This lesson is about the modal auxiliaries in Tamil. In Tamil, we do not find many modals, but they are used in such a way that you can bring out the right meaning on the sentence, and a person can express the right stress in the sentences.

All modal verbs are auxiliary verbs, which means they can only be used with a main verb. Modal verbs cannot be a main verb. InEnglish,the modals such as can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would, do not change form for different subjects.

Example1:
1. I can walk fast.
John can walk fast.
Polly can walk fast.
They can fast.

Example2: The same happens with negations as well.
2. You shouldn’tgo to the movie.
I shouldn’t see him.
Heshould’nt go to work.
They shouldn’t go to the party.

Note: The modal auxiliaries ‘can’ and ‘should’ doesn’t conjugate, but remains the same for all the different subjects.

This is the same with Tamil too. We will see this in the examples.

Can/ Could denotes ability, permission and capacity.
Mudiyum is the Tamil word for Can. Mudiyaadhu is the negation.
Let us see a table of the different forms of Mudiyum – Can

In Tamil we use –aala/-kku to the subject in the sentence and finish the sentence with ‘mudiyum’, which means the ‘can’.

Could is used in sentences to

1. Make a polite request.
2. Make a polite offer.

Mudiyum is the Tamil word for Could as well. Mudiyaadhu is the negation.

Should/ Have to expresses an opinion, willingness and also a sense of duty.
In Tamil, the should/ have to is the verb with the +vendum added to it as a suffix.
Poga+vendum = pogavendum – poganum
Let us take the verb ‘write’ – Ezhudhu

‘Should’ and ‘Have to’ are interchangeable. So in Tamil, we always use verb+num in both the patterns.

Example1:

Example2:

1. Munnaadi:
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2. Aruvaisigichchai:
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3. Mutty:
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4. Vali:
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5. Thondai:
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6. Isa-amaipaalar:
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7. Katcheri:
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8. Ninaikiraan:
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9. Pechchupotti:
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10. Soodaana:
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11. Coffee Potutharen:
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12. Thittampodu:
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13. Kadaisi:
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14. Thuvai:
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15. Kaayapoduven:
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16. Thappu :
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17. Veenaakazhikkaakoodadhu:
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Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team conjunctions.

They come in pairs, and you have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work.

They get their name from the fact that they work together (co-) and relate one sentence element to another.

Correlative conjunctions include pairs such as “both/and,” “either/or,” “neither/nor,” “not/but” and “not only/but also.”
So now let us see how to say such correlative conjunctions in Tamil.

In today’s lesson we will be dealing

1. Or
2. Either/ or
3. Neither nor

Either…or and neither…nor are correlative conjunctions. They are used to introduce alternatives.

1. Venum/ vendum:
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2. biriyaani:
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3. panam:
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4. illanaa:
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5. maasam:
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6. Aan kuzhandhai:
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7. Aduththa vaaram:
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8. kalandhukko:
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9. pechchu potti :
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10. vaguppu:
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11. kelli seiraanga:
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12. kai-ezhuththu:
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13. panakkaarar:
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14. thozhil adhibar:
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15. Bharathanatyam:
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16. Aada theriyum:
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17. vaasikka:
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18. poi:
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19. potti:
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Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team conjunctions.

They come in pairs, and you have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work.

They get their name from the fact that they work together (co-) and relate one sentence element to another.

Correlative conjunctions include pairs such as “both/and,” “either/or,” “neither/nor,” “not/but” and “not only/but also.”

For example:

• Not only/but also – I’ll eat them both – not only the cheesecake but also the chocolate cake.
• Both/and – We’ll have both the cheesecake and the chocolate cake.
• Whether/or – I didn’t know whether you’d want the cheesecake or the chocolate cake, so I got both.
• Either/or – I want either the cheesecake or the chocolate cake.
• Neither/nor – Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the chocolate cake? No problem.
• Not/but – I see you’re in the mood not for desserts but appetizers. I’ll help you with those, too.

So now let us see how to say such correlative conjunctions in Tamil.

Let us first start with a few.

1. Both/ and
2. Not only/ but also
3. Whether / or

1. Mattum illa/ um kooda:
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2. Kalyaana jodi:
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3. Poruththamaana:
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4. Surusuruppu:
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5. Rendum:
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6. Saapiduradhu:
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7. Jeyikka:
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8. Kettikaari:
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9. Arivaali:
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10. Asaiva unavu:
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11. Saiva unavu:
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12. Kavalai padaathe:
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13. Pangu peru:
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14. Isai-karuvi:
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15. Udal payirchi:
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16. Thervu sei:
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17. Aarvamaana:
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18. Kaaichal:
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19. Mudivedu:
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20. Mazhai peiyidhu:
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1. She wanted that doll, and the toy.

2. He not only came here, but also ate with us.

3. I love eating both donuts and cakes.

4. The school was not only quiet, but also beautiful.

5. I sold not only the watch, but also the laptop.

6. Tell me whether you are coming or not.

7. He is not only smart but also handsome.

8. Decide whether you are going to themovies or not?

9. She was both rich and famous.

10. My neighbours eat not only meat, but also fish.

11. My mom asked whether we have have school tomorrow or not.

12. He bought both the dress and the shoes.

13. I like not only to sing, but also draw.

Because and so are usually used in a sentence that is a reply to a ‘Why’ question.

