Spoken Tamil through Roman Alphabet
Lessons planned by K.Kasturi & Siddesh Mukundan
Introduction
We often marvel at the capacity of children, even ev en before schooling, to pick up a language of their surroundings. This is because they are no t unduly bothered by alphabet or by glossy textbooks. All they do is i s to imitate the sound they hear around and the context in which the sounds are made. In a short period of time, they start speaking the language.
Sound plays a vital part in the process of o f learning languages. As the children grow, they gather a bigger vocabulary of words and expressions by sheer association. This is the method we shall employ in our effort to learn to speak in Tamil. The sounds we shall use are sounds which we are familiar with i.e. letters of the Roman alphabet. The lessons which follow are meant for those who are familiar with English language.
If we went by conventional way of learning Tamil, mastering the letters of the Tamil alphabet might take weeks or even months because there are n early 250 lettersymbols in it. Whereas our new method of learning through Roman alphabet does not involve learning any new letters. We simply have to employ e mploy only 39 characters, of which 23 are roman letters which we already know and the re maining 16 are some of the same letters but with diacritical marks above them. Diacritical marks are signs which are used to differentiate between the different values of the same letter. Therefore, we should have no difficulty in using the roman letters as tools to familiarise ourselves with the sounds of Tamil words. Of the 26 letters, we leave out three – q, w and x – and on 12 of the remaining 23, we shall use diacritical signs. The total comes to 39. Every letter in spoken Tamil is covered within these 3 9 symbols.
What the phonetic value of each of these characters is, is given g iven in Lesson 1.
Contents
Lesson
Page
1.
Romanized Tamil alphabet and their phonetic values
.
.
1
2.
Glossary of nouns and verbs in Tamil
.
.
.
.
2
3.
Pronouns & Nouns
.
.
.
.
10
4.
Pronouns in the genitive / possessive case & Nouns
.
.
11
5.
Pronouns in the accusitive case & Verbs
.
.
.
.
12
6.
Pronouns Pronouns denoting association & Verbs
.
.
.
.
13
7.
Pronouns in the instrumental case & Verbs .
.
.
.
14
8.
Pronouns denoting recipients (Dative) & Abstract Nouns .
.
15
9.
Pronouns in the locative case & Abstract / General Nouns
.
16
10. Pronouns in the ablative case & Abstract / General Nouns
.
17
11. Nouns and Case Endings
.
.
.
.
.
.
18
12. Verbs and Tenses
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
19
13. Adjectives
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
21
.
.
.
.
.
.
24
15. Miscellaneous:
.
.
.
.
25
16. Miscellaneous: intransitive verbs
.
.
.
.
.
27
17. Recollection Exercises
.
.
.
.
.
28
.
.
14. Vowels and Case Endings
.
.
.
Lesson 1 Romanized Tamil alphabet and their phonetic values
" $ & '
The sound of: u
as in: us, must, cut
a
car, far
b
bus, tub
ch
chop, rich
th
them, the, though
d
den, bed
e
met, set
a
day, gay, pay
f
fun, tiff
g
gun, dog
h
hat, he
i
sit, pit
ee
peel, meet
j
jam, jet
k
king, kit
l
let, look
l
ploy, blue, glue
m
man, Tom
n
net, bin
n
and, band, shun
! # % (
The sound of: o o ou or ow
as in: omit, molest role, pole out, foul, owl
p
pen, nip
r
rock, fur
rr
curry, merry
s
sun, sit
thin sh
Shanti
sh
shop, bush
th
with, python
t
ten, bet, top
u
full, put, push
oo
fool, moon, cool
y
rhythm
v
van, victory
y
yawn, toy
y
sky, fry, my
z
zero, zoo
The sound produced when we try to utter ‘sha’ without the tongue touching the roof of the mouth.
tank, bang, pink, punch, munch
)&*
n
[Instances where the n is not fully pronounced, but blends with the succeeding consonant.]
1
Lesson 2 Glossary of nouns and verbs in Tamil
These are the common nouns and verbs used in spoken Tamil.To get familiar with the romanized Tamil alphabet, practise reading the words aloud.
The list of nouns follows in pages 3 to 7.
