Language/Tamil/Grammar/Pronouns
Pronouns (Simple sentences)[edit | edit source]
Singluar | Plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1st Person | நான் | I | நாம் | we (listener included) |
நாங்கள் | we (listener not included) | |||
2nd Person | நீ | you | நீங்கள் | you |
நீங்கள் | you (with respect) | |||
3rd person | அவன் | he | அவர்கள் | they |
அவள் | she | |||
அவர் | he/she (respect) | |||
அது | it | அவை | they ("those things") |
Singular and Plural[edit | edit source]
- The singular means that a word refers to only one thing.
- The plural means that a word refers to more than one thing.
First, Second and Third Person[edit | edit source]
First person speech means that the person speaking is talking about him/herself as an individual (“I…”) or as a group (“we…”). In Tamil, நாம் is used when the person being spoken to is included in the group. (“Are we there yet?”) நாங்கள் is used when the person being spoken to is not included. ("We saw a bear! You missed it.")
Second-person speech means talking about the person you're talking to. (“Who are you?”) நீங்கள் is used for a group of people, as well as a single person who receives respect.
Third person speech means that the speaker is talking with someone about someone else. (“He's good.” “They're smart.”) அவர் is used to refer to a person who receives respect. அது refers to everything that is not a person (place, thing, idea). அவை is used to refer to more than a place, thing, or idea, such as 9 dogs or 5 tables.
Simple Sentences[edit | edit source]
There is no way to translate "is" in Tamil, and there is no translation for "is" in simple sentences. So if you want to make a simple and informative statement, just combine the two words without a verb. Ex:
- அவர் காவல்காரன் = "He's a policeman."
You can also use numbers to describe what it is referred to. There is a word for "a" / "an", which is ஒரு. Ex:
- அவர்கள் ஐந்து ஆசிரியர்கள் = "They are 5 teachers."
- நான் ஒரு பையன் = "I am a boy."
Technicalities[edit | edit source]
If you want to say something like "It's red" you will have to wait until you get to Adjectives and Adverbs. In English, the words "is" and "are" are called linking verbs. A linking verb reformulates the subject (அவர்) with the predicate noun (காவல்காரன்). In other words, அவர் = காவல்காரன். The word "red" in "It's red" is a predicate adjective and is said differently in Tamil.
Pronouns (More complex sentences)[edit | edit source]
1st person, 2nd person (singular & plurals)[edit | edit source]
First person, Second person of singular and plurals are similar to English:
First person | Second person | |
---|---|---|
Singular | I = நான் – Naan | You = நீ – ni |
Plural | We = நாங்கள் (NaangkaL) or நாம் (Naam) | You = நீங்கள் – niingkaL |
3rd person (singular & plurals)[edit | edit source]
It becomes more complex with third person singular and plurals:
In English, we say “he went here” and “he went there”. No confusion about distance – whether it is here or there, “He” is always “He”.
However, Tamil distinguishes “he” in two forms:
- if he is close to you, “He” = இவன் (ivan)
- if he is away from you, “He” = அவன் (avan)!
Similarly, “She”, “They”, and “It” also have two variations.
We can summarize it in the table given below:
Pronoun | If close to you | If away from you |
---|---|---|
He | இவன் (Ivan) | அவன் (avan) |
She | இவள் (ivaL) | அவள் (avaL) |
They (uyarthiNai) | இவர்கள் (ivarkaL) | அவர்கள் (avarkaL) |
It | இது (ithu)
remember ,this resembles “this” |
அது (athu)
remember, this resembles “that” |
They (ahriNai) | இவை (ivai)
can be compared with “these” |
அவை (avai)
can be compared with “those” |
Now, I can imagine the confusion on your face – “What does uyarthiNai and ahriNai means?”.
The Tamil language divides all creatures into two groups:
- உயர்திணை (uyarthiNai)
- அஃறிணை (ahriNai)
உயர்திணை literally (high caste) humans are known as uyarthiNai. Supernatural living beings like gods, demons are also considered as uyarthiNai.
