How to Conjugate Finite Verbs in Tamil
Finite Verbs
Overview
Finite verb forms show tense, person and number (eg; I go, she goes, we went, etc.)
In Tamil, Finite Verbs generally have a 3 part structure:the ‘Verb Stem’the ‘Tense Suffix’ (to indicate past, present or future tense) ; anda ‘Subject Marker’ (to indicate Person, Number and Gender – ie I, We, He, She etc).Eg, The verb varuven means I will come. [varu- verb stem, v- marks future tense, en marks “I” (first person)]In this example, Varu is the Verb Stem, ‘v’ is used to indicate it is for future tense and ‘en’ is used when referring to ‘I’ (that is, the first person)
Types of Finite Verbs and Tense Suffixes
There are 7 main types of Finite verbs. These are purely classified on how they get conjugated (ie, based on which TENSE suffix is used).
The tense suffix for past and present tense also depends on whether you are talking in High Tamil or Colloquial Tamil
The tense suffix for future tense is the same in both High and Colloquial Tamil
The charts below show the Tense suffixes for each Type of Finite Verb for both High and Colloquial Tamil.
Rules are different for other kind of verbs
Tense Suffixes for High Tamil with Tamil Script
Past | Present | Future | Example | Other Examples | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type 1 | த் | dh | கிற் | giR | வ் | v | sei (do)- செய் | nei (weave) |
Type 2 | ந்த் | ndh | கிற் | giR | வ் | v | aRi (know)- அறி | vizhu (fall), ezhu (rise), sari (roll or tumble down) |
Type 3 | இன் | in | கிற் | giR | வ் | v | vaangu (buy/get)- வாங்கு | thoongu (sleep), ezhuthu (write), anuppu (send) |
Type 4 | End consonant doubling | கிற் | giR | வ் | v | vidu ( leave)- விடு | PiDi (Catch/hold), KeDu (spoil), peru (get) |
Type 5 | ட் | t/d | கிற் | kiR/ giR | ப் | p/b | uN (eat) – உண் | kaaN (see), keL (listen) |
Type 6 | த்த் | tth | க்கிற் | kkiR | ப்ப் | pp | paDi(read/study)-படி | koDu (give), eDu (take), paar (see) |
Type 7 | ந்த் | ndh | க்கிற் | kkiR | ப்ப் | pp | naDa(walk)-நட | para (fly), kala (mix), marA (forget) |
Verb Stem | Past | Present | Future (same as for Colloquial Tamil) |
---|---|---|---|
Type 1- Sei (do) | Seidhen (dh+en=dhen) | SeigiRyen (giR+en= giRean) | Seivean (Iv +en=vean) |
Type 2- Ari (know) | Arindhean (ndh+en=dhean) | ArigiRean (giR+en=giRean) | Arivean (Iv +en=vean) |
Type 3 – Vaangu (buy/get) | Vaanginean (in+en=inean) | VaangugiRean (giR+en=GiRean) | Vaanguvean (Iv +en=vean) |
Type 4 – Vidu (leave) | Vittean (t+t+en) | VidugiRean (giR+en=giRean) | Viduvean (Iv +en=vean) |
Type 5 – Un (eat) | Undean(d+en) | UngiRean (giR+en=giRean) | Unbean(b+en=bean) |
Type 6 – Padi (read/study) | Paditthean (tth+en=tthean) | Padikkirean(kkiR+en=kkirean) | Padippean(pp+en=ppean) |
Type 7 – Nada (walk) | Nadandhean(ndh+ean=ndhean) | NadakkiRean (kkir+en=kkirean) | Nadappean(pp+en=ppean) |
Tense Suffixes for Colloquial Tamil with Tamil Script
Past | Present | Future | Example | Other Examples | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type 1 | ஞ்ச் | nj | ற் | R | வ் | v | sei (do)- செய் | nei (weave) |
Type 2 | ந்த் | ndh / ஞ்ச் | nj | ற் | R | வ் | v | aRi (know)- அறி | vizhu (fall), ezhu (rise), sari (roll or tumble down) |
