K2KARAKORAM
मराठीEnglish
Open the app

4th Std Scholarship · Intelligence Test

Blood relations

5 concepts · 40 practice questions with answers · Free to read

This lesson is also in: मराठी

Basic family relations

From daily life

At festival time everyone gathers at home. Some come as mama, some as atya, some as grandfather. We call each by a different name because each has a different relation to us. Once we recognise relations well, "who is who?" questions become easy.

Simple definition

A relation is the family link between two people. A relation depends on the side of the parents : the mother's side and the father's side. Brothers and sisters are called siblings.

Live figure

Basic family relations

In the app you can move this figure with your finger.

Open in the app

Basic relations

LinkRelation
Mother's brotherMama (maternal uncle)
Mother's sisterMavshi (maternal aunt)
Father's brotherKaka (paternal uncle)
Father's sisterAtya (paternal aunt)
Brother's sonPutanya (nephew)
Sister's sonBhacha (nephew)
Son's sonNatu (grandson)
1
Rule 1

Mother's siblings : brother is mama, sister is mavshi. Father's siblings : brother is kaka, sister is atya.

  • E.g. Father's sister is atya.
2
Rule 2

The father of a parent is the grandfather and the mother of a parent is the grandmother.

  • E.g. Mother's father is the grandfather. Father's mother is the grandmother.
3
Rule 3

Our brother's son is putanya, brother's daughter is putani. Our sister's son is bhacha, sister's daughter is bhachi.

  • E.g. My sister's daughter is my bhachi.
4
Rule 4

The son of our son or daughter is our grandson (natu), the daughter is our granddaughter (nat).

  • E.g. My son's daughter is my granddaughter.
Example 1 · easy

What is father's brother to us?

  1. A brother on the father's side.
  2. Answer : Kaka.
Example 2 · medium

What is my sister's son to me?

  1. A sister's son is a bhacha.
  2. Answer : Bhacha.
Example 3 · exam type

Ravi says, "Seema is my mother's brother's daughter." What is Seema to Ravi?

  1. Mother's brother is mama. Mama's daughter is a mame sister.
  2. Answer : Mame sister (maternal cousin).
Remember

To decide a relation, first see whether it is the mother's side or the father's side. Kaka and atya are on the father's side, mama and mavshi on the mother's side.

Common mistake

Calling the mother's brother kaka. The mother's brother is mama; kaka is the father's brother.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Mama-mavshi = mother; kaka-atya = father."

Shortcut

Learn the pairs : brother - putanya, sister - bhacha.

Spot the difference

What is askedAnswerHow to recognise it
Mother's brotherMamaMother's side
Father's brotherKakaFather's side
Brother's sonPutanyaBrother = putanya

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1What is mother's sister to us?
  2. 2What is father's mother to us?
  3. 3What is our brother's son to us?
Medium
  1. 4What is mother's father to us?
  2. 5What is our son's daughter to us?
  3. 6What is our sister's daughter to us?
Challenging
  1. 7Anjali says, "He is my father's brother's son." What is he to Anjali?
  2. 8Sunil says, "She is my atya's daughter." What is she to Sunil?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1Mavshi.
  2. 2Grandmother.
  3. 3Putanya.
  4. 4Grandfather.
  5. 5Granddaughter (nat).
  6. 6Bhachi.
  7. 7Father's brother is kaka. Kaka's son is a chulat brother (paternal cousin).
  8. 8Atya's daughter is an ate sister (paternal-aunt's daughter).

"Who is he to me?" : joining the links

From daily life

Someone shows a photo and says, "This is my mother's mother." We work it out step by step : mother's mother is the grandmother. When we join the links one after another, the answer comes.

Simple definition

A question has many relations in one sentence. At each step work out only one relation and go on. Only (ekula-eka) means there is no other brother or sister; so "father's only son" means the speaker himself.

Working out step by step

SentenceStep 1Step 2Answer
My mother's motherMotherMother's motherGrandmother
My father's brotherFatherFather's brotherKaka
My father's only sonFatherFather's only sonI myself
1
Rule 1

Work the sentence out from left to right, step by step. Only one link at a time.

  • E.g. My mother's mother : first step mother, second step mother's mother = grandmother.
2
Rule 2

"Only son" means there is no other brother. The father's only son is the speaking boy himself.

  • E.g. Sunil says, "He is my father's only son." He is Sunil himself.
3
Rule 3

If it says "child", we cannot tell if it is a boy or a girl. Decide the gender only if son or daughter is clearly written.