2
Members of a family
Mother Father Parent Son Daughter Baby Brother (elder) Sister (elder)
$$+! +&# $& $" (&# ''+''&
Brother (younger) Sister (younger) Grandfather Grandmother Grandson Granddaughter Relative(s)
$ &# & &
Greetings & Common Expressions
Sir Madam Hello / Salutations Thank you Sorry
!! $$ '$ && $&&$
Please Yes No / Not Okay But
!! $+$$ # &
Language & Speech
Language Word Speaking / Speech
#+$( #
Silence Letter (mail) Letter (of alphabet)
$&$ $ (
Nouns used in questions (Interrogative nouns )
Who
!
Where
)&*
How
Why
!&
When
, (colloquial.)
How many
&#
How much
"
What Here There This way / Thus That way For this reason For that reason Now Then This many That many This much That much
&& )&* )&* & & , (col.) , (col.) &# &# " "
People
Man (mankind) People Man Woman Male / Manhood Female/ Womanhood Birth Death
$&& $" '+" ' '+'$# '+'$# $'$
Youth Elderly Person Student School Studies Religion God Mind
#)&*!& $! $'& "" $$ " $&$
3
Marriage Age Child Teenager
$+ !'$ (col.) ! (&# &
Conscience
$&
Thought Civilization / Culture
''$ &$ $
Home
House / Home Room Door Window Stairs Cot Bed Table Chair Floor
# && # $# & #
Wall Ladder Bureau Kitchen Oven / Stove Cooking Vessel Food Plate Ladle
' $!# $! $ +' &
Festivals & Occasions Festival Greetings Gift Wedding Birthday
(+&# -( $'$ &&"
Invitation Guest Fasting Feasting
(# & &)&* &
The body and related Body Head Brain Hair Face Eye Ear Nose Mouth Tongue Teeth Lips Cheek Neck Shoulder Chest
+$ # $"# $ $$ ' $ ! & &&$ ( " $
Heart Hand Finger Stomach Hip Leg Foot Back Bone Breath Sleep Hunger Pain Disease Medicine
!$ # ! $ $ $ $ $+$ &! $&
World Affairs World Nation Government Army
$ $ &#
Law Power Capacity Right
$ $ $# $# 4
Commercial Terms
Money Price Worth Own / Ownership Job / Work Salary
'$ # $ &+&$ # $"$
!$ $ &$ #
Expense(s) Trade (noun) Profit Loss Shop
Numerals (grammatical / colloquial )
One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Zero Point (decimal)
&+'' &+& $&+$' &)&*+& #)&*+)&* ( & !$ ""
Ten Twenty Thirty Forty Fifty Sixty Seventy Eighty Ninety Hundred Thousand
+ $ &+& #$+$ + (+( ' '' & !$
Nouns related to Directions / Location Direction East West North South Side Left Right Front / Infront Rear / Behind
# ( $ $ $&+$&& &+&&
Above / Upper Below / Lower At the bottom In the middle Inside / Inner Outside / Outer In the gap Around Position / Place
$+$ (+( ! & ""+" "!+" ! $
Nouns related to Time
Today Tomorrow Yesterday That day Day/ Days Week Month Year Morning Evening Night Daytime Early morning
& &"# & & &"+&" $ $$ $ # $# #
Time (period) Hour / Time (real) Minute Second Day (of the week) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
$ $' &$$ & ($# &!! &" ! & !(& "" &
5
Geological terms
Earth Soil Sand Way / Route Distance Height Water Air Sun Moon Banana Mango Grapes Lemon Pomegranate Tomato Greens Cabbage Coconut Onion
Light / Bright $ "$ Dark $' Sky $' &$+!$ Cloud ( $$ Rain $ $(# Wetness / Moisture !$ $ Sea $+'' Island Heat !& Cold &&+& " Fruits (($), vegetables (!) and food ingredients Potato (#($ #(& Lady’s finger $$($ &# Eggplant/ Brinjal # Raw Banana $# (#! Rice (raw) $"# Salt " Chilli # $"! Gram / Pulses $# Egg )&*! $# Flour )&*!$ $ Plants
Plant Leaf Flower
#
Thorn Tree Root
$" $$
Common animals Animal Dog Cat Cow Buffalo Bull Cattle (in general) Goat Pig Horse Bird Hen/Rooster/Chicken Duck Parrot Owl Dove
$$ &! &# $# "# $ & # # ( " &#
Donkey Monkey Elephant Tiger Lion Bear Fish Snake Lizard Insect Common birds Cuckoo Peacock Crow Vulture Crane
(# )&* !&# )&*$ $& $ ! $! # (
6
Abstract Nouns
&$+'$# ! $ $ $ ' $( $ $ $# ($ &$
Right Wrong Truth Lies Difficulty Ease Strength Emotion Happiness Sadness Anger Jealousy/ Envy Confusion Suspicion /Doubt
Respect/ Reverence Pride Honesty Good (noun) Bad / Evil (noun) Harm Freedom Use Size /Amount Hurry (noun) Loudness Softness Beauty
$ $# &'#$ & # !$ " $ $ $&$# (
Note: •
To obtain the plural form of a noun, “ E.g.: Son ($&) House ()
•
•
– –
" ” is added to the singular form.
