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277. What are the uses of the 1st future tense?
The 1st future tense indicates 1. time to come, 2. doubt,
3. habitual action, and 4. ability.
Ex: 1. (Time to come.) í rógam alpa náḷ kazhińńál 'iḷakkum
(=this illness will abate after a little while).
2. (Doubt.) innalé avan varumpóḷ ékadéšam ompatu maṇi rátri
'yákum' ennu tónnunnu [= I think it was (lit. will be) about
nine o'clock at night when he came (lit. will come) yesterday].
3. (Habitual action.) annannu chenn'élkkum' [= day by day
they engage (in this business, in the battle etc.)].
4. (Ability.) avan í paṇi 'eṭukkum' (= he can do this piece of
work).
278. What are the uses of the 2nd future?
The 2nd future has the four following principal uses
for 1. questions, 2. requests, 3. habitual action, and 4. the
present time.
Ex: 1. (For questions) ńán entu 'cheyyú?' (= what can I do ?)
2. (For requests.) enpizha ní 'por̥uppú' (=bear with my fault!)
3. (Habitual action.) eppózhum 'irippú' ńán (=I shall always be).
4. (Present time.) avaré ppólé ńán uṇṭó 'káṭṭú' [= I am not
behaving like them, am I? (lit. 'am I like them? I will shew'.)]
279. What are the uses of the imperative?
The imperative is used 1. to command, 2. to request,
and 3. (in the 1st and 3rd persons) to advise.
Ex: 1. kéḷ eṭó! (=lo! hear!); kéḷppin! (=hear ye!).
2. ńán pókaṭṭé! (=let me go!); namma varaṭṭé! (=let good come!).
3. enggánum poykkoḷvin! (=go away any where!).
