A complex sentence in full: the link hangs on the verb
An English complex sentence holds together on a link word in front: 'because', 'in order to', 'when'. The Tamil one holds on an ending on the verb that closes the first half. For example: “நேரம் இல்லாததால நான் கூட்டத்துக்கு போகேல்லை” — Because there was no time, I did not go to the meeting. A rule from the Tamil course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
An English complex sentence holds together on a link word in front: 'because', 'in order to', 'when'. The Tamil one holds on an ending on the verb that closes the first half.
Cause is the ending -ஆல (--āla): மழை வந்ததால போகேல்லை — 'the rain came, so we did not go'. Purpose is -றதுக்கு (--ṟadukku): படிக்கிறதுக்கு போறேன் — 'I go in order to study'.
Time is -றபோது 'when': நான் வாறபோது (nāṉ vāṟapōdu). Concession is -ஆலும்: மழை வந்தாலும் வருவேன் (maḻai vandālum varuvēṉ) — 'even if it rains, I will come'. All of them hang on the verb and stand before the main half.
The rule is short: side half left, main half right, the link on its last word. English says 'I did not go because it rained'. Tamil says 'rain-came-because I did-not-go'.
Table
| Relation | Ending or word | Where it stands | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| cause | -ஆல on the verb | end of the subordinate clause | மழை வந்ததால போகேல்லை |
| after-the-fact cause | ஏனெண்டா | start of the second part | போகேல்லை, ஏனெண்டா மழை |
| consequence | அதனால | start of the second part | மழை வந்தது, அதனால போகேல்லை |
| purpose | -றதுக்கு | end of the subordinate clause | படிக்கிறதுக்கு போறேன் |
| time 'when' | -றபோது | end of the subordinate clause | நான் வாறபோது |
| time 'after' | participle + பிறகு | end of the subordinate clause | சாப்பிட்ட பிறகு |
| time 'before' | -றதுக்கு முன்னம் | end of the subordinate clause | போறதுக்கு முன்னம் |
| concession | -ஆலும் / எண்டாலும் | end of the subordinate clause | மழை வந்தாலும் வருவேன் |
By example
- நேரம் இல்லாததால நான் கூட்டத்துக்கு போகேல்லைnēram illādadāla nāṉ kūṭṭattukku pōgēllaiBecause there was no time, I did not go to the meeting
- விசாவை நீடிக்கிறதுக்கு நான் திணைக்களத்துக்கு போனன்visāvai nīḍikkiṟadukku nāṉ tiṇaikkaḷattukku pōṉaṉTo extend the visa, I went to the office
- விலை அதிகம் எண்டாலும் நான் அதை வாங்குறேன்vilai adigam eṇḍālum nāṉ adai vāṅguṟēṉThough the price is high, I will buy it
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
A complex sentence in full: how does it work in Tamil?
An English complex sentence holds together on a link word in front: 'because', 'in order to', 'when'. The Tamil one holds on an ending on the verb that closes the first half.
What does it look like in an example sentence Tamil?
“நேரம் இல்லாததால நான் கூட்டத்துக்கு போகேல்லை” (nēram illādadāla nāṉ kūṭṭattukku pōgēllai) — Because there was no time, I did not go to the meeting. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.