  • E.g. "My brother's child" : we do not know if it is a putanya or a putani.
4
Rule 4

If two links bring you back to the same person, check the relation again.

  • E.g. Father's only son's mother = mother.
Example 1 · easy

Sunil points to a photo and says, "She is my mother's mother." Who is she?

  1. Mother's mother.
  2. Answer : Grandmother.
Example 2 · medium

"He is the only son of my father's father." What is he to Sunil?

  1. Father's father is the grandfather. The grandfather's only son is Sunil's father.
  2. Answer : Father.
Example 3 · exam type

Anjali says, "He is the father of my mother's brother's son." What is he to Anjali?

  1. Mother's brother is mama. The father of mama's son is mama himself.
  2. Answer : Mama.
Remember

Work out the small link first, then the next. Do not work out two links at a time.

Common mistake

Forgetting the word "only". "Father's only son" is nobody else, it is the speaker himself.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "One link, one step."

Shortcut

When "only" appears, the possibilities shrink; very often the answer is "I" or "mother/father".

Spot the difference

SentenceAnswer
My mother's daughter (a sister exists)My sister
My mother's only daughter (I am a girl)I myself
My brother's childPutanya/putani (gender not known)

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1What is my mother's mother to me?
  2. 2What is my brother's mother to me? (we are full brothers)
  3. 3What is my father's sister to me?
Medium
  1. 4"He is my mavshi's brother." What is he to me? (full brother)
  2. 5"She is the mother of my father's only son." What is she to me?
  3. 6"He is the only son of my father's mother." What is he to me?
Challenging
  1. 7Ramesh says, "This girl is the daughter of my father's only son." What is she to Ramesh?
  2. 8"He is the father of my mother's only brother." What is he to me?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1Grandmother.
  2. 2Mother.
  3. 3Atya.
  4. 4Mavshi's brother is mother's brother. Answer : Mama.
  5. 5Father's only son is me. My mother. Answer : Mother.
  6. 6Father's mother and her only son. Answer : Father.
  7. 7Father's only son is Ramesh himself. His daughter. Answer : Daughter.
  8. 8The father of mother's brother is mother's father. Answer : Grandfather.

Generations : levels in the family tree

From daily life

The branches of a tree are one above another. The generations of a family are like that too : grandfather at the top, then parents, then we, then our children. We can give each generation a level (step).

Simple definition

Take our own generation as 0. Parents' generation is +1, grandparents' is +2. Children's generation is −1, grandchildren's −2. Brothers and sisters are on our own level (0).

Levels of generations

RelationGeneration
Grandfather, grandmother+2
Mother, father, mama, kaka, atya, mavshi+1
Brother, sister, cousin0
Son, daughter, putanya, bhacha−1
Grandson, granddaughter−2
1
Rule 1

Add the levels. For "X's Y", the level of X + the level of Y (counted from X).

  • E.g. Mother's father : +1 and then +1 = +2. That is the grandfather.
2
Rule 2

A brother or sister does not change the level. Add +0.

  • E.g. Father's brother : +1 and +0 = +1 (kaka).
3
Rule 3

A son or daughter adds −1. So "mavshi's son" : +1, −1 = 0.

  • E.g. Mavshi's son is on our own level (mavas brother).
4
Rule 4

The generation gap between two = bigger level − smaller level.

  • E.g. Grandfather (+2) and grandson (−2) : 2 − (−2) = a gap of 4 generations.
Example 1 · easy

What is the level of mother's father?

  1. Mother +1 and mother's father +1 : total +2.
  2. Answer : +2 (grandfather).
Example 2 · medium

At which level is father's brother?

  1. Father +1, brother +0.
  2. Answer : +1.
Example 3 · exam type

At which level is the daughter of mavshi's son?

  1. Mavshi +1. Her son +1 − 1 = 0. His daughter 0 − 1 = −1.
  2. Answer : −1 (the generation of our children).
Remember

Going up is +, coming down is −. Siblings mean zero.

Common mistake

Thinking brothers and sisters are another generation. Brothers and sisters are in our own generation.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Parents +1, grandparents +2, children −1, grandchildren −2."

Shortcut

To find the generation gap between two people, subtract their levels.