- Eg: ஆசிரியர் (aasiriyar – teacher), தாய் (thaay – Mom) தந்தை (thanthai – dad), சிறுவன் (Siruvan – Boy)
அஃறிணை (litt. other than high caste) = dead, non-viable and all living beings except humans are known as ahrinai.
- Eg: மாடு (maadu – Cow), காகம் (kaakam – Crow), புத்தகம் (Puththakam – Book), வீடு (viidu – Home)
The third person plural அவர்கள்/ இவர்கள் is usually referred to uyarthiNai in Tamil while இவை/அவை referred to ahrinai.
Summary[edit | edit source]
Summary of today’s lesson:
|
Most common Tamil pronouns[edit | edit source]
List of the most common pronouns used in Tamil:[edit | edit source]
WHO | Yaaru | யாரு | Yaar | யார் |
---|---|---|---|---|
I | Naan | நான் | Naan | நான் |
Enakku | எனக்கு | Enakku | எனக்கு | |
MY | En | என் | Ennudaiya | என்னுடைய |
YOU
(less respect) |
Nee | நீ | Nee | நீ |
Unakku | உனக்கு | Unakku | உனக்கு | |
YOU
(more respect) |
Neenga | நீங்க | Neengal | நீங்கள் |
Ungalukku | உங்களுக்கு | Ungalukku | உங்களுக்கு | |
THIS /
THAT / IT |
Idhu (near) | இது | Idhu | இது |
Idhukku (near) | இதுக்கு | Idharku | இதற்கு | |
Adhu (far) | அது | Adhu | அது | |
Adhukku (far) | அதுக்கு | Adharku | அதற்கு | |
HE / HIS
(less respect) |
Ivan (near) | இவன் | Ivan | இவன் |
Ivanukku (near) | இவனுக்கு | Ivanukku | இவனுக்கு | |
Avan (far) | அவன் | Avan | அவன் | |
Avanukku (far) | அவனுக்கு | Avanukku | அவனுக்கு | |
HE / HIS
(more respect) |
Ivar (near) | இவர் | Ivar | இவர் |
Ivarukku (near) | இவருக்கு | Ivarukku | இவருக்கு | |
Avar / Avaru (far) | அவர் / அவரு | Avar / Avaru | அவர் / அவரு | |
Avarukku (far) | அவருக்கு | Avarukku | அவருக்கு | |
SHE / HER
(less respect) |
Ival (near) | இவள் | Ival | இவள் |
Ivalukku (near) | இவளுக்கு | Ivalukku | இவளுக்கு | |
Aval (far) | அவள் | Aval | அவள் | |
Avalukku (far) | அவளுக்கு | Avalukku | அவளுக்கு | |
SHE / HER / THEY
(more respect) |
Ivanga (near) | இவங்க | Ivargal | இவர்கள் |
Ivangalukku (near) | இவங்களுக்கு | Ivargalukku | இவர்களுக்கு | |
Avanga (far) | அவங்க | Avargal | அவர்கள் | |
Avangalukku (far) | அவங்களுக்கு | Avargalukku | அவர்களுக்கு |
Sources[edit | edit source]
- https://www.learntamil.com
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCPOAP7uI48
- https://fos.cmb.ac.lk/blog/lets-learn-tamil-grammar-introduction-pronouns-lesson-05/
- https://ilearntamil.com/s-spoken-tamil-lessons-colloquial-tamil-he-she-i-you-lesson4/
Videos[edit | edit source]
Pronouns | Learn English Grammar Through Tamil - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Spoken English Through Tamil | English Grammar - Pronoun ...[edit | edit source]
Beginner Level (Grammar) | Pronouns | IELTS in Tamil - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Types of Pronoun In Tamil |Classes of Pronoun In Tamil - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Conditional Mood
- Verb Classes
- Adjective (பெயரடை)
- Nouns
- Continuous tense
- Tamil Finite Verbs Conjugation
- Adjective and Adverb Relationships
- Negatives
- Plural Noun Suffix Addition
- That, This, and Question Words
- Plurals
- Questions
- Strong Middle Weak Verbs
- Plural nouns