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281. What are the uses of the verbal noun?
The verbal noun may stand in the nominative as the
subject to 'ám' (= will be, will take place), 'véṇam' (=is
necessary) and other similar verbs, although it may at
the same time be the predicate of a preceding subject.
Ex: ní 'ezhunneḷḷuka' véṇam; pattu yójana 'cháṭ'ám; in this
'ezhunneḷḷuka' (=the proceeding) is a verbal noun and stands in
the nominative as subject to the verb 'véṇam' (=is necessary);
ní' (=thou) stands in the nominative as subject to the verb
'ezhunneḷḷuka' and not to 'véṇam'; so 'cháṭa (=the leaping)
and not 'inikkŭ', understood, is the subject to 'ám' (=will be,
will take place).
282. Is the first verbal noun ever used instead of the
imperative?
It is; but the verb 'véṇam' (=it is necessary) should
always be understood as the predicate.
Ex: páṭṭu 'páṭuka', ní = ní páṭu páṭuka véṇam (=that thou
shouldst sing a song is necessary, i. e. sing a song!)
283. What further is to be observed respecting the
verbal noun?
The first verbal noun is declined in the instrumental
and locative cases, and the second verbal noun through
all the cases except the accusative; both may be used
similarly to nouns.
