Introduction

The Reasoning section of every competitive exam includes questions from the topic "Blood Relations". This topic is considered to be quiet important and every year a good number of questions are asked from this topic. It is considered to be a very scoring topic. We are providing you with all the important tools to solve blood relations questions.

Family or Blood Relationship means persons connected by relations like – father-mother, son daughter, brother-sister, grandfather-grandmother, uncle-aunty, nephew-niece, brother-in-law sister-in-law etc. The list can go on and on adding members from father’s side and mother’s side etc.

Example 1: ‘Ram’ is the father of ‘Kusha’ but ‘Kusha’ is not his son. ‘Mala’ is the daughter of ‘Kusha’.’Shalaka’ is the spouse of ‘Ram’. ‘Gopal’ is the brother of ‘Kusha’. ‘Hari’ is the son of ‘Gopal’. ‘Meena’ is the spouse of ‘Gopal’. ‘Ganpat’ is the father of ‘Meena’. Who is the granddaughter of ‘Ram’?

(1) Hari

(2) Mala

(3) Meena

(4) Shalaka

Solution:

‘Mala’ is the daughter of ‘Kusha’ and ‘Ram’ is the father of ‘Kusha’. So, ‘Mala’ is the granddaughter of ‘Ram’. Hence, the answer is (2) Mala.

Example

Mohapatra family is very famous for their shopping malls. The owner of house is Umesh Mohapatra. He has two sons. Their names are Rakesh and Rohit Mohapatra. Rakesh is married to Shriti. Soumya is father-in-law of Rakesh and Shilpa is sister of Shriti. Shilpa’s mother’s name is Sujata. Chintu is nephew of Rohit. Rohit’s mother is Gita.

1 - What is relationship between Chintu and Rakesh?

Options −

A - Son-father

B - Father-son

C - Brother

D - Cousins

Answer − Option A

Explanation − As Chintu is nephew of Rohit so he must be Rakesh’s son.

2 - How is Shilpa related to Rakesh?

Options −

A - Sister

B - Sister-in-law

C - Cousin

D - Mother

Answer − Option B

Explanation − Shilpa is Shriti’s sister, so option B is correct.

3 - How is Gita related to Shriti?

Options −

A - Mother

B - Sister

C - Aunt

D - Mother-in-law

Answer − Option D

Explanation − Option D is correct because she is mother of her husband.

Some Common Terms

Meaning of some terms often used in questions on the family relationship are given below:

a) Parent – Mother or father

b) Child – Son or daughter (even if an adult)

c) Sibling – Brother or sister (Including half brother and half sister - one parent in common)

d) Spouse – Husband or wife

Basic Relationships:-

Aunt, Uncle, Niece, and Nephew

• Most English speakers use “uncle” for any of four relationships: father’s brother, mother’s brother, father’s sister’s husband, or mother’s sister’s husband.
• Again, “aunt” in English could mean father’s sister, mother’s sister, father’s brother’s wife, or mother’s brother’s wife.
• Brother’s or sister’s son is called nephew. Brother’s or sister’s daughter is called niece.
• Children of aunt or uncle are called cousins.

Relationships Involving the Term ‘-in-law’

General

• Any relationship term ending with -in-law indicates that the relationship is by marriage and not by blood. In other words, -in-law will be a blood relative of the spouse.
• In-law relationship terms are always written with hyphens. And the plural is formed on the part before the “-in-law”;

For example, “brothers-in-law” and not “brother-in-law”. The only exception is the general term “in-laws”, which is always plural.

Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Son-in-law and Daughter-in-law

• Father-in-law is the father of spouse; mother-in-law is the mother of spouse. If parents get divorced and remarry, their new spouses are called stepparents, not mother-in-law and father-in-law.
• The husband of daughter is son-in-law; the wife of son is daughter-in-law. If spouse has children from a previous marriage, those are called stepchildren, not sons-in-law or daughters-in-law. The person is their stepfather or stepmother, not their father-in-law or mother-in-law.

Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law

• Brother-in-law” and “Sister-in-law” each have two or three meanings as follows:

a) Sister-in-law could be

i) The sister of spouse, or

ii) The wife of brother, or

iii) The wife of spouse’s brother.

b) Similarly, Brother-in-law could be

i) The brother of spouse, or

ii) The husband of sister, or

iii) The husband of spouse’s sister.

Relationships Involving the Terms ‘Grand’ and ‘Great’

• The relationships of the second generation are prefixed with the word Grand.
• Similarly, for a person, the first generation above him would be that of his/her parents (Father/ Mother). The next/second generation above him/her would be the parents of the parents who would be called Grand Parents/ Grand Father/ Grand Mother of that person. The next/ third generation parents would be called Great Grand Parents/ Great Grand Father/ Great Grand Mother of that person.
• This also applies to the collateral relationships.

For example Son of nephew of a person is called Grand Nephew; Brother of Grand Father is called Grand Uncle and so on.

• The fourth generation relationships are called Great Great Grand. For example, Son of Great Grand Son is Great Great Grand Son.

There are two ways Martha could have a stepsister:

a) If Martha’s mother marries second time, and her new husband (Martha’s new stepfather) already has a daughter from a previous marriage, that daughter is Martha’s stepsister because one of her parents is married to one of Martha’s parents.

b) If Martha’s father marries second time, and his new wife already has a daughter, that daughter is again Martha’s stepsister.

Details of Relationship:Relation

Mother’s or Father’s son

Brother

Mother’s or Father’s daughter

Sister

Mother’s or Father’s father

Grandfather

Mother’s or Father’s mother

Grandmother

Son’s wife

Daughter-in-law

Daughter’s husband

Son-in-law

Husband’s or Wife’s sister

Sister-in-law

Husband’s or Wife’s brother

Brother-in-law

Brother’s or Sister’s son

Nephew

Brother’s or Sister’s daughter

Niece

Uncle or Aunt’s daughter or son

Cousin

Brother’s wife

Sister-in-law

Sister’s husband

Brother-in-law

Grandson’s or Granddaughter’s son

Great Grandson

Grandson’s or Granddaughter’s daughter

Great Granddaughter

Q/A

Q 1 - Introducing Laxman, Latika said,”He is the only son of my mother’s mother.” How is Latika related to Laxman?

Options :

A - Mother

B - Cousin

C - Niece

D - Aunt

Answer : C

Explanation

Laxman is brother of Latika’s mother so he is maternal uncle and Latika is his niece.

Mishra family is very famous for their home business of sweets. The owner of Mishra sweet’s is Govind Mishra. He has two sons. Their name are Shyam Mishra and Ram Mishra. Shyam is married to Sheela. Ranjan is father-in-law of Shyam and Snigdha is sister of Sheela. Snigdha’s mother’s name is Sushila. Santosh is nephew of Ram. Ram’s mother is Sita.

Q 2 - How is Snigdha related to Santosh?

Options :

A - Niece

B - Aunt

C - Mother

D - Sister

Answer : B

Explanation

As Snigdha is sister of Sheela so she must be his aunt.

In Rao family Rajendra Rao is the owner of house. He is married to Puspa. Puspa has two children and their names are Sneha and Raman. Bikram has married to Sneha and Radhika is Raman’s spouse. Neha is the only girl child of Sneha and Radha is the only girl child of Radhika. Aman is Radha’s only brother.

Q 3 - How is Bikram related to Raman?

Options :

A - Brother

B - Husband

C - Brother-in-law

D - Cousin

Answer : C

Explanation

As Bikram is husband of Raman’s sister so option C is correct.

In a certain relationship

(a) S x T means S is brother of T

(b)S – T means S is mother of T

(c)S + T means S is father of T

Q 4 - In the pattern S x T + R, how is S related to R?

Options :

A - Uncle

B - Father

C - Cousin

D - Nephew

Answer : A

Explanation

As S is brother of T and T is father of R so option A is right.

In a certain relationship

(a) S x T means S is brother of T

(b)S – T means S is mother of T

(c)S + T means S is father of T

Q 5 - In the pattern X x Y + Z, how is Z related to X

Options :

A - Data inadequate

B - Father

C - Niece

D - Nephew

Answer : A

Explanation

As we cannot determine the sex of Z so we cannot say whether he is nephew or niece so option A is correct.

Khan family in Lucknow is well-known for their bakery business. Rahim Khan is the owner of the house and he has two girl child named Shabnam and Shahida. Shabnam is married to Tariq and Sheikh is her son. Sattar is husband of Shahida and Suliemann is their only child. Suliemann is grandson of Salma.

Q 6 - How is Sheikh related to Salma?

Options :

A - Grandson

B - Son

C - Nephew

D - Brother

Answer : A

Explanation

Sheikh is son of Salma’s girl child so he is her grandson.

Mohapatra family is very famous for their shopping malls. The owner of house is Umesh Mohapatra. He has two sons. Their names are Rakesh and Rohit Mohapatra. Rakesh is married to Shriti. Soumya is father-inlaw of Rakesh and Shilpa is sister of Shriti. Shilpa’s mother’s name is Sujata. Chintu is nephew of Rohit. Rohit’s mother is Gita.

Q 7 - How is Chintu related to Soumya?

Options :

A - Son

B - Grandson

C - Nephew

D - Uncle

Answer : B

Explanation

Chintu is grandson of Soumya as he is his mother’s father.

In Basistha family Purvesh Basistha is the owner of house. He is married to Shraddha. Shraddha has two children and their names are Priti and Tara. Bikash has married to Priti and Ritu is Tara’s spouse. Lucky is the only girl child of Priti and Mama is the only girl child of Ritu. Vicky is Mama’s only brother.

Q 8 - How is Ritu related to Priti?

Options :

A - Sister-in-law

B - Sister

C - Cousin

D - Mother

Answer : A

Explanation

Ritu is wife of Priti’s brother. Hence the option.

Q 9 - Pointing to a person, Amitabh said to Jaya, ”His mother is the only girl child of your father.” How is the Jaya related to that person?

Options :

A - Aunt

B - Mother

C - Girl Child

D - Wife

Answer : B

Explanation

Only girl child of Jaya’s father is the Jaya herself. Therefore, statement implies that Jaya is the mother of that person.

Q 10 - Anubhav said Govind is my father-in-law’s son. How is Govind related to Anubhav?

Options :

A - Brother

B - Brother-in-law

C - Cousin

D - Nephew

Answer : B

Explanation

Govind is definitely brother-in-law of Anubhav.

Q 11 − Sharman said to Priti ,”your mother’s husband’s sister is my aunt.” How is Priti related to Sharman?

Options :

A - Girl child

B - Sister

C - Granddaughter

D - Mother

Answer - B

Explanation

Mother’s husband’s sister means that sister of father. Hence, Priti is sister of Sharman.

Q 12 − Introducing Steve, a woman said,” His wife is the only girl child of my father.” How is Steve related to that woman?

Options :

A - Husband

B - Father-in-law

C - Uncle

D - Grandfather

Answer - A

Explanation

The only girl child of the woman’s father is she herself. Hence, the woman and Steve has a wife-husband relationship.

Q 13 − Introducing Dennis, Lisa said,” he is the only son of my mother’s mother.” How is Lisa related to Dennis?

Options :

A - Mother

B - Cousin

C - Niece

D - Aunt

Answer - C

Explanation

Dennis is brother of Lisa’s mother, so he is maternal uncle of Lisa and Lisa is his niece.

Q 14 − If Vicky says that his mother is the only girl child of Chicky’s mother, how is Chicky related to Vicky?

Options :

A - Son

B - Father

C - Brother

D - Uncle

Answer - D

Explanation

As per the given information in the question, Vicky’s mother is the only girl child of Chicky’s mother. In other words, Vicky is the grandson of Chicky’s mother. Hence Chicky is the uncle of Vicky.

Q 15 − Pointing to Chandresh, Padma said, ”He is the brother of my uncle’s girl child.” How is Chandresh related to Padma?

Options :

A - Cousin

B - Son

C - Brother-in-law

D - Nephew

Answer - A

Explanation

Clearly, Chandresh is the cousin of Padma.

Q 16 − Pointing to a person, Abhijit said to Riya,” His mother is the only girl child of your father.” How is Riya related to that person?

Options :

A - Aunt

B - Mother

C - Girl child

D - Wife

Answer - B

Explanation

Riya is the only girl child of hers father. Therefore, statement in other words implies that Riya is the mother of that person.

Q 17 − Pointing to a man in the photograph, Rajat said to Sushma,”His mother is the only girl child of your father.” How is Sushma related to the man in the photograph?

Options :

A - Sister

B - Mother

C - Wife

D - Girl child

Answer - B

Explanation

From the information given in the question, it is clear that the only girl child of the Sushma’s father is Sushma herself, and it is clear that man is her son. Therefore, Sushma is the mother of the man in the photograph.

Q 18 − Introducing Jenifer to guests, Lauren said,” Her father is the son of my father.” How is Jenifer related to Lauren?

Options :

A - Girl child

B - Mother

C - Sister

D - Niece

Answer - D

Explanation

Jenifer’s father is the son of Lauren’s father. It means Lauren and Jenifer’s father are brothers. So Jenifer is the niece of Lauren.

Q 19 − Introducing a girl, Sandeep said, ”Her mother is the only girl child of my mother-in-law.” How is Sandeep related to that girl?

Options :

A - Son

B - Father

C - Cousin

D - Brother-in-law

Answer - B

Explanation

The only girl child of Sandeep’s mother-in-law is the wife of Sandeep. Therefore, the statement, in other words implies that “her mother is my wife”. Hence, it is clear that Sandeep is the father of that girl.

Q 20 − Showing the lady in the park, Subhash said, “She is the girl child of my grandfather’s only son.” How is Subhash related to that lady?

Options :

A - Brother

B - Father

C - Cousin

D - Uncle

Answer - A

Explanation

The only son of Subhash’s grandfather is the father of Subhash and girl child of Subhash’s father is the sister of Subhash. Hence Subhash is the brother of that lady.