NMAT – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
Topic: Grammar & Vocabulary
(Targeted for the NMAT “Grammar & Vocabulary” section – 20 min, 35 questions)
1. Simple Explanation
| Concept | What it means | Why it matters in NMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Parts of Speech | Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection | Helps you identify word‑type errors and choose the right word in a sentence. |
| Sentence Structure | Simple, compound, complex, compound‑complex | Determines the correct placement of commas, conjunctions and clauses. |
| Subject–Verb Agreement | Singular vs. plural subjects & verbs | A common error that can change the meaning of a sentence. |
| Tenses | Simple, progressive, perfect, perfect‑progressive | Needed for consistency and to answer “when” a fact is true. |
| Punctuation | Commas, semicolons, colons, dashes, hyphens, apostrophes | Clarifies meaning, separates ideas, and corrects run‑on sentences. |
| Common Errors | “e.g.” vs. “i.e.”, “affect” vs. “effect”, “lay” vs. “lie”, “who” vs. “whom”, “their/there/they’re” | Quick‑fix options for the 35 question section. |
| Vocabulary | Word roots, prefixes, suffixes, synonyms, antonyms, collocations | Enables you to pick the right word in a passage or multiple‑choice question. |
2. Key Points
2.1. Parts of Speech
| Part | Example | Typical NMAT Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | innovation, challenge | Identify the noun in a sentence. |
| Pronoun | she, they | Replace a noun with a correct pronoun. |
| Verb | run, analyze | Find the main verb or correct the tense. |
| Adjective | innovative, complex | Choose the adjective that best describes a noun. |
| Adverb | quickly, hardly | Spot adverbs modifying verbs or adjectives. |
| Preposition | in, on, between | Pick the correct preposition to complete a sentence. |
| Conjunction | and, but, although | Connect clauses correctly. |
| Interjection | Wow!, Oops! | Recognize an interjection that interrupts a sentence. |
2.2. Subject–Verb Agreement
- Rule: Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb.
- Special Cases:
- Collective nouns (team, committee) → singular verb if acting as a unit.
- Indefinite pronouns (everyone, nobody) → singular.
- Numbers (the number of students) → verb agrees with number (singular).
- Tip: Scan for the nearest noun that is not a prepositional phrase or a clause.
2.3. Tense Consistency
- Keep the same tense throughout a paragraph unless a change in time is indicated.
- Use past perfect to show an action finished before another past action.
- Use future perfect when predicting something will be finished before a future point.
2.4. Punctuation Rules
| Use | Example | NMAT Hint |
|---|---|---|
| Comma | After introductory clauses: “After the meeting, we….” | Separates clauses; avoid comma splice. |
| Semicolon | Connects independent clauses: “She likes hiking; he prefers cycling.” | Good for sentence‑level questions. |
| Colon | Introduces a list: “The reasons are: fatigue, lack of sleep.” | Use when the second part explains the first. |
| Dash (—) | Creates emphasis: “The results—unexpected as they were—demonstrate….” | Distinguish between em‑dash and hyphen. |
| Apostrophe | Contractions & possessives: “John’s book.” | Avoid “its” vs. “it’s”. |
2.5. Common Word‑Choice Pitfalls
| Error | Correct Form | NMAT Tip |
|---|---|---|
| e.g. vs. i.e. | e.g. (for example) | Look for “for example” vs. “that is”. |
| affect vs. effect | affect (verb), effect (noun) | Context: action vs. result. |
| lay vs. lie | lay (to put), lie (to recline) | Watch the object. |
| who vs. whom | who (subject), whom (object) | Replace with “he/she” vs. “him/her”. |
| their / there / they’re | their (possessive), there (location), they’re (contraction) | Spell‑check! |
3. Worked Example
Question
Choose the word that best completes the sentence.The new policy will ___ many small businesses that are unable to keep up with technological demands.
| Option | Word | Why it fits / why it doesn’t | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | hamper | Means “to obstruct”; fits the context. | ✔️ |
| B | exert | Means “to apply effort”; unnatural. | ❌ |
| C | overcome | Means “to defeat”; wrong meaning. | ❌ |
| D | accumulate | Means “to gather”; wrong meaning. | ❌ |
Explanation
- The policy is expected to obstruct or hinder small businesses.
- “Hamper” is the exact synonym; others are semantically incorrect.
Answer: A – hamper
4. Quick Revision Summary
- Identify the part of speech → choose the right word.
- Check subject‑verb agreement → singular vs. plural.
- Maintain tense consistency → avoid switching tenses.