Tamil Grammar Essentials for Exams

Tamil is one of the most widely spoken languages in India. As such, it has its own set of rules and guidelines when it comes to grammar. If you're preparing for a Tamil exam, understanding these rules will be essential. Here's what you need to know:

Subject Conjugation

In Tamil, subject conjugation is based on three aspects: gender, number, and tense. There are two genders in Tamil - masculine and feminine. For example, 'அப்பா' (appaa) means father, which is a masculine pronoun. In contrast, 'மகளிர்' (magalir) refers to women and is a feminine pronoun.

There are also four numbers: singular, dual, plural, and collective. These can change depending on the context of the sentence. Collective nouns refer to groups or categories rather than individual items. For instance, 'பக்கல்' (paakkal) means students when used as a verb phrase. However, if we use 'பக்கல்' with a preposition like 'in', it becomes a collective noun referring to all students.

Word Order

Tamil follows the Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order. This means that the subject comes first, followed by the object, then the verb. For example, 'அப்பா' (appaa) - father, 'மெல்லாமே' (mellame) - children, 'குலிர்க்கை விட்டு' (kuliirkkai vittu) - went out.

Verbs

Verbs in Tamil can change depending on different factors such as tense, aspect, mood, voice, and person. There are two main types of verbs: action words ('செயல்வோதனம்' (cheyalvoothanam)) and link verbs ('கொண்டையல்' (konthail)). Action words express actions or states of being. For example, 'உள்ளிருத்து' (ulliruttu) means 'exists'. Link verbs connect different parts of sentences together. They are always used with two objects: the one that is acting ('செய்வார்வான்' (ceyyvaaruvarn)), and the one that receives the act ('செய்வாற்குள்ளம்' (ceyvathookkulam).

Nouns

Nouns indicate people, places, things, ideas, and abstract concepts. They can also change depending on gender, number, and tense. Commonly, nouns ending in '-ஞர்', '-அர்', or '-ழக்' have masculine singular forms. However, there are exceptions like 'பயன்', which is feminine despite its form. Noun prefixes like 'வல்லவர்', 'பல்லவர்', and 'நல்லவர்' are used to describe people who possess good qualities such as wisdom, courage, and generosity.

Prepositions

Prepositions in Tamil add meanings to other words they come after. Some common prepositions include 'அடிப்பத்தில்' (adippattil), meaning 'inside, in'; 'இருக்குவதைக்களில்' (irukkuvalgalil), meaning 'in, among, between'; and 'கேளிர்ப்பவே', meaning 'outside, from'.

By understanding these rules and practicing them regularly, you should be able to master the grammar aspect of your Tamil exam. Remember, practice makes perfect!