HSC Tamil Continuers flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

முதலில் / பிறகு / இறுதியாக

Sequencing markers meaning first, then, finally. They signal the order of events in a spoken recount, so answers about what happened when depend on tracking them.

என்று in reported speech

The quotative particle that introduces speech or thought. After it, the quoted clause keeps its original tense, so reported speech is not backshifted as in English.

Register markers நீ and நீங்கள்

Singular informal versus polite or plural 'you'. Their use in a listening text reveals the relationship between speakers, such as friends, teacher and student, or shopkeeper and customer.

Distractor options in listening tasks

Wrong options often echo a word from the recording but reverse who did what. The correct option usually paraphrases the meaning rather than repeating the exact vocabulary.

Numbers in spoken Tamil

Spoken forms such as இருபது (20), நூறு (100) and ஆயிரம் (1000) are frequent answer targets. Match the heard number to the written numeral in the options.

Tone and attitude questions

Questions about a speaker's feelings are answered from discourse markers and tone words such as கவலைப்படாதீர்கள் or நிச்சயமாக, not from the topic nouns.

Final verb carries tense

In a Tamil clause the finite verb at the end carries tense, person and number. Rapid speech may blur the ending, so identify the stem first.

Accusative case -ஐ

Marks the direct object of a verb. In reading passages it identifies what is affected by the action, distinguishing object from subject.

Dative case -க்கு

Marks recipient, purpose, or obligation, as in எனக்கு வேண்டும் and படிக்க வேண்டும். It often signals who wants or must do something.

Locative case -இல் / -இடம்

Marks the place where or the time within which an action occurs. It answers 'where' and 'when' questions in a reading text.

Instrumental -ஆல் and sociative -உடன்

The instrumental marks the means or agent ('by means of'), while the sociative marks accompaniment ('together with'). Confusing them changes who acted and how.

Relative participle before noun

A participle such as வந்த or படித்த placed before a noun forms a relative clause: வந்த பையன் (the boy who came). English relative clauses are rendered this way.

Neuter plural agreement

Inanimate plural subjects normally take neuter singular verb agreement, as in புத்தகங்கள் வந்தது. Animate plurals take -கள்/-ஆர்கள் agreement instead.

Negative verb forms

Negation uses இல்லை or the infinitive plus இல்லை, as in படிக்கவில்லை. This differs from the prohibitive வேண்டாம் or விடாதே, which forbids an action.

Polysemous words in context

Many Tamil words carry several senses, for example கால் (leg, quarter, time). Vocabulary questions must be tested inside the original sentence, not in isolation.

Inference across two sentences

Some reading questions are answered by linking two statements through cause or contrast markers such as ஏனெனில், ஆனால் and அதனால்; the answer is not stated outright.

Scanning text-type layout

Notices, advertisements, letters and diary entries each have conventional features such as headings, dates and signatures. Reading these first locates the required information quickly.

Genitive case -இன்

Marks possession or relationship, as in மாணவரின் புத்தகம். It links two nouns and often appears in chains that must be unpacked from the last noun backwards.

Infinitive plus வேண்டும்

Expresses obligation or necessity: படிக்க வேண்டும் means 'must study'. The dative noun before it names the person obliged.

Writing assessment criteria

Writing tasks are scored on content and relevance, range of vocabulary and grammar, structure and cohesion, and accuracy. Each criterion is marked separately, so a strong idea still needs correct forms.

Informal letter frame

Opens with அன்புள்ள plus the addressee's name and closes with அன்புடன் plus the writer's name. It uses நீ and colloquial-friendly but correct register.

Formal letter frame

Opens with மதிப்பிற்குரிய (respected) and closes with இப்படிக்கு (yours). It uses நீங்கள், plural verb endings, and avoids colloquial contractions.

Diary entry conventions

A date heading, first-person narration and past tense throughout. Feelings and reflection are expected, so evaluative adjectives and discourse markers should be included.

Notice conventions

A short heading, essential details such as date, time and place, and a contact line. Sentences are brief and impersonal, often using passive or impersonal constructions.

Cohesive devices in writing

Connectors such as மேலும், எனவே, இருப்பினும், உதாரணமாக and இறுதியாக link sentences. They are explicitly rewarded under the structure and cohesion criterion.

Participle chaining for variety

Joining clauses with participle forms such as வந்து and படித்து creates complex sentences. This demonstrates grammatical range beyond simple subject-verb-object strings.

Tense consistency rule

Narrative writing stays in past tense, while opinion writing uses present and future. Unmotivated shifts between tenses reduce the accuracy score.

Colloquial versus formal verb forms

Spoken contractions such as போறேன் and வர்றேன் are inappropriate in formal writing, where போகிறேன் and வருகிறேன் are required. Register errors cost accuracy marks.

Planning to required length

The word count is part of the task. Allocate paragraphs in advance, for example introduction, two body paragraphs and conclusion, so the required length is met without padding.

Distinguishing ந ன ண and ர ற

Tamil has distinct letters for dental, alveolar and retroflex nasals and liquids. Misspelling them is an orthographic error that affects the accuracy criterion.

ஃ aytham usage

The aytham letter appears in a small set of words such as எஃகு. Correct use is part of spelling accuracy and is checked alongside other orthographic features.