Language/Tamil/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Tamil Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Tamil learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to correctly use the verb "be" in Tamil and its different forms. We will also provide cultural information and interesting facts related to the use of this verb in Tamil. This will help you to understand the proper usage of "be" in different contexts.

Introduction

The verb "be" is an essential verb to learn in any language, Tamil included. "Be" is used to describe the state, condition, or qualities of something or someone. In Tamil, "be" is translated as "ஆகும்" (ākum). It is a very basic verb that is often used in various forms in Tamil grammar.

This lesson provides an in-depth exploration of "be" and its variations in Tamil grammar. It will help you understand the various aspects of this verb so that you can use it correctly.

Before we dive into the different forms and aspects of "be" in Tamil, let's look at some important cultural information related to the use of this verb.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Personal Pronouns & Give your Opinion.

Cultural Information

Tamil culture has a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. The Tamil language is one of the oldest and most widely spoken languages in the world. It is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry, and also has official status in Sri Lanka and Singapore.

Tamil grammar has a complex structure, and it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the grammar rules to properly use the language. Tamil language has various dialects, and each dialect has its own unique way of using "be" in sentences.

In Tamil culture, showing respect and honoring others is important, and it is reflected in the language. "Be" is often used in honorific forms to show respect to elders or people of high social status.

Now that we have discussed some cultural information, let's move on to the different forms of "be" in Tamil.

Different Forms of "Be"

In Tamil, there are different forms of "be" that are used depending on the context of the sentence. The forms of "be" are:

Present Tense

The present tense of "be" in Tamil is "ஆகிருக்கின்ற" (ākirkkiṉṟa), which is used to describe an action or state that is currently happening or ongoing.

Tamil	Pronunciation	English
நான் உடன் வருகிறேன்	Nāṉ uṭaṉ varukiṟēṉ	I am coming with you
அவள் அந்த ரூமில் இருக்கின்றாள்	Aval anta rūmili irukkiṉṟāḷ	She is in that room

Past Tense

The past tense of "be" in Tamil is "ஆயின" (āyiṉa), which is used to describe an action or state that happened in the past and is no longer happening.

Tamil	Pronunciation	English
நான் நேரம் கழித்து விட்டேன்	Nāṉ nēram kaḻittu viṭṭēṉ	I was late
அவருக்கு வீடு ஒரு வருடம் ஆயினது	Avarukku vīṭu oru varuṭam āyiṉadu	He had a house for a year

Future Tense

The future tense of "be" in Tamil is "ஆகும்" (ākum), which is used to describe an action or state that is going to happen in the future.

Tamil	Pronunciation	English
என் கணவன் வேண்டும் வேலை வருகிறார்	Eṉ kaṇavaṉ vēṇṭum vēlai varukiṟār	My husband will come to work
சிறுமி பிறக்கும் போது என் காகூரா காதலன் இருக்கும்	Ciṟumi piṟakkum pōtu eṉ kākūrā kātal̤an irukkuṁ	When I grow up, my cockroach boyfriend will be with me

Conditional Tense

The conditional tense of "be" in Tamil is "இருக்கும்" (irukkum), which is used to describe an action or state that is hypothetical or dependent on a certain condition being met.

Tamil	Pronunciation	English
நான் அவளுக்கு தேவையானதை செய்துகொண்டு இருக்கும்	Nāṉ avaḷukku tēvaiyāṉadai seydukoṇṭu irukkuṁ	I would do whatever she needs
அவள் காதலனுக்கு மட்டுமே கொஞ்சம் உடையவள் ஆகும்	Aval kātal̤aṉukku maṭṭumē koñcam uṭaivayavaḷ ākum	She would be the only one with a little bit of love for her boyfriend

Conversation

Let's look at a hypothetical conversation between two people to see the use of "be" in context.

• Person 1: எங்கு போகிறீர்கள்? (Eṅku pōkiṟīrkala?) - Where are you going?
• Person 2: நான் ரயிலில் சேருகிறேன். (Nāṉ rayilil cērukiṟēṉ.) - I'm getting on the train.
• Person 1: நீ ஏன் சேரவில்லை? (Nī ēn cēravillai?) - Why aren't you getting on?
• Person 2: நான் ருகிப்பேன். (Nāṉ rukippēṉ.) - I'm standing.

Conclusion

In this lesson, you learned how to use "be" in Tamil grammar. We covered the different forms of "be" and explained its use and context in Tamil. We hope that this lesson helped you in understanding the proper usage of "be" in Tamil grammar.

To improve your Tamil grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! You can also check our Grammar section for more lessons

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below. ➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Future Tense & Negation.

Other Lessons

• Negation
• Plural Noun Suffix Addition
• Plural nouns
• Pronouns
• Prepositions
• Strong Middle Weak Verbs
• Questions
• Personal Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• How to Use Have

Sources

• Tamil grammar - Wikipedia
• A Tamil Grammar, Designed for Use in Colleges and Schools ...
• Tamil language - Wikipedia