KSEAB SSLC FL Tamil key terms

Direct prose writing that is not bound by metre, used for lessons, essays and explanations. In the SSLC Tamil paper it covers comprehension, theme and character questions from prescribed prose lessons.

The central idea or message a lesson or poem conveys, such as sacrifice, honesty or patriotism. Questions on theme ask you to state the main idea and support it with evidence from the text.

A person portrayed in a prose lesson, described through speech, action and the author's comments. Character questions ask about qualities such as courage, generosity or loyalty, backed by incidents from the text.

A single quality of a character, for example தியாகம் (sacrifice) or நேர்மை (honesty). Answers should name the trait and then quote or describe the incident that proves it.

Tamil verse composed in metre and rhythm, as found in the prescribed poetry lessons. Questions cover meaning, theme, poetic devices and the ability to recall memorised lines.

A figure of speech that decorates verse, such as உவமை (simile), உருவகம் (metaphor) and தீவக அணி. Identification questions require you to name the device and explain the comparison it creates.

A comparison between two unlike things using உம்மை, போல, ஒப்ப or similar words, as in 'முகம் தாமரை போல'. The marker of comparison must be visible for the device to count as a simile.

A direct identification of one thing with another without a comparison word, as when a king is simply called a lion. The two things are fused, so no போல or ஒப்ப appears.

The branch of Tamil grammar governing metre: அசை, சீர், தளை and பா. Exam items may ask you to split a line into சீர் or to name the metre of a prescribed verse.

The basic unit of a Tamil metrical line, formed from two, three or four அசை. Counting சீர் per line helps identify the பா, such as ஆசிரியப்பா with four சீர்.

The smallest metrical unit in Tamil prosody, either நேரசை (a long syllable or short-plus-long) or நிரையசை (two short syllables). Syllable weight decides how அசை combine into சீர்.

The non-detailed text prescribed alongside the main reader, tested for story comprehension, sequence of events and character motivation rather than line-by-line study. Questions often ask for short summaries or reasons for a character's action.

The rules of Tamil language structure, covering புணர்ச்சி, சொல்லிலக்கணம் and வாக்கிய அமைப்பு. Grammar items in the paper test application in sentences, not mere recitation of rules.

The sound change that occurs when two words join, as in மரம் + வேர் becoming மரவேர். Questions ask you to join words correctly or to split a joined form back into its parts.

The eight case relationships in Tamil, marked by உருபுகள் such as ஐ, ஆல், க்கு and இன். Items require you to identify the case of a highlighted word or supply the correct உருப.

The suffix attached to a noun to show its case relation, for example -ஐ for the second case and -ஆல் for the third. Recognising உருபு is the first step in answering வேற்றுமை questions.

An ending added to a root or stem to form a new word or show grammatical function, such as tense and person markers on verbs. Separating விகுதி helps in parsing and in transformation exercises.

A word expressing an action or state, carrying tense and person agreement, as in நடந்தான் (he walked). Verb questions test tense choice, agreement with the subject and active-to-passive transformation.

The time reference of a verb: இறந்தகாலம் (past), நிகழ்காலம் (present) and எதிர்காலம் (future). Tamil marks tense with infixes such as -த்-, -க் கிற்- and -ப்- before the person ending.

A non-finite verb form that does not carry tense or person agreement, such as வந்து or செய்து. It links clauses and is frequently tested in sentence-joining and transformation items.

The grammatical number referring to one person or thing, marked on nouns and verbs, as in மரம் and வந்தான். Number agreement between subject and verb is a common error tested in correction items.

The grammatical number referring to more than one, usually shown by suffixes such as -கள், -ங்கள் or -ர், as in மரங்கள். Verb endings must match, for example வந்தார்கள்.

A grammatically complete utterance with a subject and predicate, such as மாணவன் படித்தான். Transformation exercises ask you to convert between affirmative, negative, interrogative and compound forms.

The negative construction of a verb, formed with இல்லை, -ஆ- or -அ-. Converting a positive sentence to negative, as in வருகிறான் to வரவில்லை, is a standard grammar task.

A word with a meaning close to another, for example மனம் and உள்ளம். Synonym items ask you to choose the closest equivalent, so register and context matter as much as dictionary meaning.

A word with an opposite meaning, such as இன்பம் and துன்பம். Antonym questions may ask for the opposite of a word inside a sentence, where context restricts the possible answer.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as கை கொடுத்து உதவு. Idiom items ask for the correct meaning or for the idiom matching a given situation.

A traditional saying that carries folk wisdom, such as ஆற்றிலே விழுந்தாலும் அழுது பிழைக்கலாம். Questions test the meaning and the situation in which the proverb applies.

A structured composition of several paragraphs on a given topic, with introduction, body and conclusion. Marking rewards clear organisation, relevant examples and correct spelling rather than length alone.

A written communication in a set format, either formal to officials and institutions or informal to relatives and friends. Formal letters carry sender and receiver addresses, date, subject and salutation; informal letters use a personal tone.

A letter written for official purposes, such as applying for leave, seeking permission or lodging a complaint. It must include a clear subject line and a polite, concise body without colloquial forms.

A formal written request addressed to an authority, commonly used for leave, a certificate or a job. It follows the formal letter layout and states the request plainly with supporting reasons.

Rendering meaning from one language into another, here Tamil to English or English to Tamil. Good translation preserves sense and tone rather than word order, and avoids literal renderings that sound unnatural.

A written conversation between two or more speakers, each turn marked by the speaker's name or a dash. Dialogue tasks test appropriate register, turn-taking and natural spoken Tamil.

A shortened restatement of a passage that keeps its main ideas in your own words, usually about one-third of the original length. Marks are lost for copying whole sentences or adding opinions.

A short reading passage not from the prescribed textbooks, followed by comprehension questions. Answers should be drawn from the passage and expressed in complete sentences, not copied verbatim where the question asks for inference.

A line or phrase quoted from the text to support an answer about theme or character. Accurate recall of prescribed verse and prose lines strengthens answers to appreciation questions.

The order in which incidents occur in a story, from beginning through complication to resolution. Questions on the supplementary reader often ask you to arrange events or explain why one follows another.