Sons : $&" Houses : "
When the conjunction of two or more nouns (or pronouns) is to be shown, i.e. for ‘and’ or ‘too’, the phrase “ $” is added to both nouns. E.g.: The horse (#) and the carriage ( &) – Both you ( &) and I ( &&) –
#!$&!$ &!$&&$
Mother ($$) too / Mother also
$$$
–
When the meaning of ‘something only’ or ‘ just something’ is to be conveyed, the word ‘$$’ is added to the noun or pronoun. E.g.: Only potato (#(&) Just father () and I (&&)
– –
#(&$$ $&&$$$
The list of commonly used verbs follows in pages 8 & 9.
7
Verbs (in alphabetical order) Absorb/ Suck (liquids) Accept Act Allow Announce Approach Arrange Awaken Bathe Be Be troubled/disturbed Blab Bump Bump hard Buy Cheat Clean Cleanse Close Come Correct Create / Produce Crush + Cut (Transitive ) + Cut/Snap (Intransitive ) Dance Deal (with) Decompose Demolish Do + Dry (Intransitive (Intransitive ) Eat Feel Fly Forget Get down / Get off Get up Give Go Grasp Grind Hate Heat Help
)&* !" & &$ ' ( " "+ $ )&* $ # $+( $ # & $" ( ! ' $ )&* (+(& + # !
Hide / Conceal Hit / Strike Invite Jump Know Let go Lick Live Lock Look Love Manage Move (Budge) + Move (Intransitive ) + Move (Transitive ) Organize Pick / Choose Play Play (music, etc.) Press / Depress Print Push Put Read Report / Notify Rinse Run Scold / Abuse Sell Separate / Detach + Shake (Intransitive ) + Shake (Transitive ) Sing Sit Slap Sleep Snatch / Pluck Speak Stand Stay Stay (Reside) Steal Stick / Glue Stink
$# (# + & ( & & # & & $# ! ( "" +# # # )&* & )&* & 8
+
Stop (Intransi ( Intransitive tive ) + Stop (Transitive ) Suffer Suppress Think / Count Think / Plan + Turn (Intransitive ) + Turn (Transitive ) Unload Untie Uphold Walk
& & '' ! $ (+( &$ &
Take Tear Test / Prove Touch Wander Want / Like / Wish Wash Weep Work Write Yell
( & # $ # ( #! (
+ Some verbs have both Transitive and Intransitive applications. Transitive verbs are those which act on an object directly in the expression – such as ‘shake’ in ‘The boy is shaking the tree’. Intransitive verbs are those which convey an action that is performed by the subject itself in the expression – such as ‘shake’ in ‘ The building shook during the earthquake’.
Note: •
•
These are the root verbs. As they stand, they signify commands/ instructions. E.g. You come = &-. To convert these verbs into infinitives like ‘to come’ ( ), ‘to write’ ((), we should add ‘ ’, ‘’/‘’ or ‘’ to the verbs. Command Sit Go Walk
•
&
Infinitive form of verb To sit To go To walk &
To make negative commands of these verbs, in the sense: “You do not come” = &, we just add ‘ ’ to the infinitive form. E.g.:
(.inf. form]/.for negative command] 0((don’t write) Command Sit Go Walk
&
Infinitive form of verb To sit To go To walk &
Negative Command Don’t sit Don’t go Don’t walk &
9
Lesson 3 Pronouns & Nouns
Pronouns 1. 2. 3. 4.
