Reading Comprehension Grammar
What you will be able to do
- Identify the grammatical function of words in a passage
- Work out vocabulary meaning from context
- Answer inference questions using grammatical cues
- Recognise the main RC question types
- Read efficiently and locate answers fast
1 Quick Introduction
Reading comprehension in competitive exams isn't only about content — it tests grammar in action: what part of speech an underlined word is, what a pronoun refers to, what a word means in this context, and what the passage implies. Strong grammar makes you a faster, more accurate reader and unlocks the trickiest RC questions.
प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं में reading comprehension केवल विषयवस्तु की बात नहीं — यह क्रियाशील व्याकरण जाँचती है: कोई रेखांकित शब्द कौन-सा शब्द-भेद है, कोई सर्वनाम किसका संदर्भ है, कोई शब्द इस संदर्भ में क्या अर्थ रखता है, और अनुच्छेद क्या संकेत करता है। मज़बूत व्याकरण आपको तेज़, अधिक सटीक पाठक बनाता है और कठिनतम RC प्रश्न खोल देता है।
2 A Real-Life Situation
A grammar-linked RC question:
Passage: "The scheme, which the council had approved hastily, soon collapsed."
Q: What does 'which' refer to?
A: 'the scheme'.
3 The Grammar Rule
| Question type | What it tests |
|---|---|
| Word function | part of speech / role |
| Reference | what a pronoun refers to |
| Vocabulary in context | meaning here, not in general |
| Inference | what is implied, not stated |
| Main idea / detail | the gist or a specific fact |
4 Grammatical Function & Reference
Word-function questions ask what role a word plays — is the underlined word a noun, verb, adjective or adverb here? The same word can change class:
- They water the plants (verb) vs the water is cold (noun).
- a fast car (adjective) vs he runs fast (adverb).
Reference questions ask what a pronoun or phrase points to. Trace pronouns (it, they, this, which, who) back to their antecedent — usually the nearest noun that makes sense.
- The minister praised the workers, who had toiled for months. → 'who' = the workers.
- The plan failed. This shocked everyone. → 'This' = the plan's failure.
Adjective (a noun used attributively) — it modifies 'review'.
the boy — the one who would feel ashamed for cheating.
Key Points
- Word-function questions: identify the part of speech in context
- The same word can change class (water = noun/verb)
- Reference questions: trace a pronoun to its antecedent
5 Vocabulary in Context & Inference
Vocabulary-in-context questions ask what a word means in this passage — which may differ from its common meaning. Use the surrounding words:
- The plan was 'sound' → here 'sound' = sensible/reliable (not a noise).
- Look for synonyms, contrasts, and the tone around the word.
Inference questions ask what the passage implies but does not state directly. Stay close to the text:
- Use signposts (however, although, despite) and the author's tone to read the unstated.
- The correct inference is supported by the passage — not your outside opinion.
Strategy for RC: read the passage first for the gist, then read each question and return to the exact lines for the answer. For grammar/reference questions, re-read the relevant sentence carefully; never rely on memory.
Clear and persuasive — 'convincing' nearby gives the clue.
He ignored the warnings / was reckless or determined — 'Despite' implies acting against advice.
Key Points
- Vocabulary-in-context: meaning here, found from surrounding words
- Inference: what is implied, always supported by the text
- Read for gist first; return to exact lines for each answer
6 Vocabulary Builder
| Word | Meaning | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehension | understanding a text | अवबोध |
| Antecedent | the noun a pronoun refers to | पूर्ववर्ती संज्ञा |
| Inference | a conclusion implied | निष्कर्ष |
| Context | the surrounding text | संदर्भ |
| Function | the role a word plays | कार्य |
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
8 Practice Exercises
- They water the garden daily.
- He gave a fast reply.
- She runs fast.
- The book shop is closed.
- Honesty is a virtue.
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
- adjective (noun used attributively)
- noun
- 'The dog chased the cat until it climbed a tree.' What does 'it' refer to?
- 'The plan, which seemed simple, failed.' What does 'which' refer to?
- 'His remarks were terse.' 'Terse' means:
- 'Despite the rain, they continued.' This implies:
- 'The committee praised her; they admired her courage.' 'They' refers to:
- the cat
- the plan
- brief / curt
- they did not let the rain stop them
- the committee (its members)
- Choosing the dictionary sense of a word over the context sense.
- Inferring something the passage does not support.
- Saying 'fast' is always an adjective.
- Guessing the antecedent without re-reading.
- Use the context to pick the intended meaning. (error: ignoring context)
- Choose only inferences backed by the text. (error: unsupported inference)
- 'fast' can be an adjective or adverb depending on use. (error: fixed class assumption)
- Trace the pronoun to the correct noun. (error: guessing reference)
- 'Sound' always means a noise. (in 'a sound plan')
- 'It' in 'The lion chased the deer until it tired' refers to the lion. (ambiguous)
- Inference: the author definitely loves the topic. (unstated)
- Here 'sound' means sensible/reliable.
- Context decides; here 'it' most likely refers to the deer.
- Only infer the author's attitude if the tone supports it.
- context / read / for / the / first / gist
- antecedent / its / to / the / pronoun / trace
- text / by / the / inference / must / be / supported
- Read the context first for the gist.
- Trace the pronoun to its antecedent.
- An inference must be supported by the text.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. water (the plants) | a. adjective |
| 2. fast (car) | b. verb |
| 3. which / who | c. implies acting against advice |
| 4. Despite the warnings | d. relative pronoun (reference) |
9 Micro Quiz
10 Reading Practice
Although the new bridge was hailed as a marvel, it soon revealed serious flaws. Engineers, who had warned of weak foundations, were ignored. "This negligence," the report concluded, "could have been avoided." The word 'negligence' here points not to bad luck but to a deliberate failure to act on clear warnings.
- What does 'it' in the first sentence refer to?
- What does 'This negligence' refer to?
- What does 'Although' at the start imply about the bridge?
- the new bridge.
- ignoring the engineers' warnings about weak foundations.
- A contrast — despite being praised, the bridge had serious problems.
11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use
- The word 'sound' here means reliable.
- 'It' refers to the cat in that sentence.
- Despite the warning, he went ahead.
- 'Which' points back to the plan.
- The author's tone is clearly critical.
12 Challenge Zone
13 Chapter Mind Map
READING COMPREHENSION GRAMMAR
|
+------------+------------+
| |
GRAMMAR IN RC STRATEGY
word function read gist first
(noun/verb/adj) return to lines
reference (it/which) for each answer
>trace antecedent vocab: use context
vocab in context inference: text-based14 One-Minute Revision
Remember these
- Word-function questions: identify the part of speech in context (words can change class)
- Reference questions: trace a pronoun to its antecedent
- Vocabulary-in-context: meaning here, found from surrounding words
- Inference: what is implied, always supported by the text
- Read for gist first, then return to exact lines for each answer