ñān (I), nī/niṅṅaḷ (you), avan/avaḷ/atu (he/she/it), nammaḷ/ñaṅṅaḷ (we), avar (they).
I can use the personal pronouns and choose between nī and niṅṅaḷ.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ഞാൻ കേരളത്തിൽ നിന്നാണ്.
I am from Kerala.
അവൾ എന്റെ ചേച്ചി ആണ്.
She is my elder sister.
നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ നിന്നാണ്?
Where are you from? (polite)
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Core set: ഞാൻ (I), നീ (you - intimate only!), നിങ്ങൾ (you polite/plural), അവൻ (he), അവൾ (she), അത് (it), അവർ (they).
Malayalam distinguishes two 'we': നമ്മൾ includes the listener, ഞങ്ങൾ excludes them - 'we (with you)' vs 'we (without you)'.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesUsing നീ with strangers - it is intimate; default to നിങ്ങൾ. Mixing up inclusive നമ്മൾ and exclusive ഞങ്ങൾ.
Register mismatch or inclusive/exclusive 'we' confusion
Default to niṅṅaḷ; drill nammaḷ vs ñaṅṅaḷ with context.
ഞാൻ കേരളത്തിൽ നിന്നാണ്.
I am from Kerala.
ഞാൻ = I; -il ninnu = from.
അവൾ എന്റെ ചേച്ചി ആണ്.
She is my elder sister.
അവൾ = she; ചേച്ചി = elder sister.
നിങ്ങൾ എവിടെ നിന്നാണ്?
Where are you from? (polite)
നിങ്ങൾ - the safe, polite 'you'.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises