Difference between revisions of "Language/Tamil/Grammar/Pronouns"
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=== Singular | === Singular and Plural === | ||
The singular means that a word refers to only one thing. The plural means that a word refers to more than one thing. | *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 === | ===First, Second and Third Person === | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 4 November 2021
Pronouns - Simple sentences
| 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
- 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
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
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
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.