I: We: You: You (Plural/ Respectful): 5. He: 6. She: 7. They: 8. It: 9. They (these): 10. They (those): 11. Who 12. What
Nouns
&& &)&*" & &)&*"
1. 2. 3. 4.
Little Girl: Student: Students: Carpenter:
$ $'& $'" &
& " " # # ! &&
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Insect: Elderly Person: Worms: Little Boy: Leaves: Workers: Father Work
$! (" & #" ("" &# #
Remember that “)&*"” / “"” is added to a singular noun to make it plural.
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and nouns. E.g. 1.
&(He)/&(Carpenter) 0&&(He is a carpenter) In Tamil, “is” is not written. It is understood.
2.
&&(What)/#(Work)0&&#(What is the work?)
10
Lesson 4 Pronouns in the genitive / possessive case & Nouns
Pronouns (possessive) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
My/ Mine: Our/ Ours: Your: Your (Plu/Resp): His: Hers: Their: Its: Their (Neuter): Their (Neuter): Whose: Of Which:
& )&*" & )&*" &!+&(col.) "!+"(col.) "& & #"& #"& !!+!(col.) &!
Nouns 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Book: Kid Sister: Vehicle: Elder Brother: House: Nests: Work: Dress: Food: Price: Pen: Key:
$ )&*# & ''& " # # ' # &
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and nouns from above. E.g. 1.
"(Her)/#(Dress)0"#(Her dress)
2.
&!(Of Which)/(Key)0&!(the key of which?)
11
Lesson 5 Pronouns in the accusitive case & Verbs
Pronouns (accusitive) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Me: Us: You: You (Plu/Resp): Him: Her: Them: It: These: Those: Whom: Which:
&&# )&*"# &&# )&*"# &# "# "# # #"# #"# !# #
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Verbs (commands / instructions) look: touch: ask: " catch: deal: $" leave: send: & wake: ( count: '' stop: & to invite: (# to give:
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and verbs from above. E.g. 1.
&&#(Me)/(Touch)0&&#(Touch me) In Indian languages, the verb is always placed last.
2.
!#(Whom)/(#(to invite)0!#(#(Whom to invite?)
12
Lesson 6 Pronouns denoting association & Verbs
Pronouns (associative) (associativ e) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
With Me: With Us: With You: With You (Plu/Resp): With Him: With Her: With Them: With It: With These: With Those: With Whom: With What:
&& )&*" && )&*" & " " #" #" !
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Verbs (commands / instructions) accept: " come: walk: & go: associate: ( speak: play: "! eat: think: ! take away: & to eat: to combine:
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and verbs from above. E.g. 1.
"(With Her)/(Speak)0"(Speak with her)
2.
(With What)/(to combine)0(To combine with what?)
13
Lesson 7 Pronouns in the instrumental case & Verbs
Pronouns (instrumental) (instrumenta l) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
By Me: By Us: By You: By You (Plu/Resp): By Him By Her By Them By It By These: By Those: By Who: By What:
Verbs (infintive)
&& )&*" && )&*" & " " & #" #" ! &
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
to deal: to come: to do: to suppress: to turn: to speak: to stand: to stop: to walk: to give: to buy: to open:
$" !! & & )&*
$!$1$!
$!$ means ‘is possible’ and $!means ‘is not possible’. If we add either of these to combinations of pronouns and relevant infinitive verbs from above, we get the full sense of the expression – ‘is possible’ or ‘is not possible’.
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and infintive verbs from the table and add
$!$+
$!. E.g. 1.
)&*"(By Us)/!!(to do)/$!0 )&*"!!$!(It is not possible by us to do)
2.
&(By What)/(to open)/$!$0 &$!$(With what is it possible to open?)
