Syntactic Similarities between Verbal Participles and Verbal Nouns with Case Markers

Abstract

In Tamil Grammar, both the verbal participles and verbal nouns play different roles though both of them are derived from verbal roots. Verbal participles make verb phrases by adjoining with the following verbs whereas the verbal nouns act like any other nouns of Tamil language thereby become Subject in a sentence as well as take case markers. However, a close study in the syntactic functions of verbal participles and verbal nouns with case markers helps us to identify that there are instances in Tamil sentences or phrases that the verbal participles can be replaced with the verbal nouns with case markers. This article analyses the occurrences of such interchangeable phrase structures/sentences in Sangam Literature along with the commentaries as substantial evidences. Since these similarities can be found in Sangam Literature itself, this article considers the Verbal participles listed in Tolkappiyam for analysis. This article also gives valid syntactical evidences for not to consider ‘ceyaRku’ as one of the verbal participles listed in Tolkappiyam.