If: the ending -னா and the bookish -ஆல்
There is no separate word for 'if' in Tamil. The condition is shown by an ending on the verb of the subordinate part, and in live speech it is -னா: மழை வந்தா, நான் வர மாட்டேன் — 'if it rains, I will not come'. The verb வந்தது loses its end and takes -னா; nothing else in the sentence changes. For example: “நீங்க கணக்கு திறந்தா, அட்டை இலவசம்” — If you open an account, the card is free. A rule from the Tamil course…
How it works
There is no separate word for 'if' in Tamil. The condition is shown by an ending on the verb of the subordinate part, and in live speech it is -னா: மழை வந்தா (maḻai vandā), நான் வர மாட்டேன் (nāṉ vara māṭṭēṉ) — 'if it rains, I will not come'. The verb வந்தது (vandadu) loses its end and takes -னா; nothing else in the sentence changes.
The form is made from the past stem, even when the future is meant. போனேன் (pōṉēṉ) gives போனா (pōṉā) 'if I go', செஞ்சேன் (señcēṉa) — செஞ்சா 'if I do', இருந்தேன் (irundēṉ) — இருந்தா (irundā) 'if there is'. This seems strange in English: we say 'if I go', the Tamil speaker — 'if I went'. But the tense is taken from the main clause, so the past stem does not hinder the condition.
In the bookish language and in notices -ஆல் stands where -னா would: மழை வந்தால், நீங்கள் விரும்பினால் 'if you wish'. The meaning is the same, the difference is only in style — as between spoken and written English. On a bank notice you will see -ஆல், in a queue you will hear -னா.
Three turns are worth learning whole, because they come up every day. -னா என்ன? — 'what if…', a polite suggestion: நாளைக்கு வந்தா என்ன (nāḷaikku vandā eṉṉa)? 'how about coming tomorrow?'. இல்லாட்டி (illāṭṭi) — 'if not, otherwise': இல்லாட்டி நான் போன் பண்ணுறேன் (illāṭṭi nāṉ pōṉ paṇṇuṟēṉ). And -னாலும் — 'even if': விலை அதிகமானாலும் (vilai adigamāṉālum), நான் வாங்குறேன் (nāṉ vāṅguṟēṉ) — 'even if it is expensive, I will buy it'. The last is the same condition plus the familiar particle -உம் (--um), which everywhere means 'and, even'.
Table
| Verb | Past | Condition (speech) | Condition (bookish) |
|---|---|---|---|
| வா — come | வந்தேன் | வந்தா | வந்தால் |
| போ — go | போனேன் | போனா | போனால் |
| செய் — do | செஞ்சேன் | செஞ்சா | செய்தால் |
| இரு — be | இருந்தேன் | இருந்தா | இருந்தால் |
| வேணும் — must | — | வேணுமெண்டா | வேண்டுமானால் |
| even if | — | -னாலும் | -ஆலும் |
By example
- நீங்க கணக்கு திறந்தா, அட்டை இலவசம்nīṅga kaṇakku tiṟandā, aṭṭai ilavasamIf you open an account, the card is free
- காய்ச்சல் அதிகமானா வைத்தியரை பாருங்கkāyccal adigamāṉā vaittiyarai pāruṅgaIf the temperature is high, see a doctor
- விலை அதிகமானாலும் நான் இந்த வீட்டை எடுக்கிறேன்vilai adigamāṉālum nāṉ inda vīṭṭai eḍukkiṟēṉEven if it is expensive, I will rent this house
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
If: how does it work in Tamil?
There is no separate word for 'if' in Tamil. The condition is shown by an ending on the verb of the subordinate part, and in live speech it is -னா: மழை வந்தா, நான் வர மாட்டேன் — 'if it rains, I will not come'. The verb வந்தது loses its end and takes -னா; nothing else in the sentence changes.
What does it look like in an example sentence Tamil?
“நீங்க கணக்கு திறந்தா, அட்டை இலவசம்” (nīṅga kaṇakku tiṟandā, aṭṭai ilavasam) — If you open an account, the card is free. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.