Complex sentences, also known as sentences with more than one clause, play a significant role in Tamil grammar. To fully comprehend complex sentences in Tamil, it is essential to understand the different types. These can be classified into three main categories:

1. Coordinate Sentences
2. Adverbial Sentences
3. Relative Sentences

Structure and Formation of Tamil Complex Sentences

Coordinate Sentences (ஒப்புதிருதல் வாக்கியங்கள்)

Coordinate sentences consist of two or more simple sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions. These conjunctions indicate a relationship between the clauses, such as addition, contrast, or cause and effect. The most common coordinating conjunctions in Tamil include:

• அதனால் (athanal) – Therefore
• எனவே (enave) – So
• ஆனால் (aanaal) – But
• அல்லது (allathu) – Or

Example of coordinate sentences in Tamil:

அவள் வெறும் சில அரிசி வேண்டும் என்று சொன்னாள், அதனால் நான் அந்த கடைக்கு சென்றேன்.

(Aval verum sila ariṣi veṇṭum enṟu sonnāḷ, athanal nāṉ anta kaṭaikku ceṉṟēṉ.)

Translation: She said she needed just some rice, therefore I went to that shop.

Adverbial Sentences (வினைவலி வாக்கியங்கள்)

Adverbial sentences in Tamil comprise of a main clause and an adverbial clause. The adverbial clause modifies the verb in the main clause and describes the time, place, or manner of the action. Some common adverbial words in Tamil are:

• எப்போது (eppothu) – When
• எங்கு (engu) – Where
• எவ்வளவு (evvaḷavu) – How much/many

Example of adverbial sentences in Tamil:

அவன் திருமாவினால் அடிந்தோடு உள்ளான் எப்போது நான் வந்துசேர்ந்தேன்.

(Avaṉ tirumāviṉāl aṭintōṭu uḷḷāṉ eppothu nāṉ vantucēṟntēṉ.)

Translation: When he fell due to the heavy rain, I came and joined him.

Relative Sentences (பகுப்பு வாக்கியங்கள்)

Relative sentences in Tamil consist of a main clause and a relative clause. The relative clause provides additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause, introduced by relative markers such as:

• அந்த (antha) – That
• இந்த (indha) – This
• எவ்வ (evva) – Which

Example of relative sentences in Tamil:

அந்த மனிதன், அவர் நினைத்த வேளையில் வந்துள்ளார்.

(Anta maṉitaṉ, avar niṉaitta vēḷaiyil vantullār.)

Translation: That person, whom they thought about, came at that time.

Conclusion

Comprehending complex sentences in Tamil grammar requires understanding the various types – coordinate, adverbial, and relative sentences. Mastering the use of conjunctions, adverbial words, and relative markers is crucial for constructing meaningful and grammatically accurate complex sentences in the Tamil language.