Spot the difference

RelationLevelWhich generation
Grandfather+2Two generations above us
Kaka+1Parents' generation
Chulat brother0Our own generation
Putanya−1Children's generation

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1What is the level of the grandfather?
  2. 2What is the level of the grandson?
  3. 3What is the level of our brother?
Medium
  1. 4What is the generation gap between a grandfather and a son?
  2. 5What is the level of atya's daughter?
  3. 6At which level is the brother of father's father?
Challenging
  1. 7What is the generation gap between mother's brother and his granddaughter?
  2. 8What is the level of grandmother's grandson and who can he be?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1+2.
  2. 2−2.
  3. 30.
  4. 4+2 and −1 : 2 − (−1) = 3 generations.
  5. 5Atya +1. Her daughter +1 − 1 = 0.
  6. 6Grandfather +2, his brother +0 : +2.
  7. 7Mother's brother +1. His granddaughter is 2 generations below him, that is +1 − 2 = −1. Gap 1 − (−1) = 2 generations.
  8. 8Grandmother +2. Her grandson +2 − 2 = 0. He is in our own generation (we ourselves, a brother, or a chulat/mame cousin).

Counting questions in a family

From daily life

When counting children at home we forget to count ourselves. "I have 3 brothers" means there are 4 boys in the house (counting me). When counting siblings leave yourself out, but when counting the family include yourself.

Simple definition

In a counting question we must find how many boys and girls there are. If someone's "brothers" or "sisters" are given, count leaving that person out.

An example family

PersonBrothersSisters
A boy (in a house with 4 boys and 2 girls)32
A girl (in a house with 4 boys and 2 girls)41
1
Rule 1

A boy's brothers = boys − 1, sisters = girls. A girl's brothers = boys, sisters = girls − 1.

  • E.g. With 4 boys and 2 girls : a boy has 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
2
Rule 2

Total children = boys + girls. If someone's brothers and sisters are given, add him (+1 for himself).

  • E.g. A boy has 3 brothers and 2 sisters : boys 3 + 1 = 4, girls 2, total 6.
3
Rule 3

Count one man and one woman in a couple. A daughter-in-law (sun) is a son's wife, a woman.

  • E.g. 3 sons and their 3 wives : 3 men and 3 women.
4
Rule 4

One person can have two relations (one man is a father and a son). Then fewer people are needed.

  • E.g. Grandfather, father, son : 3 people but 2 fathers and 2 sons.
Example 1 · easy

A boy has 3 brothers and 2 sisters. How many children are in the family?

  1. Boys 3 + 1 = 4 and girls 2.
  2. Answer : 6 children (4 boys, 2 girls).
Example 2 · medium

In the same family, how many brothers and how many sisters does a girl have?

  1. Boys 4 and girls 2. The girl has 4 brothers and 2 − 1 = 1 sister.
  2. Answer : 4 brothers and 1 sister.
Example 3 · exam type

A family has a grandfather, a grandmother, their 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law and 4 grandchildren (3 grandsons, 1 granddaughter). How many people in all? How many women and men?

  1. Total 2 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 10.
  2. Women : grandmother 1 + daughters-in-law 2 + granddaughter 1 = 4. Men 10 − 4 = 6.
Remember

When we are told how many brothers and sisters someone has, he is left out. When finding the number in the family, add him back.

Common mistake

Thinking "3 brothers" means 3 boys in the house. 3 brothers + the boy himself = 4 boys.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Siblings given, add yourself +1."

Shortcut

After counting the total, check that men + women = total.

Spot the difference

QuestionHow to solve it
How many brothers does a boy have?Boys − 1
How many sisters does a girl have?Girls − 1
Total children in the familyBrothers + sisters + himself

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1A family has parents and 3 sons and 2 daughters. How many people in all?
  2. 2Raj has 2 brothers and 1 sister. How many children are in the house?
  3. 3A girl has 3 sisters and no brother. How many girls are in the house?
Medium
  1. 4A girl has 2 brothers and 3 sisters. How many brothers and sisters does one of her brothers have?
  2. 5A grandfather, a grandmother, 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law and 1 child for each couple. How many people in all?
  3. 64 brothers have only one sister. How many children are in the house?
Challenging
  1. 7A girl has as many brothers as sisters. Each of her brothers has twice as many sisters as brothers. How many boys and girls?
  2. 8A family has 2 fathers, 2 sons, 1 grandfather and 1 grandson. What is the least number of people?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 12 + 3 + 2 = 7.
  2. 2Boys 2 + 1 = 3, girls 1. Total 4.
  3. 33 + 1 = 4 girls.
  4. 4Boys 2 and girls 3 + 1 = 4. A brother has 2 − 1 = 1 brother and 4 sisters.
  5. 52 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 11.
  6. 64 sons + 1 daughter = 5.
  7. 7Try a guess : take 3 boys and 4 girls. A girl has 3 brothers and 4 − 1 = 3 sisters, the same. A boy has 4 sisters and 3 − 1 = 2 brothers, and 4 = 2 × 2. Everything fits. Boys 3, girls 4.
  8. 8A grandfather, his son (father) and that son's son (grandson). One man holds two relations : 3 people.