Type 3 | உன் | u | ற் | R | வ் | v | vaangu (buy/get)- வாங்கு | thoongu (sleep), ezhuthu (write), anuppu (send) |
Type 4 | End consonant doubling | ற் | R | வ் | v | vidu ( leave)- விடு | PiDi (Catch/hold), KeDu (spoil), peru (get) |
Type 5 | ட் | t/d | ற் | R | ப் | p/b | uN (eat) – உண் | kaaN (see), keL (listen) |
Type 6 | த்த் | tth | க்கிற் | kkiR | ப்ப் | pp | paDi(read/study)-படி | koDu (give), eDu (take), paar (see) |
Type 7 | ந்த் | ndh | க்கிற் | kkiR | ப்ப் | pp | naDa(walk)-நட | para (fly), kala (mix), marA (forget) |
Example of Tense Suffixes for Colloquial Tamil
Verb Stem | Past | Present | Future (same as for High Tamil) |
---|---|---|---|
Type 1- Sei (do) | Senjean (nj+ean=jean) | Seirean (R+ean=rean) | Seivean (Iv +ean=vean) |
Type 2- Ari (know) | Arinjean(nj+ean=jean) | Arirean(R+ean=rean) | Arivean (Iv +ean=vean) |
Type 3 – Vaangu (buy/get) | Vaangunean(un+ean=unean) | vaangurean(R+ean=iRean) | Vaanguvean (Iv +ean=vean) |
Type 4 – Vidu (leave) | Vittean (t+t+ean=ttean) | Vidrean (R+ean=Rean) | Viduvean (Iv +ean=vean) |
Type 5 – Un (eat) | Undean(d+ean=dean) | UngiRean (giR+ean=giRean) | Unbean(b+ean=bean) |
Type 6 – Padi (read/study) | Padichchean(chch+ean=chen) | Padikkirean(kkiR+ean=kkirean) | Padippean(pp+ean=ppean) |
Type 7 – Nada (walk) | Nadandhean(ndh+ean=ndhean) | NadakkiRean (kkiR+ean=kkirean) | Nadappean(pp+ean=ppean) |
Subject Markers
The subject markers are the same for all of the 7 types of Finite Verbs, only the Tense suffixes for each Type differs.
Following are the Subject Markers used for both High and Colloquial Tamil.
Subject Markers for High Tamil
Singular | Plural | |||||
First person | I ஏன் | En | We ஓம் | Om | ||||
Second person | You(singular) ஆய் | aay |
You ( plural/respect) ஈர்கள் | iirkal / ஈர் | irr |
||||
Third Person | He< ஆன் | aan |
He /She (Polite) ஆர் | aar |
She ஆள் | aal |
They (Human) அனர்/ஆர்கள் anar */ aarkal |
||
It # அது | adhu |
They (non human) அன | ana#* |
|||||
*indicates that in future tense , nonhuman nouns take the ending “-um”(instead of -v/-p/-pp) . Eg athu varum (it’ll come) *indicates that in present tense, kiR/kiRR changes kinR/KKinRR Eg, SeikinRanar – They (human being) are doing. |
Subject Markers for Colloquial Tamil
Singular | Plural | |||||
First person | I Eñ | We O~m | ||||
Second person | You dha | You (Polite) eenga | ||||
Third Person | He dhaañ | She dhaa | He (Polite) aarù | She (Polite) aanga | ||
It dhu/chu | They dhunga / chunga |
EXAMPLE
padi | read or study | ||
---|---|---|---|
padikka | to read | ||
vaasi | read | ||
High | colloquial | English meaning | |
Past Tense | naan padiththaen | Naañ Padichæñ | I read (past) |
Present Tense | Naan padikkiRaen | Naañ Padikiræñ | I am reading |
Future Tense | naan padaippaen | Naañ padipæñ | I will read |
Past Informal | nii padiththaai | Nii padichæ | you read (past) – informal |
Past Formal | niingaL padiththiirgaL | Niinga padichiinga | you read (past) – formal |
Present Informal | nii padikkiRaa | Nii padikiræ | you are reading – informal |
Present Formal | niingaL padikkiRiirgaL | Niinga padikireenga | you are reading – formal |
Future Informal | nii padippaai | Nii padipæ | you will read – informal |
