Why Tamil Sentence Correction Matters
Tamil is a beautiful and complex language with strict grammatical rules. Unlike English, Tamil sentences must follow specific patterns for subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and word order. Small errors can change the entire meaning of a sentence or make it sound unnatural to native speakers.
Whether you're a student preparing for government exams, a professional writing official letters, or someone learning Tamil as a second language, mastering sentence correction is essential.
Common Types of Tamil Sentence Errors
❌ Incorrect
அவன் நேற்று பள்ளிக்கு செல்வான்.
"He will go to school yesterday"
✓ Correct
அவன் நேற்று பள்ளிக்கு சென்றான்.
"He went to school yesterday"
Rule: Time indicators like "நேற்று" (yesterday), "கடந்த வாரம்" (last week) require past tense verbs. Always match your verb tense with the time context.
❌ Incorrect
அவர்கள் வீட்டிற்கு சென்றான்.
"They went home" (singular verb)
✓ Correct
அவர்கள் வீட்டிற்கு சென்றார்கள்.
"They went home" (plural verb)
Rule: The verb ending must match the subject's number (singular/plural) and person (first/second/third). "அவர்கள்" (they) requires plural verb endings like "-ார்கள்", "-ர்".
❌ Incorrect
ஆசிரியர் வகுப்பிற்கு வந்தான்.
"Teacher came to class" (informal verb)
✓ Correct
ஆசிரியர் வகுப்பிற்கு வந்தார்.
"Teacher came to class" (respectful verb)
Rule: Use respectful verb forms ("-ார்", "-ஆர்கள்") when referring to elders, professionals, or people in positions of authority. This is essential in formal Tamil writing.
Quick Reference: Verb Endings by Person
| Subject | Past Tense | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| நான் (I) | -ஏன் | -கிறேன் | -வேன் |
| நீ (You - informal) | -ஆய் | -கிறாய் | -வாய் |
| அவன் (He) | -ஆன் | -கிறான் | -வான் |
| அவள் (She) | -ஆள் | -கிறாள் | -வாள் |
| அவர் (He/She - respectful) | -ஆர் | -கிறார் | -வார் |
| அவர்கள் (They) | -ஆர்கள் | -கிறார்கள் | -வார்கள் |
Tips for Error-Free Tamil Writing
Read Aloud
Reading your sentences aloud helps identify unnatural constructions that written review might miss.
Check Time Words First
Identify time indicators (நேற்று, இன்று, நாளை) and ensure your verb tense matches.
Identify the Subject
Before choosing a verb ending, clearly identify who is performing the action.
Consider Context
The level of formality (casual, professional, official) affects word choice and verb forms.