Group Discussion

10 Tips to Ace Your Group Discussion

You are expected in a GD to contribute meaningfully and help arrive at a consensus. It is not a platform for you to fight your way through and dominate. Flexibility and gelling with the group is also very important.

Make a note of the following points and you’ll get through with flying colours.

1. Arrive on time and dress formally. This is not a casual discussion, it is one that will get you help you get a job with this company. You need to look impressive, well groomed and confident.

2. Ask for subject/topic related clarifications before the discussion begins, not after.

3. Always carry a pen and a notebook. This allows you to refer to what others have said previously.

4. Be yourself and do not be arrogant. Body language is important so be careful while using gestures and do not ever get aggressive.

5. Initiating the discussion is a major plus point but do so only if you’re very clear about the topic and know a lot about the same.

6. Maintain eye contact with team members and not evaluators. They’re not a part of the discussion. Ensure that you get to speak your point, if the other members hear you, the evaluators will too.

7. Having said that, ensure that you listen as well and appreciate what others are saying. If you do not agree with someone’s point, let them complete and then raise your objection. Do not interrupt.

8. Be positive and do not be over confident.

9. Try and sort out contradictions and arguments. Providing a meaningful direction to the discussion always augers well.

10. Understand that the aim is not to speak often or for long periods. The aim is to be precise and clear with your points. Ultimately, the discussion has to reach a conclusion and you must strive towards that.

Interjection

Interjection
Deifintion: "An interjection is a word which expresses sudden feeling or emotion." 

There are five kinds of interjections: 

Interjections to express greeting
Examples: Hello!

Interjections to express joy
Examples: Hurray!

Interjections to express approval
Example: Bravo!

Interjections to express surprise
Example: Oh!

Interjections to express grief
Example: Alas!

Conjunction

Conjunction
Definition: "A conjunction is a word which joins two sentences to complete their meaning."

There are two kinds of conjunctions: 

Co-coordinating Conjunctions: When the conjunction is used to join two statements of equal importance, the conjunction is said to be a coordinating conjunction.
Examples: and, but, or, not, for, either, neither 

Subordinating Conjunctions: When the conjunction joins two statements, one of which depends on the other for its full meaning, the conjunction is said to be a subordinating conjunction.
Examples: before, after, since, because, if, though, which, who

Preposition

Prepositions
Definition: "A preposition is a word which shows the relation between the noun or pronoun and other words in the sentence."

 There are three kinds of prepositions which are commonly used:

Simple Prepositions:
Prepositions like for, by, at, on, of, off, with, above, across

Compound and Phrase Prepositions:
They are a group of words used like a single preposition. Examples - in regard to, according to, in favor of, because of, in order to

Participial Prepositions:
They are used without any noun or pronoun attached to them. Examples - considering, regarding, barring, concerning

Adjective

Adjective
Definition: "An adjective is a word used to describe a noun."

Types of Adjectives
Following are the kinds of adjectives which are commonly used:

Adjectives of Quality:
Adjectives of Quality answer the question ‘Of what kind’
Examples: Large, Small, Intelligent, and Beautiful

Adjectives of Quantity:
Adjectives of Quantity answer the question ‘How much’
Examples: Some, Little, Any, Enough

Adjectives of Number:
Adjectives of Number answer the question ‘How many’
Examples: Two, Seven, Second, Third

Demonstrative Adjectives:
Demonstrative Adjectives answer the question ‘Which’
Examples: This, That, These, Those

Interrogative Adjectives:
Interrogative Adjectives are used to ask questions about a noun.
Examples: What, Which, Whose

Adverb

Adverb
Definition: "An adverb is a word which modifies the meaning of a verb, adjective or another adverb."

Types of Adverbs
There are seven classes of commonly used adverbs:

Adverbs of Time: These adverbs are used to answer the question ‘when’.
Examples: Now, Yesterday, Today, Once

Adverbs of Frequency: These adverbs are used to answer the question ‘how often’.
Examples: Seldom, Rarely, Often, and Frequently

Adverbs of Place: These adverbs are used to answer the question ‘where’.
Examples: Out, In, Forward, Everywhere

Adverbs of Manner: These adverbs are used to answer the question ‘how’.
Examples: Honestly, Bravely, Happily

Adverbs of Degree: These adverbs are used to answer the question ‘how much’ or ‘to what extent’.
Examples: Fully, Partly, Altogether, Almost

Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation: These adverbs are used to confirm or deny.
Examples: Certainly, Surely, Absolutely

Adverbs of Reason: These adverbs are used to give the reason.
Examples: Therefore, Hence

Verb

Verbs
Definition: "A verb is a word that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being."

Types of Verbs
We can divide verbs into transitive and intransitive verbs. 

Transitive Verbs: These verbs involve a direct object.
Example 1: The boy throws the ball.
Here ‘throws’ is the verb and ‘ball’ is the direct object.

Example 2: The man reads the book.
Here ‘reads’ is the verb and ‘book’ is the direct object
 
Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not involve a direct object.
Example 1: The boy throws.
Here the verb ‘throws’ is used intransitively.

Example 2: The man reads quickly.
Here the verb ‘reads’ is used intransitively.

Pronoun

Pronouns: 

Difinition: "A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun."

There are six kinds of commonly used pronouns:
 
Personal Pronouns: Personal Pronouns are used are substitutes for proper or common nouns.
Examples: I, he, she, mine, his, her, they, their
 

Demonstrative Pronouns: Demonstrative Pronouns are used to point out objects
Examples: this, that, these, those
 

Indefinite Pronouns: Pronouns which refer to things in a general way and not to someone or something in particular.
Examples: nobody, somebody, everybody, one (should not lie)
 

Distributive Pronouns: Pronouns which refer to persons or things one at a time are called Distributive pronouns.
Examples: each, either, neither 

Relative Pronouns: A pronoun that relates a subordinate clause to the rest of the sentence is called a relative pronoun.
Examples: who - (Raj is the boy) who (did the work)
whose – (Raj is the boy) whose (books were lost)

Interrogative Pronouns: Pronouns used for asking questions are called Interrogative Pronouns.
Examples: what, which, who, whose, whom

Noun

Noun

Definition: "A noun is a word used as the name of a person, place or thing."

Types of Nouns

There are four kinds of nouns which are commonly used:

Proper Nouns: Proper Noun is the name of a particular person or place. Proper nouns always begin with a capital letter.
Examples: Sita, Rajesh, Delhi, Kanpur

Common Nouns: Common Noun is a name given in common to every person or thing of the group. Common nouns begin with a capital letter only if it is the first word of the sentence.
Examples: Girl, Boy, City, Tiger
 

Collective Nouns: Collective Nouns are those nouns that denote a group of people, animals, objects, concepts or ideas as a single entity.
Examples: Army of Soldiers, Class of Students, Crew of Sailors, Band of Musicians
 

Abstract Nouns: Abstract Noun is the name of a quality, action or state. You cannot see, hear, smell or taste an abstract noun.
Examples: Kindness, Loyalty, Childhood, Sickness, Laughter

English Grammer

It is important to know the parts of speech and other blocks of grammar like Nouns, Pronouns, Articles, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions and Interjections. The internet is full of resources about these and it is usually a good idea to understand them well. Take a look at the following to understand:

 

1. Noun
2. Pronoun
3. Verb
4. Adverb
5. Adjective
6. Preposition
7. Conjuntion
8. Interjection