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SYNTAX OF VERBS (INFINITIVE).
280. What are the uses of the infinitive?
1. The infinitive is used with the auxiliary 'cheyka'
(=do) and other auxiliary verbs which have the same
subject as the principal verb.
Ex: 'kuḷikka'yum 'japikka'yum cheytu (=he washed himself
and said his prayers).
2. It has the uses of the past adverbial participle
and of the conditional. It may take the indeclinable 'e'.
Ex: púrṇṇa teḷivŭ 'irikke' (=there being complete proof);
'vaḷaravé' varddhichchu (=it increased so as to be great);
irikké keṭum (=if not used, it spoils).
3. Sometimes the infinitive is used to qualify the prin-
cipal verb, and shew its time, manner, quantity etc. The
infinitives of certain verbal roots obsolete in most of the
forms are very commonly used in this way; they gene-
rally add the particles 'é' or 'um'; this is called the
adverbial use of the infinitive.
Ex: 'ákavé' našippikkum [=he will cause it to perish (so that
what is destroyed may) become (the whole) i. e. he will destroy it
wholly]; 'vaḷaré' par̥ańńu [=he spoke much (lit. so as to
be much)].
