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CourseGrammarWords
  1. Home
  2. ›Grammar
  3. ›A1
  4. ›The Present Tense (-unnu)
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VerbsA1

The Present Tense (-unnu)

Verb stem + -unnu covers all persons: pōkunnu = go/goes for everyone.

Learning Goal

I can talk about everyday actions using verb stem + -unnu.

Exam Skills:Malayalam A1 · ReadingMalayalam A1 · Speaking

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

അവൾ സ്കൂളിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു.

She goes to school.

ഞങ്ങൾ ചോറ് കഴിക്കുന്നു.

We are eating rice.

അവർ കൊച്ചിയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്നു.

They live in Kochi.

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

The Present Tense: -unnu

One form fits every person: stem + -ഉന്നു (-unnu). ñān pōkunnu (I go), avaḷ pōkunnu (she goes), avar pōkunnu (they go) - the verb never changes. The pronoun (or context) carries the person.

Core six: പോകുന്നു (go), വരുന്നു (come), കഴിക്കുന്നു (eat), കുടിക്കുന്നു (drink), പഠിക്കുന്നു (learn), താമസിക്കുന്നു (live).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Inventing person endings - the verb form is invariant. Dropping the pronoun when context doesn't carry it.

Common Error Patterns

Invented agreement endings

One form, all persons - drill with rotating subjects.

അവൾ സ്കൂളിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു.

She goes to school.

pōkunnu - same form for any subject.

ഞങ്ങൾ ചോറ് കഴിക്കുന്നു.

We are eating rice.

kaḻikkunnu = eat; ñaṅṅaḷ = we (excl.).

അവർ കൊച്ചിയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്നു.

They live in Kochi.

tāmasikkunnu = live; -il = in.

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use The Present Tense (-unnu)?
One form fits every person: stem + -ഉന്നു (-unnu) . ñān pōkunnu (I go), avaḷ pōkunnu (she goes), avar pōkunnu (they go) - the verb never changes. The pronoun (or context) carries the person.
How do you form The Present Tense (-unnu)?
Core six: പോകുന്നു (go), വരുന്നു (come), കഴിക്കുന്നു (eat), കുടിക്കുന്നു (drink), പഠിക്കുന്നു (learn), താമസിക്കുന്നു (live).
What are common mistakes with The Present Tense (-unnu)?
Inventing person endings - the verb form is invariant. Dropping the pronoun when context doesn't carry it.

Related grammar topics

Previous topic: 'is' vs 'there is': āṇu and uṇṭuNext topic: Word Order (SOV)

Also in Verbs

  • 'is' vs 'there is': āṇu and uṇṭu

Prerequisites

  • Case Endings (-il, -kku, -nṟe)

Grammar A1·Grammar Reference