The Plural (-kaḷ)

A1 — നാമം

One plural ending: -kaḷ. pūcca → pūccakaḷ (cats). Nouns stay singular after numbers.

I can form plurals with -kaḷ and keep nouns singular after numerals.

Examples

കുട്ടികൾ കളിക്കുന്നു. — The children are playing.
രണ്ട് പൂച്ച ഉണ്ട്. — There are two cats.
കടകൾ ഇന്ന് തുറന്നിരിക്കുന്നു. — The shops are open today.

NounsA1

The Plural (-kaḷ)

One plural ending: -kaḷ. pūcca → pūccakaḷ (cats). Nouns stay singular after numbers.

Learning Goal

I can form plurals with -kaḷ and keep nouns singular after numerals.

Exam Skills:Malayalam A1 · ReadingMalayalam A1 · Speaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

കുട്ടികൾ കളിക്കുന്നു.

The children are playing.

രണ്ട് പൂച്ച ഉണ്ട്.

There are two cats.

കടകൾ ഇന്ന് തുറന്നിരിക്കുന്നു.

The shops are open today.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

The Plural: -കൾ

Add -കൾ (-kaḷ): പൂച്ച → പൂച്ചകൾ (cats), കുട്ടി → കുട്ടികൾ (children), വീട് → വീടുകൾ (houses - a joining u appears after consonants).

After a numeral the noun usually stays singular: raṇṭu pūcca (two cat). People words often take -മാർ instead: അമ്മമാർ (mothers).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Pluralizing after numbers (*raṇṭu pūccakaḷ). Using -kaḷ for people where -mār is natural.

Common Error Patterns

Plural after numerals or -kal for people

Drill noun → noun-kaḷ; numeral + singular.

കുട്ടികൾ കളിക്കുന്നു.

The children are playing.

kuṭṭi + kaḷ = children.

രണ്ട് പൂച്ച ഉണ്ട്.

There are two cats.

After a numeral: singular pūcca.

കടകൾ ഇന്ന് തുറന്നിരിക്കുന്നു.

The shops are open today.

kaṭa + kaḷ = shops.

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use The Plural (-kaḷ)?: Add -കൾ (-kaḷ) : പൂച്ച → പൂച്ചകൾ (cats), കുട്ടി → കുട്ടികൾ (children), വീട് → വീടുകൾ (houses - a joining u appears after consonants).
How do you form The Plural (-kaḷ)?: After a numeral the noun usually stays singular: raṇṭu pūcca (two cat). People words often take -മാർ instead: അമ്മമാർ (mothers).
What are common mistakes with The Plural (-kaḷ)?: Pluralizing after numbers (*raṇṭu pūccakaḷ). Using -kaḷ for people where -mār is natural.

Frequently asked questions

When do you use The Plural (-kaḷ)?

Add -കൾ (-kaḷ) : പൂച്ച → പൂച്ചകൾ (cats), കുട്ടി → കുട്ടികൾ (children), വീട് → വീടുകൾ (houses - a joining u appears after consonants).

How do you form The Plural (-kaḷ)?

After a numeral the noun usually stays singular: raṇṭu pūcca (two cat). People words often take -മാർ instead: അമ്മമാർ (mothers).

What are common mistakes with The Plural (-kaḷ)?

Pluralizing after numbers (*raṇṭu pūccakaḷ). Using -kaḷ for people where -mār is natural.