— 244 —
Ex: 'it'enr̥é jívanum taruvan (=I will give even this life of
mine); 'ét'oru bhágyaván (= what happy man?)
'até' prakáram [= (in) that very manner].
'Atu' may also be used in apposition as a mere ex-
pletive.
Ex: vánaranmár'atil' munpan (= the chief of the monkeys).
SYNTAX OF VERBS (FINITE).
275. How is the present tense used?
The present tense may be used for 1. actions now going
on, and 2. those which will shortly take place, and,
3. in a narrative style, for the past tense.
Ex: 1. (For actions now going on.) avan innu 'dukkhikkunnu'
(= he mourns today).
2. (For actions which will shortly take place.) ńán náḷé 'varunnu'
(= I come to-morrow).
3. (For the past tense.) Arjjunan pórkkaḷattil ettiyár̥é avanr̥é
astrattál 'vízhunnitu' chilar, móhichchitu chilar [= when
Arjjuna reached the battle-field, some fall by his arrows, and
others fainted (at the mere sight)].
276. How is the past tense used?
The past tense is used 1. for actions which are passed
and 2. for actions continuing to the present time, and
also 3. as an emphatic future.
1. (For past actions.) avan innalé 'póyi' (= he went yesterday).
2. (For actions continuing to the present time.) atinnŭ etra véṇṭu
ennar̥ińńíla [=I do (lit. did) not know how much is wanted].
3. (Emphatic future.) kár̥r̥u víšunnuṇṭu, mazha peytu [= the
wind is rising, it will surely rain (lit. it rained)].
