UPMSP Intermediate Tamil - Code 114 key terms

The prose form of Tamil writing, covering lessons, essays, and narrative passages in the prescribed textbook. It contrasts with verse composition and is assessed for comprehension, theme, and the author's purpose.

A prescribed lesson in the prose textbook. Candidates must know its author, central idea, characters or arguments, and any notable expressions, since questions often ask for summary or message.

The author of a prescribed lesson or poem. Examiners expect the name to be matched correctly to the text, so memorise author–title pairs for every prose lesson and poem in the syllabus.

The central idea or message of a passage. A good answer states the main thought in one sentence, then supports it with two or three details drawn directly from the text rather than from general knowledge.

The gist or summary of a lesson or poem. Summarising requires condensing the text into its essential points while keeping the original order of ideas, without adding personal opinion or examples not in the source.

Poetry as a genre in the prescribed anthology. Questions test the theme, the poet's name, the imagery used, and the emotional tone, so read each poem aloud to feel its rhythm before analysing meaning.

A poet whose work appears in the prescribed poetry section. Knowing the poet's period and general style helps when a question asks you to comment on the tone or outlook of a particular verse.

A poetic figure or ornament of meaning and sound, such as simile or alliteration. Identification questions give a line and ask which figure it contains, so learn to name the device and explain the comparison briefly.

The figure of simile, where one thing is explicitly compared to another using a word such as போல (like) or ஒப்ப (resembling). The comparison must be stated, not implied, for the figure to count as உவமை.

The figure of metaphor, in which the compared object is identified with the subject without a comparison word. If a line says the eyes are lotuses rather than like lotuses, the figure is உருவகம், not உவமை.

The rhyming of the second letter or syllable of successive lines in a verse. It is a sound-based device, so identify it by looking at the second unit of each line rather than at the final syllable.

The repetition of the same initial letter or sound at the start of successive lines or phrases. It creates musical effect and is often confused with எதுகை, which concerns the second syllable instead.

The prosody of Tamil verse, dealing with metre, feet (சீர்), and line structure. Candidates need enough of it to scan a simple verse and name its metrical type, such as ஆசிரியப்பா or வெண்பா.

A metrical foot in Tamil prosody, made up of one or more syllabic units (அசை) in fixed patterns. Counting feet per line is the first step in identifying the metre of a prescribed verse.

The basic syllabic unit in Tamil metre, either light (நேரசை) or heavy (நிரையசை) depending on vowel length and consonant position. Feet (சீர்) are built from these units in fixed combinations.

The short story, the main genre of the non-detailed supplementary reader. Questions ask about plot, character motive, setting, and the turning point, so note each story's conflict and resolution as you read.

A character in a story. Answers about character should cite actions and words from the text as evidence, then draw a conclusion about traits, instead of simply listing adjectives with no support.

Characterisation, the way an author builds believable persons through speech, action, and description. Examiners may ask how a particular character is revealed, so link technique to specific textual moments rather than general praise.

A collection of stories forming the supplementary reader. Candidates should track each story's title, author, and main event separately, since mixed-up titles and authors are a common source of lost marks.

Tamil grammar as a school subject, covering letters, words, and sentence structure. The exam tests recognition and correct application of rules, so practise identifying categories in given words rather than only reciting definitions.

A letter of the Tamil alphabet. The traditional classification divides letters into உயிர் (vowels), மெய் (consonants), and உயிர்மெய் (combined), and questions often ask candidates to place a given letter in the right class.

A pure vowel letter in Tamil, of which there are twelve, from அ to ஔ. These letters stand alone without a consonant base and are classified further by short and long duration.

A pure consonant letter in Tamil, eighteen in number, from க் to ன். These cannot be pronounced alone without an inherent vowel sound and combine with vowels to form உயிர்மெய் letters.

A word, classified in Tamil grammar into four kinds: பெயர் (noun), வினை (verb), இடை (particle), and உரி (adjective or adverb). Identifying the class of a given word is a standard grammar question.

A noun, naming a person, place, thing, or abstract idea. Tamil grammar further divides nouns into proper, common, and collective types, and also distinguishes rational from non-rational classes.

A verb, expressing action or state. In Tamil it carries tense and person agreement, so a grammar question may ask you to identify the root, the tense marker, and the personal ending within a single verb form.

A suffix added to a root or stem, such as a personal ending on a verb or a case marker on a noun. Separating root from suffix is a common exercise in the grammar section.

A case marker in Tamil, showing the grammatical relationship of a noun to the verb, such as கை, இன், or ஐ. Eight cases are recognised, and questions ask you to name the case of an underlined word.

An essay written in the composition section. A strong answer has a short introduction, two or three developed body paragraphs each with one point, and a conclusion, all within the word limit set by the paper.

The introductory paragraph of an essay or letter. It should define the topic and signal the direction of the piece in two or three sentences, avoiding a long preamble that wastes marks and time.

The concluding paragraph of an essay. It restates the main position in fresh words and may add a brief suggestion or appeal, but it must not introduce a new argument that the body has not supported.

A short explanatory paragraph on a given topic or proverb, often asked in composition. The answer should explain the meaning, give one illustration, and close with a practical observation in about the prescribed length.

A letter, either personal or formal, tested in the applied writing section. Format matters: place and date, salutation, body, and closing must appear in the conventional positions, and the tone must suit the recipient.

A formal application letter, usually addressed to an official or institution. It states the request clearly in the opening, gives supporting details, and ends with a polite closing, with no colloquial or personal flourishes.

An address written on a letter or application. In formal writing the sender's address goes at the top and the recipient's below the salutation, and omitting or misplacing it costs marks in this section.

Translation between Tamil and Hindi or English. Marks depend on conveying meaning accurately and naturally, so render the sense of the whole sentence rather than translating word for word and producing awkward phrasing.

Vocabulary or word stock. Building it means learning words in context, with synonyms and opposites, so that translation and vocabulary questions can be answered without pausing to guess from the sentence alone.

An antonym, a word of opposite meaning such as பெரிய (big) and சிறிய (small). Vocabulary questions often give one word and ask for its opposite, so learn pairs together rather than in isolation.

A synonym, a word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another, such as மனம் and உள்ளம். Questions ask for an equivalent, so learn synonyms in small groups attached to a sentence for context.

Reading comprehension of an unseen passage. Answer in your own words, keep to the question's scope, and quote only short phrases; full-sentence copying of the passage usually earns only partial credit.

Meaning, whether of a word, line, or passage. In comprehension and poetry questions, explain the sense in plain prose and connect it to the surrounding context instead of offering a loose paraphrase.

A proverb, a fixed saying carrying folk wisdom, often used in essays and explained in composition tasks. Learn common ones with their meaning and a situation where each would naturally apply.