Tamil என்

Front 1

How is என் used as a main verb?

Back 1

என் is also verb that occurs on its own as a main verb, ‘to say.’ As any verb என் as a main verb takes tense and PNG accordingly. As it is used for reported speech constructions, என் as a main verb can be used as both the quotative and the main verb at the same time; that is, it can be used to embed other sentences in reported speech constructions.

Front 2

What does it mean when என்று comes after a proper name?

Back 2

Identification (‘called’) In Tamil, என்று can also be used is expressions where to designate the name of something or someone. It can often be translated as ‘called’ or ‘named.’

Front 3

When என்று is used with a subordinate clause verb containing the modal -லாம் or வேண்டு, what does it mean?

Back 3

Purposive and causal expressions என்று can also be used in purposive and causal constructions, translatable as ‘in order to’ or ‘because’, respectively.

Front 4

How is என்று used in onomatopoeic expressions (and in forming adverbs more generally)?

Back 4

என்று can also be used in onomatopoeic expressions (and in forming adverbs more generally) through reduplication.

Front 5

When என்று follows a noun in the dative case, what does it mean?

Back 5

When என்று follows a noun in the dative case it can adds emphasis or focus on that noun, and can be translated as ‘just for.’

Front 6

When என் takes the adjectival form (AJP) என்கிற, with the structure Structure: என்கிற NOUN, what does it mean?

Back 6

Relative clause in English, e.g. நாளைக்கு உங்களுடைய அப்பா இந்தியாவிலிருந்து வருகிறார் என்கிற சேதி எனக்குத் தெரியாது. (written)
நாளெக்கி ஒங்களோடெ அப்பா இந்தியாவுலேருந்து வறாங்கங்க்ற சேடி எனக்கு தெரியாது. (spoken)
I do not know the news/fact that your father is coming from India tomorrow.

Front 7

என் can also take a nominalized form (verbal noun) when it is in the present tense (என்கிறது) what does it mean?

Back 7

Literally, 'that which is called'. It can be translated as the factive, ‘the fact that…’

Front 8

என் can also take a nominalized form (verbal noun) when it is in the past tense (என்றது) what does it mean?

Back 8

Literally, 'that which was called.' Unlike the present form, however, என்றது does not necessarily denote, or imply, that an actual speech event has taken place. That is, this form has lost the notion of speaking in its meaning. e.g. நீங்கள் இந்தி பேசுவீர்கள் என்றது பொய் (Written)
நீங்க இந்தி பேசுவீங்கண்ணது பொய். (Spoken)
It was a lie that you speak Hindi. (Another possible interpretation: It is a lie that I said that you speak Hindi).

Front 9

When என் is used with the the instrumental/causal case ஆல் as in என்கிறதால், what does it mean?

Back 9

Literally since something is said.' Like the past tense verbal noun, this form has lost its specific meaning of denoting speech events, and simply means 'because' or 'since' more generally.

Front 10

என் can also take the conditional form, என்றால், what does this mean?

Back 10

Literally 'if something is said.' However, like the past tense verbal noun, this form has also lost its specific meaning of denoting speech events, and is more generally used as a marker of the conditional more generally. e.g. நீங்கள் வருவீர்கள் என்றால் நானும் வருவேன்.நீங்க வருவீங்கண்ணா நானும் வருவேன். I will come if you come. (lit. 'If it is said that you will come I will also come')

Front 11

When உம் is attached to the conditional of என், என்றாலும் (cf. concessive), what does it mean?

Back 11

‘However’ or ‘nevertheless’ (lit. ‘even if it is said that’)