Language/Tamil/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Tamil learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will explore the concept of plurals in the Tamil language. Knowing how to form plurals is essential to make proper sentences and communicate effectively in Tamil.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In Tamil, the plural form refers to more than one person or thing. Generally, the plural form is formed by adding a suffix to the singular form of the word. It is crucial to learn the plural suffixes and their application in forming plurals in Tamil.
For the purpose of clarity, we will discuss the formation of plurals in different categories of words. These categories include nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and numerals.
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Adjective and Adverb Relationships, Tamil Finite Verbs Conjugation, Strong Middle Weak Verbs & Future Tense.
Nouns[edit | edit source]
In Tamil, a noun can be either animate or inanimate. Depending on the category, the suffix used to form the plural will vary. Below are some examples of nouns and the corresponding suffix used to form the plural:
Tamil | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
குழந்தை | kuḻantai | Child |
குழந்தைகள் | kuḻantaikaḷ | Children |
மாடு | māṭu | Cow |
மாடுகள் | māṭukaḷ | Cows |
வேட்டை | vēṭṭai | Cat |
வேட்டைகள் | vēṭṭaikaḷ | Cats |
As you can see from the examples above, the plural suffix used for animate nouns is 'கள்' or 'க்கள்'.
For plural formation in inanimate nouns, the suffix may vary according to the last letter of the singular form. Here are some examples:
Tamil | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
கடல் | kaṭal | Sea |
கடல்கள் | kaṭalkaḷ | Seas |
மரம் | maram | Tree |
மரங்கள் | maramkaḷ | Trees |
பார் | pār | Train |
பார்கள் | pārkaḷ | Trains |
In this category, the plural suffix usually ends with 'கள்' or 'க்கள்'.
Pronouns[edit | edit source]
In Tamil, plural pronouns are used to represent two or more persons or things. The plural pronouns in Tamil are as follows:
Tamil | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
நமது | namatu | Our |
உங்கள் | uṅkaḷ | Your |
அவர்கள் | avarkaḷ | Their |
To use these pronouns in plural, one can simply add them to the corresponding singular pronoun.
Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Tamil grammar, adjectives are formed by adding a suffix to the root word. Some common examples of adjectives are:
Tamil | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
நல்ல | nalla | Good |
சிறிய | ciṟiya | Small |
பொறுப்பான | poṟuppāṉ | Poor |
The plural form of adjectives is generally formed by adding the plural suffix to the root word. For example:
Tamil | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
நல்லவைகள் | nallavaikaḷ | Good things |
சிறியவைகள் | ciṟiyavaikaḷ | Small things |
பொறுப்பானவர்கள் | poṟuppāṉavarkaḷ | Poor people |
As you can see from the examples above, the plural suffix for adjectives is 'வைகள்' or 'வர்கள்'.
Numerals[edit | edit source]
In Tamil, numerals are used to represent the quantity of the noun. The plural form of numerals is typically formed by adding the plural suffix to the numeral. Here are some examples:
Tamil | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ஒரு | oru | One |
ஒருபோதும் | orupōtum | Always |
இரண்டும் | iraṇṭum | Two |
மூன்றும் | mūṉṟum | Three |
முன்னேறிய | muṉṉēṟiya | Ahead |
நான்கும் | nāṉkum | Four |
As you can see from the examples above, the plural suffix for numerals is 'ம்' or 'கள்'.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To help you see the use of plural forms in context, here is a dialogue:
- Person 1: நீங்கள் ஒரு குழந்தையைக் காணுகிறீர்களா? (Nīṅkaḷ oru kuḻantaiyai kāṇukirīrkaḷā?) (Are you seeing a child?)
- Person 2: எனக்கு எந்த குழந்தைகளும் இருக்கவில்லை. (Eṉakku endha kuḻantaikaḷum irukkavillai.) (I don't have any children.)
Here are more examples:
- Person 1: உங்கள் பொழுது நீ யாரை சந்திக்கிறீர்கள்? (Uṅkaḷ poḻutu nī yārai sandhikkirīrkaḷ?) (Who are you meeting in your free time?)
- Person 2: நாங்கள் குழந்தைகளுடன் சேருவோம். (Nāṅkaḷ kuḻantaikaḷuṭaṉ cēruvōm.) (We join with children.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we explored the concept of plurals in Tamil. It is essential to understand the formation of plurals to express yourself correctly in Tamil. Feel free to use the examples we provided, and to experiment with creating your sentences with plurals.
To learn more about Tamil grammar, make sure you check out Tamil Grammar on Polyglot Club. Additionally, don't forget to find native speakers and ask them any questions. Practice is vital to master the language! 😃
➡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. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Negation, Past tense, Pronouns & Plural Noun Suffix Addition.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to Use Be
- Verb Classes
- Conditional Mood
- Tamil Finite Verbs Conjugation
- Adjective (பெயரடை)
- Future Tense எதிர்காலம்
- Cases
- Negatives
- Plural Noun Suffix Addition
- Negation