Grammer Chapter 17 – Noun formation

Question 1

-a-

(noun formation)

Answer 1

Forms nouns and adjectives from verbal roots, which usually stand in guṇa:

वेद- ‘knowledge’ from √विद् ‘to know’

Question 2

-ya-

(noun formation)

Answer 2

used in vṛddhi formations or on its own, often forms adjectives from nouns:
मुख्य- ‘main’ from मुख- ‘head’

Question 3

-ana-

(noun formation)

Answer 3

Added to verbal roots, usually in guṇa; used to form adjectives and neuter nouns:
वचनम् ‘word, speech’
वचन- ‘speaking’ from √वच् ‘to speak’

Question 4

Vṛddhi Derivatives

Answer 4

First vowel put into vṛddhi, often addition of -a- or -ya-; general meaning ‘having to do with (the basic word)’
मैत्र- ‘friendship’ from मित्रम् ‘friend’
कौरव- ‘descendant of Kuru’ from कुरु-

Question 5

-tra-

(noun formation)

Answer 5

used to form neuter instrument nouns पत्त्रम् ‘wing’ from √पत् ‘to fly’

Question 6

-tva-

(noun formation)

Answer 6

used to form neuter abstract nouns
नरत्वम्- ‘manhood, humanity’ from नरः ‘man’

Question 7

-tā-

(noun formation)

Answer 7

used to form feminine abstract nouns
देवता- ‘divinity’ from देव- ‘god’