not like lotus
• Identification: No comparison word. Direct identity stated

6. Utpreksha Alankar (उत्प्रेक्षा अलंकार): Imaginative comparison using words like "मानो," "जानो," "जैसे."

• Example: "सोहत ओढ़े पीत पट, श्याम सलोने गात। मानो नीलमणि शैल पर, आतप परयो प्रभात।"
• Identification: Look for "मानो," "जानो," "मनु," "जनु"

7. Manavikarana Alankar (मानवीकरण अलंकार): Giving human qualities to non-human things (personification).

• Example: "बादल गरज रहे हैं" — clouds are not literally angry
• Identification: A non-human entity described with human actions or emotions

Exam Strategy for Alankar

The exam asks you to identify the Alankar in a given line or verse. Follow this:

1. Check for repeated consonant sounds → Anupras
2. Check for comparison words (सा, सी, जैसा) → Upma
3. Check for "मानो" or "जानो" → Utpreksha
4. Check for direct identity without comparison word → Rupak
5. Check for human qualities given to nature → Manavikarana

Samas (समास) — Compound Words

What Is Samas?

Samas is the process of combining two or more words into one compound word. The exam tests your ability to identify the type of Samas and break the compound word (Vigrah).

Types of Samas

Quick Identification

• If the compound has "और" in Vigrah → Dvandva (माता-पिता = माता और पिता)
• If the compound has a number as first element → Dvigu (पंचतत्व = पांच तत्वों का समूह)
• If the compound refers to a third thing (not either element) → Bahuvrihi (दशानन = दस हैं आनन जिसके = रावण)
• If the first element is a prefix like "प्रति," "यथा," "आ" → Avyayibhav (प्रतिदिन = दिन-दिन)
• If second element is primary and first qualifies it → Tatpurush (राजपुत्र = राजा का पुत्र)
• If first is adjective describing second → Karmadharaya (महात्मा = महान आत्मा)

Sandhi (संधि) — Sound Combinations

What Is Sandhi?

Sandhi is the joining of two words where the ending sound of the first word and the beginning sound of the second word combine to form a new sound.

Types of Sandhi

1. Swar Sandhi (स्वर संधि): Vowel + Vowel

• Deergha Sandhi: अ/आ + अ/आ = आ (विद्या + आलय = विद्यालय)
• Guna Sandhi: अ/आ + इ/ई = ए (देव + इंद्र = देवेंद्र)
• Vriddhi Sandhi: अ/आ + ए/ऐ = ऐ (एक + एक = एकैक)
• Yana Sandhi: इ/ई + any other vowel → य (अति + अधिक = अत्यधिक)
• Ayadi Sandhi: ए/ऐ/ओ/औ + vowel (नै + अक = नायक)

2. Vyanjan Sandhi (व्यंजन संधि): Consonant + Vowel/Consonant

• Examples: दिक् + अंबर = दिगंबर, सत् + जन = सज्जन

3. Visarg Sandhi (विसर्ग संधि): Visarg (ः) + Vowel/Consonant

• Examples: निः + आहार = निराहार, मनः + रथ = मनोरथ

Exam Strategy for Sandhi

The exam asks you to either:

• Break a Sandhi (Sandhi Vichchhed): विद्यालय → विद्या + आलय (Deergha Sandhi)
• Identify the Sandhi type in a given word

Focus on Swar Sandhi — it covers 70% of exam questions. Learn Deergha, Guna, and Yana Sandhi rules with 5-6 examples each.

Vakya Bhed (वाक्य भेद) — Types of Sentences

By Structure (Rachna ke Aadhar Par)

1. Saral Vakya (सरल वाक्य): One subject, one predicate. "राम पढ़ता है।"
2. Sanyukt Vakya (संयुक्त वाक्य): Two independent clauses joined by conjunctions (और, परंतु, या, इसलिए). "राम पढ़ता है और श्याम खेलता है।"
3. Mishrit Vakya (मिश्रित वाक्य): One main clause + one dependent clause (जो, जब, क्योंकि, यदि). "जब राम आया, तब श्याम गया।"

By Meaning (Arth ke Aadhar Par)

Vidhaan Vachak, Nishedh Vachak, Prashna Vachak, Aagya Vachak, Ichha Vachak, Sandeh Vachak, Vismay Vachak, Sanket Vachak

Exam Strategy

The exam typically asks you to convert between Saral, Sanyukt, and Mishrit Vakya. Practice 10-15 conversions and you will cover all possible exam questions.

Muhavare aur Lokoktiyan (मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियां)

Muhavare (Idioms)

Common exam-asked Muhavare:

Lokoktiyan (Proverbs)

Exam Strategy for Muhavare and Lokoktiyan

The exam asks you to:

1. Give the meaning and use in a sentence — learn the meaning and prepare one sentence for each
2. Learn 20-25 Muhavare and 10-15 Lokoktiyan. The exam tests 2-3 of them

Week-Before-Exam Grammar Revision Plan

Total: 9.5 hours spread over 5 days. That is all it takes to secure 16-20 marks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks does Hindi grammar carry in CBSE Class 10?

Hindi grammar carries 16-20 marks depending on the paper variant. This is approximately 20-25% of the theory paper. It is the most scorable section because answers are definitive.

Which grammar topic is asked most frequently?

Alankar and Samas are the most frequently tested topics. Ras and Sandhi also appear regularly. Muhavare and Lokoktiyan appear as 2-4 mark questions in most papers.

Can I score full marks in grammar without studying literature?

Grammar is independent of literature. You can learn all grammar rules without reading the prose and poetry chapters. However, for overall Hindi paper preparation, both grammar and literature are needed.

Is there internal choice in grammar questions?

CBSE sometimes provides internal choice within the grammar section (e.g., attempt any 3 out of 4 questions). Check the sample paper for the exact pattern.

How should I practice grammar for the exam?

Solve 5 years of previous papers — grammar section only. This gives you approximately 100-120 questions covering all topics. After solving, check your answers against the marking scheme. Focus extra practice on topics where you make errors.

Are the grammar topics the same for Hindi A and Hindi B?

The core topics (Ras, Alankar, Samas, Sandhi, Vakya Bhed) are covered in both courses. However, Hindi A (Code 002) goes slightly deeper than Hindi B (Code 085). Check your specific course code for the exact syllabus scope.

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