Chulat, mame, ate, mavas : joined relations

From daily life

In the Diwali holidays we go to mama's house, atya's house, kaka's house and meet the children there. They are our cousins, but their name has "mame", "ate", "chulat" or "mavas" in front. From the word we can tell which side they are on.

Simple definition

The children of our parents' siblings are our chulat, mame, ate or mavas cousins. The name depends on the sibling of our parent who connects us : kaka, mama, atya or mavshi.

List of names

Parent of the childrenWhat they are to us
Kaka's childrenChulat cousins
Mama's childrenMame cousins
Atya's childrenAte cousins
Mavshi's childrenMavas cousins
1
Rule 1

Solve step by step : first which sibling of our parent it is, then his or her children.

  • E.g. Atya's son : father's sister (atya), her son = ate brother.
2
Rule 2

The children of kaka, mama, atya and mavshi are our cousins and their generation is 0.

  • E.g. Mavshi's daughter = mavas sister. Generation 0.
3
Rule 3

Read a pair from both sides : from one side a mame cousin, from the other side an ate cousin.

  • E.g. Mother's brother's son is my mame brother; I am the son of his father's sister, that is his ate brother.
4
Rule 4

Decide brother or sister only if the gender is given.

  • E.g. "Kaka's child" : we do not know if it is a chulat brother or sister.
Example 1 · easy

What is atya's son to us?

  1. Father's sister is atya. Her son.
  2. Answer : Ate brother.
Example 2 · medium

"He is the son of my father's brother." What is he to me?

  1. Father's brother is kaka. Kaka's son.
  2. Answer : Chulat brother.
Example 3 · exam type

Anil says, "Bina is my mother's brother's daughter." What is Anil to Bina?

  1. Mother's brother is mama. Bina is mama's daughter, that is Anil's mame sister.
  2. Anil is the son of Bina's father's sister. So Anil is Bina's ate brother.
  3. Answer : Ate brother.
Remember

Read pairs from both ends : mame sister and ate brother are the two ends of the same relation.

Common mistake

Calling kaka's son a mame brother. Kaka's children are chulat; mame means the mother's brother's.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Kaka-chulat, mama-mame, atya-ate, mavshi-mavas."

Shortcut

In a hard question first identify the parent's sibling; the rest becomes easy.

Spot the difference

PairRelation
Kaka's sonChulat brother
Mama's daughterMame sister
Atya's daughterAte sister
Mavshi's sonMavas brother

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1What is mavshi's daughter to us?
  2. 2What is mama's son to us?
  3. 3What is kaka's daughter to us?
Medium
  1. 4What is the full sister of atya's son to us?
  2. 5Rama says, "He is the full brother of my mavshi's son." What is he to Rama?
  3. 6What is Sunil's mama to Sunil's mother?
Challenging
  1. 7Sunil says, "She is the mother of the only daughter of my mother's only brother." What is she to Sunil?
  2. 8"He is the only son of my father's only sister." What is he to me?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1Mavas sister.
  2. 2Mame brother.
  3. 3Chulat sister.
  4. 4Atya's daughter, that is an ate sister.
  5. 5The brother of mavshi's son is also mavshi's son. Answer : Mavas brother.
  6. 6Mother's brother. Answer : Brother.
  7. 7Mother's only brother is mama. The mother of his daughter is mama's wife. Answer : Mami (mama's wife).
  8. 8Father's sister is atya. Her only son. Answer : Ate brother.

Quick revision of the whole lesson

TypeMemory clue
Basic relationsMama-mavshi = mother; kaka-atya = father
Joining linksOne link, one step
GenerationsParents +1, grandparents +2, children −1, grandchildren −2
Counting questionsSiblings given, add yourself +1
Joined relationsKaka-chulat, mama-mame, atya-ate, mavshi-mavas
Generation gapBigger level − smaller level

🎯 Most important points for the exam

  • Mama-mavshi are on the mother's side; kaka-atya on the father's side.
  • Work a sentence out step by step; one link at a time.
  • "Only" means nobody else; often the answer is "I myself".
  • Levels of generations : parents +1, grandparents +2, children −1, grandchildren −2, siblings 0.
  • Leave yourself out when counting siblings; add yourself back when counting the family.
  • Kaka's children are chulat, mama's are mame, atya's are ate, mavshi's are mavas cousins.
🧠 Study mantra

"First the side, then the link; one step at a time."