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USES OF THE INDECLINABLES.
304. What are the uses of the particle 'é'?
The particle 'é' is used to indicate 1. place, 2. complete-
ness or intensity, and 3. limit, also 4. for questions, and
5. to enable nouns to qualify verbs.
Ex: 1. (Place.) 'paṭińńár̥e' (=in the west); 'ákášamárggame'
chennu (= he went through the skies, or by way of the sky);
ninnuṭe 'vazhiye' vannu [= he came after you (lit, in your
path)].
2. (Completeness or Intensity.) kannukiṭákkaḷe 'kúṭṭamé' ma-
ṭakki (= he turned back all the cattle together); 'árumé' ká-
ṇáte (= seeing none); paṇṭoru 'náḷume' kaṇṭar̥iyá (= I never
knew of such things in all my life).
3. (Limit.) 'raṇṭé' uḷḷu (= I have only two); 'nammuṭe' 'pá-
pame' káraṇam (=our sin alone is the cause); 'enkilé' nallu
(=if you indeed say so, it is well); 'vekkaye' vénṭu (=putting
it down is necessary, you cannot but put it down).
4. (Question.) ní 'allé' par̥ańńatu? (=it was thou, was it not,
that said so?)
5. (To enable nouns to qualify verbs.) 'nanné' pukazhtti (=he
praised him well); 'sukhamé' kaṭannu (= he crossed happily);
('nannu' and 'sukham' are properly nouns meaning 'benefit' or
'good', and 'happiness').
