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306. What are the uses of the particle 'um'?
It is used to indicate, 1. totality, 2. alternative ex-
pressions, 3. concession, etc.
Ex: 1. (Totality.) 'raṇṭu kaṇṇum' póyi (=both my eyes are
gone); itranáḷum [=so many days (as this)]. *
2. (Alternatives.) kolkilum ám kolláykilum ám (=he may either
kill or not kill).
3. (Concession.) 'enniṭṭum' avan anusarichchiṭṭilla [=even
then (lit. even this being said. i. e. being the fact) he did not
obey]. (This concessive 'um' is exemplified in every concessive
verb.)
307. How is 'um' used with the interrogative-pronomi-
nal-nouns?
If 'um' be added, the interrogative nouns acquire an
indefinitely-universal force.
Ex: évanum (=whosoever, any one); évarum (=whosoever,
every one); ennum (=what day soever, whensoever, for ever)
etc.
MEANS OF CONJUNCTION.
308. What are the other uses of the particle 'um'?
'Um' is also used to connect the members of sentences,
and to connect sentences.
* N. B. This 'um' must always be used after a numeral or in-
definite numeral, or noun of quantity, unless it is implied that only
part, not the whole, is mentioned. Thus: 'raṇṭu kaṇṇu' would imply
that there were more than the two eyes mentioned.