14
Lesson 8 Pronouns denoting recipients (Dative) & Abstract Nouns
Pronouns (dative) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
For Me: For Us: For You: For You (Plur/ Resp): For Him: For Her: For Them: For It: For These: For Those: For Whom: For What:
Abstract Nouns
& )&*" & )&*" & " " #" #" !
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Peace: Grouse: Protection: Pleasure: Tiredness: Praise: Concern: Fear: Support: Enthusiasm: Need: Use:
&$$ $ $( " # $ $ # !$
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and abstract nouns from above. E.g. 1.
"(For Her)/(Support) 0"(support for her)
2.
!(For Whom)/#(Need)0!#(For whom is the need?)
15
Lesson 9 Pronouns in the locative case & Abstract / General Nouns
Pronouns (locative) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
In Me: In Us: In You: In You (Plu/Resp): In Him: In Her: In Them: In It: In These: In Those: In Whom: In What:
&&$ )&*"$ &&$ )&*"$ &$ "$ "$ #" #" !$
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Abstract & General Nouns Belief: &$# Suspicion: &$ Anger: $ Defeat: Courage: ' Affection: & Argument: $ Attention: &$ Confusion: ($ Truth: '$# Grouse: $ Interest: #
Note: The case ending for pronouns associated with non-living things is “ ” – while the case ending for pronouns of living things is “ $” –also implying a sense of “with”. For example, “” (In It) or “&$” (In Him or With Him).
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and abstract nouns from above. E.g. 1.
&&$(In You)/$(Anger)0&&$$(angry with you)
2.
(In What)/#(Interest) 0#(Interest in what?)
16
Lesson 10 Pronouns in the ablative case & Abstract / General Nouns
Pronouns (ablative) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
From Me: From Us: From You: From You (Plu/Resp): From Him: From Her: From Them: From It: From These: From Those: From Whom: From What:
&&$& )&*"$& &&$& )&*"$& &$& "$& "$& & #"& #"& !$& &
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Abstract & General Nouns Money: Honey: & Fragrance: $'$ Reward: Censure: Flower: Blessing: Respect: $!# Affection: & Advice: $ Reply: Sweetness: &
Note: These pronouns (in the ablative case) are the same as in Lesson 9 (in the locative case) except for the addition of the term “ &” which gives the meaning – from me, from us, etc. For example, “ ” + “&” – “&” (From It).
Exercise:
Pair the appropriate pronouns and nouns from above. E.g. 1.
&(From It)/$'$(Fragrance) 0&$'$ (fragrance from it)
2.
!$&(From Whom)/(Reply)0!$& (Reply from whom?)
17
Lesson 11 Nouns and Case Endings
In the lessons 3 – 10, we w e learnt the different stances of pronouns caused by different contexts. The study may seem a bit complicated by the classification of st
pronouns into 1 person (singular & plural), 2
nd
person (singular & plural) and 3
rd
person (singular & plural). In the case of nouns, unlike pronouns, there is no such rd
complication. All nouns are treated as “3 person”. The appended letters/words rd
are all the same as for “3 person” in Pronouns.
Let us now taken an example – “boy” ( !!& in Tamil). The different cases of the noun “boy” are: ‘the boy’, ‘of the boy’ or boy’s, ‘to/for the boy’, ‘with the boy’, ‘by the boy’, ‘for the boy’, ‘in the boy’ bo y’ and ‘from the boy’. In Tamil, the differing statuses of the word “ !!&” (boy) are indicated by the different tagging letters. These are:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Noun Case Subjective: Accusative: Instrumental: Associative:
5.
Dative:
6.
Ablative:
7.
Genitive /Possessive: /Possessive: Locative:
8.
Letters Attached nil
Resultant Word
!!& /# !!& / # 0 !!&# / !!& / 0 !!& / !!& / 0 !!& / !!& / 0 !!& / /$ $ & & !! !!& &/ / $ $ & & 0!!&$& / ! !!& / ! 0 !!&! / $ !!& / $ 0 !!&$
Meaning boy the boy by the boy with the boy to/for the boy from the boy boy’s in the boy
Similarly, all nouns can be declined. When the nouns end with a vowel, like “ ” and “”, the appendages start with a ‘ ’ e.g. #22#2
$&etc. (This is explained in Lesson 14 – ‘Vowels and case endings’ ) 18
Lesson 12 Verbs and Tenses
Actions or occurences happen in three phases of time: present, future and past. The phases in which they happen are indicated by the addition of some letters to the root verb.
