— 272 —
Ex: rájávŭ rájyatte pálikkunnu (=the king governs the king-
dom); in this, the subject 'rájávŭ' (=king) is the agent and
is in the nominative case; hence the verb 'pálikkunnu' (= gov-
erns) is said to be in the active voice.
302. What is the passive voice?
When the object of the action is in the nominative case
and is the subject to the verb, then the verb is said
to be in the passive voice, and may be called a passive
verb.
Ex: rájyam rájávinál pálikkappeṭunnu (=the kingdom is
governed by the king); and 'kaṭalássu tuṇi koṇṭu uṇṭákkiyatu'
(= paper is made of cloth). In these, as the objects of the actions,
'rájyam' (=kingdom) and 'kaṭalássu' (= paper) are in the nomi-
native case and stand as the subjects to the verbs 'pálikka-
ppeṭunnu' (= is governed) and 'uṇṭákkiyatu' (= is made),
those verbs are said to be used passively, and may be called
passive verbs.
303. Is the auxiliary verb 'peṭuka' (=suffer) the only
means of expressing a passive sense?
No, various auxiliaries are used, and sometimes though
rarely even the ordinary transitive verb without an auxi
liary.
Ex: pána poṭṭichchu póyi (=the pot broke, or was broken);
katalássu tuṇi koṇṭu uṇṭákkiyatu (=paper is made of cloth);
nálám tantram labdhanášam ennu chollunnu [= the fourth
tantram is called labdhanášam; or, (people) call the fourth,
etc.]
