NDA (I) 2024 General Ability Test · Question 40 of 146

Correct — A, Determiner. 'This' stands before the noun phrase 'new item' and specifies which item is meant, so it is a demonstrative determiner. Older grammar books call this word a 'demonstrative adjective', which is why option (d) is tempting; but 'this' points out rather than describes the noun, and it changes to 'these' in the plural like other determiners, so 'determiner' is the precise label. It is not a conjunction and not an interjection.

• (b)Conjunction — 'This' joins no clauses or words; it stands before the noun phrase 'new item' to specify it, so it is a determiner, not a conjunction.
• (c)Interjection — It expresses no sudden emotion or exclamation and is a grammatical part of the noun phrase, so it cannot be an interjection.
• (d)Adjective — This is the trap: older books call 'this' a 'demonstrative adjective', but it points out (specifies) which item rather than describing a quality of it, and it inflects to 'these' in the plural like other determiners, so modern grammar labels it a determiner, not an adjective.

A part-of-speech item on 'this' as a demonstrative determiner, contrasted with the older label 'demonstrative adjective'.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Identify the part of speech of 'those' in 'Please pass me those books.'

  • (a)Determiner
  • (b)Conjunction
  • (c)Adverb
  • (d)Verb

  Answer(a) Determiner — a demonstrative pointing to which books.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  In 'I want some water', the word 'some' functions as a/an:

  • (a)Adjective
  • (b)Determiner
  • (c)Pronoun
  • (d)Adverb

  Answer(b) Determiner — it quantifies the noun 'water'.