Most of the verbs listed in the Glossary of Lesson 2 can be conjugated by the addition of letters as follows:
st
1 Person nd 2 Person rd 3 Person
Present
Future
Past
/ & / ! /
/ & + & / ! + ! / +
/ & + && / ! + &! / + &
These additions, indicating tenses, are given below; b elow; These are the normal applications.
Verb 1. 2.
person st
(go)
1 person nd
2
person
rd
3.
3 person
4.
1 person
5. 6.
st
! (do)
nd
2
rd
person
3 person
Present tense
Future tense
Past tense
& ! !& !! !
& ! !& !! !
&& &! & !& !! !
Remarks
However, some of the verbs do not quite conform to this arrangement. These verbs are conjugated separately as follows.
19
7. 8.
st
(come)
1 person nd
2
person
rd
9.
3 person
10.
1 person
11.
st
& (stand)
nd
2
person
rd
12.
3 person
13.
1 person
14.
st
(eat)
nd
2
person
rd
15.
3 person
16.
1 person
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
st
(give)
nd
2
person
rd
3 person st
(see/look)
1 person nd
2
person
rd
3 person st
(take)
1 person nd
2
person
rd
3 person
& & ! ! && && &! &! & & & & ! ! & & ! ! & & ! ! & & ! !
&& &! & &&& &&! && & ! )&*& )&*! )&* & ! & !
‘’ becomes ‘3 ‘&’ becomes ‘&’ change in past tense
d.o.
d.o.
d.o.
To express the negative sense of these verbs, to the infinitive form of the verb we add # (not ) in the case of present and past tenses, and # (going to not ) in the case of future tense. The case is same with 1st, 2nd and 3rd person.
For example: When the verb is ( (write), the infinitive form is ( (to write). Hence, the negative terms are:
Verb
( (write)
person 1 person nd 2 person rd 3 person st
Present tense
Future tense
( (# ( (# ( (#
( # ( # ( #
Past tense
(# (# (#
* The explanation for how (/#0(#, etc. is contained contained in Lesson 14 – ‘Vowels and case endings’ .
20
Lesson 13 Adjectives
There is a marked difference in the formation of adjectives – words which describe the qualities of nouns – in English and Tamil. In English, adjectives are causal and primary. Take the word “soft”. From this word is derived the abstract quality of ‘softness’. Similarly, “hard” and “hardness”; “ hardness”; “cruel” and “cruelty”; etc.
Whereas, in Tamil, the converse holds good. The abstract noun is the primary and causal; and the adjective is the derived word. “ 4&$” (hardness) is the primary and from it is derived the adjective “ &$&” (hard) by the addition of the letters “ &”. Adjectives are also formed by adding the letters “""” or “ ” (‘with’ and ‘without’, respectively). This is invariably true for the formation of most adjectives and therefore, the process is simplified – just adding the appropriate suffixes to abstract nouns.
The three commonest suffixes are “ &” and “ ""”, to denote the existence of a quality, and “ ”, to denote the absence of the t he quality. Examples:
I.
(firmness) !& (/&) means firm. * ! (/ ) means unstable.
II.
$# (sharpness) $!& (sharp) $! (blunt)
* The explanation for how /&0!&, etc. is contained in Lesson 14 – ‘Vowels and case endings’ .
21
III.
(intelligence) !"" (intelligent) – /"" ! (dull) – /
etc.
There are, of course, primary / causal words qualifying nouns as well. These are not as many as the former variety. A few examples of the latter variety are given below.
a)
!(fierce)
b)
$(equal)
c)
&(good)
d)
(bad)
etc.
In the following page, there are two elementary exercises in adjectives.
