How much exactly: எல்லாம், சில, நிறைய, ஒவ்வொரு
Quantity in Tamil is shown by a separate word before the noun, and the noun's own number most often does not change. நிறைய மாணவர் — 'many students', though மாணவர் stands in the same form as 'a student'. The plural ending -கள் is not always placed: next to a word of quantity it is superfluous, because the plurality has already been said. For example: “இந்த வகுப்பில நிறைய மாணவர் இருக்கிறாங்க” — There are many pupils…
How it works
Quantity in Tamil is shown by a separate word before the noun, and the noun's own number most often does not change. நிறைய மாணவர் (niṟaiya māṇavar) — 'many students', though மாணவர் (māṇavar) stands in the same form as 'a student'. The plural ending -கள் is not always placed: next to a word of quantity it is superfluous, because the plurality has already been said.
The row is memorized in pairs. நிறைய (niṟaiya) 'many' and கொஞ்சம் (koñcam) 'a little' you already know from food and money; next to them live சில (sila) 'a few, some' and சிறிது 'a tiny bit'. The difference between கொஞ்சம் and சில is the difference between 'a little' and 'a few': the first is about a quantity one does not count (கொஞ்சம் தண்ணி (koñcam taṇṇi)), the second about what can be counted (சில நாட்கள் (sila nāṭkaḷ)).
'All' and 'every' are different words, and they are confused most of all. எல்லாம் (ellām) means 'all together', taken in one heap: எல்லா பிள்ளைகளும் வந்தாங்க — 'all the children came'. ஒவ்வொரு (ovvoru) means 'each separately': ஒவ்வொரு மாசமும் நான் கடனை கட்டுறேன் (ovvoru māsamum nāṉ kaḍaṉai kaṭṭuṟēṉ) — 'every month I pay off the debt'. Notice the particle -உம் (--um): both 'all' and 'every' demand it on the noun itself. Without -உம் the phrase sounds unfinished.
Approximation is obligatory at B1, and Tamil has two ordinary words for it: சுமார் (sumār) and ஏறக்குறைய 'about, approximately'. Both stand before the number: சுமார் ஐம்பது பேர் (sumār aimbadu pēr), ஏறக்குறைய ரெண்டு மணி நேரம். In speech a little tail -ஆவது is added to the number, or one simply says அளவு (aḷavu) after it: பத்து பேர் அளவு (pattu pēr aḷavu) — 'some ten people'. And 'not a single one' is ஒருத்தரும் இல்லை (oruttarum illai): the negation in Tamil always stands at the end, not beside the word of quantity.
Table
| Word | Meaning | What it demands | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| நிறைய | many | noun without -கள் | நிறைய வேலை இருக்கு |
| கொஞ்சம் | a little (not counted) | noun without -கள் | கொஞ்சம் காசு வேணும் |
| சில | a few (counted) | noun without -கள் | சில நாட்கள் தங்குறேன் |
| எல்லா …-உம் | all together | the particle -உம் | எல்லா பாடமும் கடினம் |
| ஒவ்வொரு …-உம் | each separately | the particle -உம் | ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் படிக்கிறேன் |
| சுமார் / ஏறக்குறைய | about, approximately | a number after itself | சுமார் ஐம்பது பேர் |
| ஒருத்தரும் இல்லை | not a single one | negation at the end | இங்கே ஒருத்தரும் இல்லை |
By example
- இந்த வகுப்பில நிறைய மாணவர் இருக்கிறாங்கinda vaguppila niṟaiya māṇavar irukkiṟāṅgaThere are many pupils in this class
- ஒவ்வொரு மாசமும் நான் மாதத் தவணை கட்டுறேன்ovvoru māsamum nāṉ māda tavaṇai kaṭṭuṟēṉEvery month I make a payment
- சுமார் மூணு வருஷ வேலை அனுபவம் எனக்கு இருக்குsumār mūṇu varuṣa vēlai aṉubavam eṉakku irukkuI have about three years of work experience
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
How much exactly: how does it work in Tamil?
Quantity in Tamil is shown by a separate word before the noun, and the noun's own number most often does not change. நிறைய மாணவர் — 'many students', though மாணவர் stands in the same form as 'a student'. The plural ending -கள் is not always placed: next to a word of quantity it is superfluous…
What does it look like in an example sentence Tamil?
“இந்த வகுப்பில நிறைய மாணவர் இருக்கிறாங்க” (inda vaguppila niṟaiya māṇavar irukkiṟāṅga) — There are many pupils in this class. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.