Ex:

Why is he the best student?
He is the best student because he studies a lot.
He studies a lot so he is the best student.

So WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “SO” AND “BECAUSE”?

Use ‘because’ to express a reason:

He is the best student because he studies a lot.
(result) <———- (reason)

Use ‘so’ to express a result:

He studies a lot, so he is the best student.

(reason) ——–> (result)
Now let us see what happens in Tamil.

Ex:

1. Why is he the best student? Yen, Avan thaan sirandha maanavan?
He is the best student because he studies a lot. Avan thaan sirandha maanavan, ennaa avan romba adhigamaa padikiren.

2. Why is he the best student? Yedhanaale, Avan thaan sirandha maanavan?
He studies a lot, so he is the best student. Avan romba padippaan, adhanaale avan thaan sirandha maanavan.

1. edhanaale:
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2. idhanaale:
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3. aanaa:
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4. yenna/ ennaa:
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5. kuzhandhainga padam:
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6. tholaikaatchi:
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7. saththamaa:
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8. pazhagu :
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9. anaichidu:
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10. kachcheri:
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11. juram:
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12. kannaadi:
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13. ellaarum:
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14. maaththu:
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15. kaththuko:
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16. alavarisai :
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17. neththu:
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18. yaarume illa:
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19. theduraan:
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20. mazhai:
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1. She wanted that doll, so she cried.

2. He did not come, so I was angry.

3. I love eating donuts so my mother bought some donuts.

4. The school was quiet, as the boys had gone for a match.

5. I sold the old watch because I wanted a new one.

6. Everyone loves him, because he looks handsome.

7. He sleeps because he is very tired.

8. She was beautiful, because her mom too was beautiful.

9. She was rich and so he loved her.

10. They are vegans, so they eat only vegetables.

11. My mom shouted, because I broke her favorite vase.

12. I did not have a pen, so he gave me one.

13. It is Diwali, so the children are bursting crackers..

Today, we will see the Continuous form of the Tenses. But even before we start learning about Continuous form of the tenses, let us refresh by translating these Simple form sentences.

• Raju ate an apple everyday.

• Dad had gone to the market today morning.

• Grandpa has forgotten me.

• Vita has brought these flowers.

• John would have bought newspaper.

• Tommy has always obeyed his master.

• Mom saves money in the bank.

• Danny lost the coin yesterday.

• Rasi wears new dress every week.

• Grandma has read us a new story today.

• Sumitha is counting the money in her purse.

We are going to see the simple form in all the three tenses. Try framing more by yourself.

1. Raju has been singing since 3 years of age.

2. Dad has always been shopping all these days.

3. Grandpa would have been eating too uch of sweets.

4. Veeta is chewing gum in class.

5. John has been buying newspapers for these months.

6. Tommy had been obeying his master always.

7. Pascal has been coming to school late.

8. Mom will be saving money in the bank.

9. Danny had been sleeping all day.

10. Grandma would have been reading stories for him.

11. Sumitha has been believing him all these years.

12. Rasi would have been wearing a new dress.

1. Po:
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2. Vaa:
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3. Thoongu:
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4. Vettu:
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5. Madi:
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6. Pesu:
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7. Saapidu:
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8. Otu:
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9. Thallu:
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10. Vilayaadu:
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11. Vaangu:
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12. Padi :
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13. Ezhudhu :
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Today we are going to see about another three conjugations. Because, Since and As.

‘Because’ is used to express a reason.

He is the best student because he studies a lot.

The because is replaced by since and as in some sentences.This is a case not only in English, but also in Tamil too.
Now let us see how we frame such sentences using Because, Since and As.

Ex:

1. He is the best student because he studies a lot.
Avan thaan sirandha maanavan, ennaa avan romba adhigamaa padikiren.

2. Since he studies a lot, he is the best student.
Avan romba adhigamaa padikradhaale, avan thaan sirandha maanavan.

3. He is the best student, as he studies a lot.
Avan romba adhigamaa padikradhaale, avan thaan sirandha maanavan.

The since and the as pattern is usually similar and they are the ones that are most commonly used in the spoken form.

Since and As are used in other sentences, where they have a different meaning. But now let’s see when they are used as a equivalent of Because.

1. Kaadhalar dhinam:
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2. modhiram:
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3. vilai:
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4. kal:
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5. aridhu:
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6. ennaa:
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7. elumbu thundu:
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8. pidikka odu :
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9. kasappu:
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10. niraya:
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11. juram:
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12. marundhu:
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13. kudikka pidikkale:
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14. keezhpadi:
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15. eppavum:
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16. inaikku :
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17. neththu:
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18. saapittaan:
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19. vilai adhigam:
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20. anbaanavar:
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1. She washed the clothes because they were very dirty.

2. He bought me some flowers because I was angry.

3. I love eating donuts because they are very sweet and tasty.

4. The school was quiet, as the boys had gone for a match.

5. I sold the old watch because it did not work.

6. Everyone loves him, because he looks handsome.

7. He sleeps because he is very tired.

8. She was beautiful, because her mom too was beautiful.

9. He loved her, because her father was a millionaire.

10. They don’t eat meat, because they are vegans .

11. My mom shouted, because I broke her favorite vase.

12. He asked for a pen, because he did not have one.

13. The chef prepares plum cakes, because it’s Christmas time.