22
Adjective Exercise 1:
Pair the nouns and adjectives from below:
Adjectives 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Raw: Rare: Pretty: Tasty: Old: Intimate: Special: Stout: Erect: Long: Novel: Wet:
Nouns
4 (! #!& (! &)&*! & &$)&* && && $&
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Tree: Machine: Road: Gait: Student Fruit: Stick: Food: Cloth: Floor: Girl: Friend:
$$ !&$ # &# $'& ($ $ ' ' # ' &'&
Adjective Exercise 2:
Give the opposites of the following adjectives keeping in mind that “ &” and “""” are the opposites of “ ”
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
"" &$$!& &$& ""
Root Abstract Noun (= taste) (= intelligence) (&$$= peace) (&$= hardness) (= interest)
23
Lesson 14 Vowels and Case Endings
In the earlier lessons, we saw that when case-endings are added on to nouns (or pronouns), the different positions which the nouns assume are obtained. For e.g. “by the boy”, “with the boy”, “for the boy”, etc.
All case endings start with a vowel. When they follow a noun ending with a vowel (like , $') the two vowel-sounds combine to form a compound word. In such cases, the vowels undergo a change. What the changes are, are given in the table below:
Ending vowel of the word: Change in the vowel : Accusitive case: [Suffix =#] Instrumental or Associative case: [Suffix =,] Dative case: [Suffix =]
or or
oror#
Initial vowel of suffix changes into ,, or
Initial vowel of suffix changes into !,!, !or is dropped
/#0# /#0# /#0#
$/#0$!# /#0!#
$$/0$$ /0
"/0"!
/0 /0 )&*#/0 /0 )&*#( is dropped)
Possessive case: &] [Suffix =! / &
/&0& /!0 !
Locative case: [Suffix =$]
/$0$ /$0 /$0$ !$
Ablative case:
$/&0$!& &)*#/!0 )&*#!!
In the ablative case, ‘ &3is added to the ‘ $’. Changes are the same as in locative case.
24
Lesson 15 Miscellaneous:
&$1&$
These two words have opposite meanings. “ &$” means ‘is wanted’ or ‘is needed’ or ‘must’. “ &$” means ‘don’t want’ or ‘no need’. They are written either after a noun or after a verb in infinitive form.
When “ &$” follows a noun, it gives the meaning of desire or need. [e.g. &'$&$ = I want money] When “ &$” follows a noun, it denotes the opposite meaning, of ‘don’t want’ or ‘no need’. [e.g. &&$ = He does not need help]
Exercise 1:
Translate the following sentences in Tamil into English. (Vide earlier lessons for meanings of words.)
&&$&$ &!&$ &$&$ &&&5 &&&5&6 "&$
I want your book
* = relationship
25
When “ &$” follows an infinitive verb, it indicates intent (must/ want to). [e.g. &&(&$ = I want to write]. When “ &$” follows an infinitive, it gives the meaning ‘must not’/’no need to’. [e.g. "(&$ = She need not weep].
Exercise 2:
Translate the following sentences in Tamil into English. (Vide earlier lessons for meanings of words.)
(&#"!&$ &&$ &&&#&$ &$&$$5 &$&$$5"&$ $#&$ #&$
The child must play
* &$$ = daily
26
Lesson 16 Miscellaneous: intransitive verbs
There are some verbs in Tamil which are used in a sentence without a direct subject. The grammatical notations for these verbs differ as well. When used, these verbs are to be read as actions happening ‘by themselves’, i.e. without direct subjects. There may, however, be objects in the sentence that are affected by the actions.
The following are examples of sentences in Tamil in which these verbs appear, along with near-equivalents in English:
$(#! !! #&&#& "$&$! # (&&
It rains The sun is beating down dress got wet the tank filled up head ached the festival took place got hurt
27
Recollection Exercises Translate the following sentences in English into Tamil. Case Endings of Nouns & Pronouns:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
&$$+&!
My mother Look (at the) sea Go with Gowri from (the) school in the village (village 0$$) height of the hill (hill 0$#) gift for younger sister possible by him not possible by you I want rest (rest 0!)
Adjectives:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
tall man white flower strong hand dark room hard work long road wet floor beautiful temple intelligent people tasty food
(temple 0)
Verbs:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
I shall go for the wedding You sing with emotion Guhan went to (a) shop Where will you go? Carpenter is making (a) chair Elder sister read (a) book Boy stands in the street (street 0) I shall give you money Friend ate food I took photo (photo 0)
28
