Tamil Verbs Change Based on the Subject! Master It with Just 3 Patterns
Welcome! I’m Meenakshi, your guide to Colloquial Tamil.
In a previous lesson, we learned that Tamil follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order.
While this structure is different from English, it provides a consistent pattern that helps in forming sentences.
However, one of the first challenges for beginners is verb conjugation based on the subject.
That might sound complicated, but don’t worry! In daily conversation, you only need to remember 3 simple patterns!
Once you master these, you’ll be able to handle most Tamil sentences with confidence.
Step 1: Learn the Verb “Pannu” (to do)
In Tamil, the verb “Pannu” (பண்ணு) means “to do.”
This verb is extremely useful because you can combine it with English words to express various actions!
For example:
✅ Study Pannu → “to study”
✅ Eat Pannu → “to eat”
✅ Sit Pannu → “to sit”
Even if you don’t know the Tamil equivalent of an English verb, simply adding “Pannu” allows you to communicate effectively!
Now, let’s see how this verb changes based on the subject.
Step 2: Master the 3 Key Subject-Based Verb Endings
In Tamil, verbs change slightly depending on the subject of the sentence.
However, in daily conversation, you only need to focus on three key subjects:
🔹 Naan (நான்) = “I”
🔹 Neenga (நீங்கள்) = “You” (formal/polite)
🔹 Avanga (அவர்கள்) = “He/She/They” (formal/polite)
Now, let’s see how Pannu changes with these subjects:
✅ “I study” → Naan Study Pandreen (நான் ஸ்டடி பண்ணுகிறேன்)
✅ “You eat” → Neenga Eat Pandreenga (நீங்கள் ஈட் பண்ணுகிறீர்கள்)
✅ “She sits” → Avanga Sit Pandranga (அவர்கள் ஸிட் பண்ணுகிறார்கள்)
🔹 Naan (I) → verb ends in “-reen” (றேன்)
🔹 Neenga (You) → verb ends in “-reenga” (றீங்க)
🔹 Avanga (He/She/They) → verb ends in “-ranga” (றாங்க)
This pattern may look unfamiliar at first, but once you remember these three endings, forming Tamil sentences becomes much easier!
Step 3: Use Formal Tamil for Politeness
In Tamil, using polite or formal speech often involves changing the subject to the plural form.
For example:
✅ “You” (informal) → “Nee” (நீ) → polite form → “Neenga” (நீங்கள்)
✅ “He” or “She” → “Avan” (அவன்) / “Aval” (அவள்) → polite form → “Avanga” (அவர்கள்)
By using Neenga and Avanga, you can show politeness in your conversations.
And the best part? These subjects follow the same three verb endings we just learned!
That means less to memorize and more confidence in your Tamil speaking skills!
Step 4: Understanding “Naanga” vs. “Namma” (“We”)
One additional distinction in Tamil is the two different ways to say “We”:
🔹 Naanga (நாங்கள்) = “We” (excluding the listener)
🔹 Namma (நாம்) = “We” (including the listener)
For example:
✅ “We do” (excluding listener) → Naanga Pandroom (நாங்கள் பண்ணுகிறோம்)
✅ “We do” (including listener) → Namma Pandroom (நாம் பண்ணுகிறோம்)
This is a subtle but important difference, especially when forming Tamil sentences naturally!
Final Tip: Just Focus on 3 Patterns First!
To start speaking Tamil fluently, simply focus on these three subjects first:
✅ Naan (I) → “-reen”
✅ Neenga (You – formal) → “-reenga”
✅ Avanga (He/She/They – formal) → “-ranga”
By combining these with Pannu and common English words, you can start forming Tamil sentences instantly!
Summary: Speak Tamil Easily with Just 3 Patterns!
✅ Tamil verbs change based on the subject, but you only need to remember 3 key patterns for daily conversations.
✅ Using polite Tamil is easy—just use Neenga and Avanga to show respect, and the verb endings remain the same.
✅ By adding Pannu to common English words, you can quickly expand your vocabulary and start speaking Tamil with confidence.
Once you get used to these three patterns, speaking Tamil will feel much simpler!
Let’s practice more in the next lesson! 😊
