Language/Tamil/Grammar/Pronouns
Pronouns for First person singular – plurals and second person singular – plurals are easy to learn because they 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 |
However for the third person singular and plurals it's a little bit more complicated:
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”!
But, Tamil distinguishes “he” in two forms – if he is close to you, “He” = இவன் (ivan) and 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?” o.O
The Tamil language divides all creatures into two groups – உயர்திணை (uyarthiNai) and 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:
- Tamil differs in mentioning second person and third person singular and plural depending on its distance from us!!
- Tamil Grammar divides all creatures into two groups – uyarthiNai and ahriNai.
- Humans, Gods and demons are uyarthiNai while all other creature are ahriNai.
- Third person plural differs in Tamil depending on their “caste”
| 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") | |
Video: Learn Tamil Pronouns