How to Use Causative Verbs in Tamil: A Guide for English Speakers

Understanding Causative Verbs in Tamil

Causative verbs are verbs that indicate causing someone else to do an action or causing something to happen. In Tamil, causative verbs are formed by adding specific suffixes to the root verb, which changes the meaning to 'make someone do' or 'cause to do' the action.

What Are Causative Verbs?

In English, causative verbs include words like 'make', 'let', 'have', or 'cause'. For example, 'I made him eat' or 'She let me go'. Tamil expresses this concept by modifying the verb itself rather than using separate auxiliary verbs.

Forming Causative Verbs in Tamil

To form causative verbs in Tamil, suffixes such as -ப்ப (-ppa), -த்த (-tha), or -வ (-va) are added to the verb stem depending on the verb class and phonological rules.

For example, the verb சாப்பிடு (to eat) becomes சாப்பிடப்ப (to make someone eat). The exact suffix and form can vary, so it is important to learn the patterns.

Common Causative Suffixes

• -ப்ப (-ppa)
• -த்த (-tha)
• -வ (-va)

Examples of Causative Verbs in Tamil

Here are some examples showing the base verb and its causative form:

• நீ தூங்கு (You sleep) → நான் உன்னை தூங்கப்ப (I make you sleep)
• அவன் எழுது (He writes) → அவன் அவனை எழுதத்த (He makes him write)
• அவள் பேசு (She speaks) → அவள் அவளை பேசவ (She makes her speak)

Usage Tips for English Speakers Learning Tamil Causatives

When using causative verbs in Tamil, remember that the subject causing the action is marked differently, and the verb changes form. It is important to pay attention to verb conjugations and suffixes to convey the correct meaning.

Practice Exercises

Try converting these simple verbs into their causative forms:

1. பார் (to see)
2. நடு (to walk)
3. பாடு (to sing)

Answers:

1. பார்ப்ப (to make see)
2. நடத்த (to make walk)
3. பாடவ (to make sing)