Tamil Has No “Is” or “Are”?! – Understanding Tamil Sentence Structure
Welcome! I’m Meenakshi, your guide to Colloquial Tamil.
Today, let’s explore a unique feature of Tamil that often surprises beginners—Tamil does not have direct equivalents for “is” or “are” like in English!
This key difference in sentence structure actually makes Tamil grammar simpler in some ways, and once you understand it, forming basic Tamil sentences will become much easier.
How Do You Say “This is a Book” in Tamil?
In English, we say “This is a book.”
But in Tamil, the equivalent sentence is:
👉 “Idhu Puththagam” (இது புத்தகம்)
Literally, this translates to “This book”—notice that there is no word for “is” in Tamil!
This structure is completely natural in Tamil. Similarly, if you want to say “That is a pen,” you simply say:
👉 “Adhu Peenaa” (அது பேனா)
In Tamil, nouns naturally end sentences without the need for a linking verb like “is.”
This can feel unusual for English speakers at first, but once you get used to it, you’ll see that it actually simplifies sentence formation.
What About Sentences with Adjectives?
Now, you might be wondering—“Does Tamil really have no word for ‘is’ at all?”
Well, there is one exception—when using adjectives!
For example, if you want to say “This is beautiful,” you need to include a verb:
👉 “Idhu Azhagaa Irukku” (இது அழகாக இருக்கு)
Here, “Irukku” (இருக்கு) functions like “is” and comes from the verb “to be/exist” in Tamil.
When describing qualities (such as beauty, size, or color), you must include a verb like “Irukku” to complete the sentence.
So, while nouns don’t require a verb to end a sentence, adjectives do!
Tamil Grammar is Simpler Than You Think!
Compared to English, Tamil grammar is in some ways simpler because:
✅ There is no need for “is” or “are” in noun-based sentences.
✅ Sentence structures are often shorter and more direct.
✅ There are fewer verb conjugations when forming simple statements.
However, it’s important to remember that verbs do change based on the subject when used in full sentences.
This is a key feature of Tamil grammar that we’ll explore in future lessons.
Summary: Tamil Has No “Is” – But That’s a Good Thing!
Tamil does not require words like “is” or “are” in basic noun-based sentences, making it simpler to construct phrases.
If you remember the rule that nouns end naturally without a verb, but adjectives require “Irukku”, you’ll find Tamil sentence formation much easier!
Keep this in mind as you continue learning Tamil, and you’ll soon be forming natural-sounding sentences with confidence!
See you in the next lesson! 😊
