infinitive
The infinitive is a simple word made out of the verb root. It
corresponds well with the English infinitive in translations, which is
the word "to" followed by the verb. (Ex: "to fall", "to wash"). It is
used very often to help form other expressions and verb forms.
- infinitive
- The infinitive is formed by
- adding -அ to verbs in Classes 1-4
(2-syllable short-vowel words ending in an -உ sound drop
the final -உ before adding -அ)
- adding -க்க் to verbs in Classes 6-7
|
Ex:
- கழுவ = "to wash"
- விழ = "to fall"
- சொல்ல = "to say"
- பண்ண = "to do"
- ஊற்ற = "to pour"
irregulars
| verb |
infinitive |
| வில்5 |
விற்க |
| கேள்5 |
கேட்க |
| வா2 |
வர |
| தா2 |
தர |
| போ3 |
போக |
"Going to ...", etc.
In English, we sometimes say "They are going to buy things" or "We
went to play". To say "going to", follow the infintive with போ3.
In addition to போ3, this also applies to any
other verbs that make sense in its place, such as விடு4,
முயற்சி செய்1a, விரும்பு3,
and பார்6.
Although பார்6 means "see", when it is used
here, it means "try". முயற்சி செய்1a means
"try" as it is, so both verbs mean the same thing here.
Ex:
- அவர்கள் பொருள்களை வாங்க போகிறார்கள் = "They are
going to buy things"
- நாங்கள் விளையாட போனோம் = "We went to play"
- அவன் பேருந்தில் ஏற முயற்சி செய்தான், ஆனால் அவனால் ஏற முடியவில்லை
= "He tried to get on the bus, but he was not able to
get on."
should / should not
- should / should not
-
- To indicate "should", use infinitive + வேண்டும்
- To indicate "shouldn't", use infinitive + கூடாது
|
Ex:
- நான் புறப்பட வேண்டும் = "I should depart"
- நீ பாலில் தண்ணீரை கலக்க கூடாது = "You shouldn't mix
water in the milk"
prior uses of the infinitive
The infinitive has been the basis for some of the rules about negative commands and verbs
with அது and அவை.
Using the infinitive, the previous rules become:
- negative commands
- Commands without respect are formed by replacing the final
-அ
of the infinitive with -ஆதே. Commands with respect are
formed by replacing the final -அ of the infinitive with -ஆதீர்கள்.
|
- future tense of அது, அவை
- The future tense of அது and அவை
is formed by replacing the final -அ of the infinitive
with -உம்
|