Future Formal | niingaL padippiirgaL | Niinga padipiinga | you are reading – formal |
Imperative informal | nii padi | Nii padi | you read ……. (order statement) – informal |
Imperative Formal | Niinga padinga | Niinga padipiinga | you read ……. (order statement) – formal |
Past Informal | avan padiththaan | avañ Padichchaañ | he read – informal |
Past Formal | avar padiththaar | avrù padichchaarù | he read – formal |
Present Informal | avan padikkiRaan | avañ padikkiraañ | He is reading – informal |
Present Formal | avar padikkiRaar | avrù padikiraar | he is reading – formal |
Future Informal | avan padippaan | avañ padippaañ | he will read – informal |
Future Formal | avar padippaar | avar padippaarù | he will read – formal |
Past Informal | avaL padiththaaL | ava(L) padichchaa(L) | she read – informal |
Past Formal | avargaaL padiththaargaL | avanga padichchaanga | she read – formal |
Past Formal | avargaaL padiththaargaL | avanga padichchaanga | she read – formal |
Present Informal | avaL padikkiraaL | ava(L) padikkiraa(L) | she is reading – informal |
Present Formal | avargaL padikkiraargaL | avanga padikkiraanga | she is reading – formal |
Future Informal | avaL padippaaL | ava(L) padippaa(L) | she will read – informal |
Future Formal | avargaL padippaargaL | avanga padippaanga | she will read – formal |
Past Informal | naam padiththoam | naama padichcho~m | we read – listener included |
Past formal | naangaL padiththoam | naanga padichcho~m | we read – listener excluded |
Present Informal | naam padikiroam | naama padikiroa~m | we are reading – listener included |
Present Formal | naangaL paddikkiroam | naanga padikkiroa~m | we are reading – listener excluded |
Future Informal | naam paddippoam | naama paddippoa~m | we will read – listener included |
Future Formal | naangaL paddippoam | naanga paddippoa~m | we will read – listener excluded |
Tense Suffixes for High Tamil without Tamil Script
Past | Present | Future | Example | Other Examples | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type 1 | dh | giR | v | sei (do)- செய் | nei (weave) |
Type 2 | ndh | giR | v | aRi (know) | vizhu (fall), ezhu (rise), sari (roll or tumble down) |
Type 3 | in | giR | v | vaangu (buy/get) | thoongu (sleep), ezhuthu (write), anuppu (send) |
Type 4 | End consonant doubling | giR | v | vidu ( leave) | PiDi (Catch/hold), KeDu (spoil), peru (get) |
Type 5 | t/d | kiR/ giR | p/b | uN (eat) | kaaN (see), keL (listen) |
Type 6 | tth | kkiR | pp | paDi(read/study) | koDu (give), eDu (take), paar (see) |
Type 7 | ndh | kkiR | pp | naDa(walk) | para (fly), kala (mix), marA (forget) |
Tense Suffixes for Colloquial Tamil without Tamil Script
Past | Present | Future | Example | Other Examples | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type 1 | nj | R | v | sei (do)- செய் | nei (weave) |
Type 2 | ndh / nj | R | v | aRi (know) | vizhu (fall), ezhu (rise), sari (roll or tumble down) |
Type 3 | un | R | v | vaangu (buy/get) | thoongu (sleep), ezhuthu (write), anuppu (send) |
Type 4 | End consonant doubling | R | v | vidu ( leave) | PiDi (Catch/hold), KeDu (spoil), peru (get) |
Type 5 | t/d | R | p/b | uN (eat) | kaaN (see), keL (listen) |
