| Singluar | Plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | நான் | I | நாம் | we (listener included) |
| நாங்கள் | we (listener not included) | |||
| 2nd Person | நீ | you | நீங்கள் | you |
| நீங்கள் | you (with respect) | |||
| 3rd person | அவன் | he | அவர்கள் | they |
| அவள் | she | |||
| அவர் | he/she (respect) | |||
| அது | it | அவை | they ("those things") | |
Singular means that a word refers to only 1 thing. Plural means that a word refers to more than 1 thing.
First person speech means the person speaking is talking about him/herself as an individual (“I…”) or in a group (“we…”). In Thamil, நாம் is used when the person who is being spoken to is included in the group. (“Are we there yet?”) நாங்கள் is used when the person who is being spoken to is not included. (“We saw a bear! You missed it.”)
Second person speech means that the person being spoken to is being spoken about. (“Who are you?”) நீங்கள் is used for a group of people, as well as for just one person who receives respect.
Third person speech means that the speaker is talking with someone about someone else. (“He is good.” “They are smart.”) அவர் is used when talking about a person who receives respect. அது refers to anything that is not a person (place, thing, idea). அவை is used to refer to more than 1 place, thing, or idea, such as 9 dogs or 5 tables.
There is no way to translate “is” in Thamil, and there is no translation for “is” in making simple sentences. So if you want to make a simple, informative statement, just put the two words together without a verb. Ex:
Also, you can use numbers to describe what is being referred to. There is a word for “a”/“an”, which is ஒரு, which is used. Ex:
If you want to say something like “It is red”, you will have to wait until you get to Adjectives & Adverbs. In English, the words “is” and “are” are called linking verbs. A linking verb restates the subject (அவர்) with the predicate noun (காவல்காரன்). In other words, அவர் = காவல்காரன். The word “red” in “It is red” is a predicate adjective, and is said differently in Thamil.