Type 6 | chch / tth | kkiR | pp | paDi(read/study) | koDu (give), eDu (take), paar (see) |
Type 7 | ndh | kkiR | pp | naDa(walk) | para (fly), kala (mix), marA (forget) |
Transliteration
Tamil script | Transliteration | Tamil script | Transliteration |
---|---|---|---|
அ | A | க | ka ga |
ஆ | Aa | ங | nga |
இ | I | ச | cha sa |
ஈ | Ii | ||
உ | U | ஞ | nja |
ஊ | Uu E |
ட | ta da |
எ | E/ae | ண | Na |
ஏ | Ai | த | tha dha |
ஐ | O | ந | na |
ஒ | O/oa | ப | pa ba |
ஔ | Au | ம | ma |
ய | ya | ||
ர | ra | ||
ல | la | ||
வ | va | ||
ள | Au | ||
ழ | Azha | ||
ள | La | ||
ற | Ra | ||
ன | na |
VOWELS FOUND IN SPOKEN TAMIL
æ< ŭ | ù< ñ / ~m | The vowel sound ‘E’ at end of words is often realised as ‘æ’ in spoken Tamil.< half-u< nasalisation of vowel | æ is sound of ‘a’ in the english word b’a’t. |
---|
GRANTHA LETTERS
ஹ
ha
ஜ
ja
ஸ
sa
ஷ
sha
ஶ
ś
க்ஷ
ksha
ஸ்ரீ\
Sri
100 Important Tamil Verbs – With Conjugation
Tamil Verbs List 1
-
வா/வரு Vaa come
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சாப்பிடு Saapidu eat
-
விளையாடு ViLaiyaadu play
-
சிரி Siri laugh
-
குதி Kudhi jump
-
போ Poh go
-
தூக்கு Thooku lift
-
அடி Adi beat
-
அழு Azhu cry
-
ஆட்டு Aatu shake
-
பண்ணு Pannu do
-
மெல்லு Mellu chew
-
திரும்பு Thirumbu turn
-
குளி KuLi bath
-
நட Nada walk
-
தாவு Thaavu jump
-
தூங்கு Thoongu sleep
-
எழு Ezhu wakeup
-
உட்கார் Utkaar sitdown
-
குனி Kuni bend down
-
நிமிர் Nimir to become straight
-
கட்டிப்பிடி Kattipidi hug
-
திற Thira open
-
மூடு Moodu close
-
கடி Kadi bite
-
நீட்டு Neetu extend
-
பின்னு Pinnu knot
-
சமை Samai cook
-
விலக்கு Vilakku separate
-
எழுது Ezhuthu write
-
வரை Varai draw
-
வாங்கு Vaangu buy
-
மற Mara forget
Tamil Verbs List 2
-
பேசு Paesu speak
-
கேளு Kaelu listen
-
ஆடு Aadu dance
-
அலங்கரி Alangari decorate
-
வகு Vagu divide
-
பெருக்கு Perukku mulitiply
-
சீறு Seeru hiss
-
கிழி Kizhi tear
-
அழி Azhi Erase
-
அள்ளு Allu to gather in palms
-
இறுமு Irumu cough
-
சுடு Sudu burn
-
கொல் Kol kill
-
கும்பிடு Kumbidu pray
-
கழுவு Kazhuvu wash
-
விழு Vizhu fall down
-
மன்னி Manni forgive
-
மூழ்கு moozhgu drown
-
நிரப்பு Nirappu fill
-
நம்பு Nambu trust
-
விழுங்கு Vizhungu swallow
-
கொண்டாடு Kondadu celebrate
-
முடி Mudi complete
-
சொல் Sol say
-
துப்பு Thuppu spit
-
காப்பாற்று Kaapaatru save
-
கணக்கிடு Kanakidu calculate
-
எண்ணு Ennu count
-
ஆரம்பி Arambi start
-
பறி Pari pluck
-
தண்டி Thandi punish
-
அழி Azhi destroy
-
சேமி Saemi save
Tamil Verbs List 3
-
கீழ்படி Keezhpadi obey
-
மித Midha float
-
வில் Vil sell
-
தொலை Tholai lose
-
உடுத்து Udutthu wear
-
வீசு Veesu throw
-
தோண்டு Thoandu dig
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தாண்டு Thaandu jump over/go past
-
ஏறு Yeru climb
-
இறங்கு Irangu come down
-
திருப்பு Thirupu turn
-
தள்ளு Thallu push
-
வெட்டு Vettu cut
-
இழு Izhu pull
-
தை Thai stich/sew
-
உடை Udai break
-
நொறுக்கு Norukku crush
-
ஒட்டு Ottu stick
-
ஊட்டு Ootu feed
-
பிடி Pidi hold,catch
-
காட்டு Kaattu show
-
கூப்பிடு Kooppidu call
-
தொடு Thodu touch
-
போடு Podu put,
-
கிடை Kidai get, be available
-
ஆகு Aagu become
-
பார் Paar see
-
ஓடு Odu run
-
பற Para fly
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கற்றுக்கொள் Katrukkol learn
-
நில் Nil stand
-
விடு Vidu leave
-
படி Padi read/study
-
இரு Iru be
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