CHAPTER 4

TENSE, ASPECT, MOOD AND VOICE

Some of the most difficult problems of learning

English as a second language are those encountered in the
areas of Tense, Aspect, Mood and Voice. So much has been
written on these important grammatical categories. The
present study focuses on the role of the Verb Phrase in
forming Tense, Aspect, Mood and Voice.

4.1. Tense, Aspect and Mood in English

Tense, Aspect' and Mood are closely related
grammatical categories. If Tense relates the meaning of
the verb to a time scale, Aspect denotes the manner in
which the verbal action is experienced or regarded. Mood
expresses the speaker's attitude towards his utterance.

4.1.1. Tense in English

Morphologically English has two tenses while
there are three time references. Time is a universal
concept whereas Tense is a grammatical category. There
is a universal concept because the units of time are
extra-linguistic, that is, they exist independently of
the grammar of any particular language. Time has three
divisions, namely, the Past, the Present and the Future.
English has a two-tense system. The two tenses marked by

_A . "' __ _
~
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the verbs in English are the Present and the Past. As the
names indicate, the present tense form usually refers to
present time, and past tense to past time:
1. But I ~ to you that hear. (Lk 6.2~)
pres pres (Present Time).
2. In those days Jesus ~ from Nazareth of
past
Galilee and was baptized by John in the
past
Jordan (Mk 1.9) (Past Time).

4.1.1.1. The Functions of Tense

Tense has three distinct functions. The most
important function is to indicate Past, Present and
Future time. The other functions are:
(i) To mark the sequence of tenses that is mainly
relevant for reported speech.
(ii) To mark unreality, particularly in conditional
clauses.

4.1.1.1.1. Present Time

There are different ways of expressing Present Time:
(1) Use of the simple Present Tense form:
1. My soul is very sorrowful even to death • • •
(Mk 14.34).
2. In him we live and move and have our being • • •
~

(Acts 17.28).
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(ii) The Present Progressive:
1. Everyone is searching for you (Mk 1.37).
2. The Teacher is here and is calling for
you (In 11.28).
The Present Progressive expresses an action of Limited
Duration. It is used here to indicate the Immediate Present.
(iii) The simple Present Tense form or the Progressive
form is used to indicate Instantaneous Present.
1. I beseech you, do not torment me (Lk 8.28).
2. Little girl, I ~ to you, arise (Mk 5.41).
(iv) Timeless Present is expressed with the Simple
Present Tense form:
1 • • • • all things ~ possible with God (Mk 10.27).
2. For no good tree bears bad fruit. (Lk 6.43).

4.1.1.1.2. Past Time

Past Time is expressed by the following:
(i) Simple Past Tense to refer to an action that has
been completed.
1. And he rose and left the synagogue (Lk 4.38).
2. Moved with pity he stretched out his hand and
touched him (Mk 1.41).
(ii) Past Progressive to refer to an action that has
not been completed:
1 • • • • he was preaching the word to them (Mk 2.2).
2. • • • you hindered those who were entering
(Lk 11.52).
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(iii) The Present Perfect to express a past time action
with present relevance:
1. My house shall be called a house of prayer for
the nations. But you have made it a den of
robbers (Mk 11.17).
2.The very stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner (Mk 12.10).
(iv) Past Progressive to indicate an activity or state
that was continuing at the time when another
activity occurred:
1. The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing
(In 6.18).
2. Now John's disciples and the pharisees
were fasting; and people came and said to
him • . • (Mk 2.18).
(v) Would, to refer to a habit in the past~
1.. • he would not allow anyone to carry anything
through the temple (Mk 11.16).
(vi) Past Progressive to indicate that two or more
activities or states were continuing at the
same time:
1 • • • • as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples
and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind
beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by
the roadside (Mk 10.46).
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2. One day, as he was teaching the people in the
temple and preaching the gospel, the chief
priests and the scribes with the elders
came up and said to him ~ . . (Lk 20.1).
(vii)Past Progressive with the adverbial always indicates
Habitual Action.
1. Night and day among the tombs and on the
mountains he was always crying out, and
bruising himself with stones (Mk 5.5).
(viii)Past Perfect is used to denote activities that took
place within a period of time that extended to
and included a point or period of time completely
in the past:
1. And when he had entered the house, and left
the people, his disciples asked him about
the parable (Mk 7.17).
2. Though he had done so many signs before them,
yet they did not believe in him (In 12.37).

4.1.1.1.3. Future Time

Eventhough there is no obvious Future Tense in English,
there are several ways for denoting Future Time. By means of
Mod~l Auxiliaries or by Simple Present Tense forms or
Progressive forms Future Time is rendered. Hence, Futurity,
Modality and Aspect are closely related.
The following are the chief ways of expressing Future
Time:
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(i) Constructions with will and shall:

1. Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray

me • • • (Mk 1lj·. 18) •

2. Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
who shall prepare thy way (Mk 1.2).
(ii) Present Progressive:
1. And .if Satan has risen up against himself and
is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming
to an end (Mk 3.26).
2. On account of these the wrath of God
is coming (Col 3.6).
(iii) Auxiliary Verb construction with would:
1 . • • • and he would not allow anyone to carry
anything through the temple (Mk 11.16).
2. I would not seem to be frightening you with
letters (2 Cor 10.9).
(iv) Present and Present Perfect may indicate Future
Time in temporal and conditional clauses:
1. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his

own father and mother .. • he cannot be

F\my disciple (Lk 14.26).

2. . • • Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that

you have received it • .. (Mk 11.24) •
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4.1.1.1.4. Sequence of Tenses in Reported Speech

(i) A statement in the Present Tense is reported in
the Past Tense if the verb of reporting is in
the Past Tense:
1. Direct: And he said to them, "what do you want

me to do for you?" (Mk 10.36).

Indirect: And he asked them what they wanted
him to do for them.
(ii) A Past Perfect form reports the Present Perfect
as well as a Past-Non-Perfect form:
1. Direct: And they were astonished beyond measure
saying, "He has done all things well • •• "
(Mk 7.37).
Indirect: And they were astonished beyond
measure saying that he had done all things
well.
2. Direct: Jesus said, "Who touched my garments?"
. (Mk 5.30).
Indirect: Jesus asked who had touched
his garments.

4.1.1.1.5. Unreality
The Past Tense is used to refer to Unreality.
1. It would be better for him if a millstone ~

hung round his neck and he were cast into the

sea • . • (Lk 17.2).
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2. If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that
is saying to you, 'Give me a drink', you would
have asked him, and he would have given you
living water (In 4.10).

4.1.2. Aspect in English

Aspect is' differently used in different languages.
English has two Aspectual oppositions that pervade the whole
of the verbal system. They are between the Progressive and
the Non-Progressive, and between the Perfect and the
Non-Perfect. The difference between the Perfect and the
Non-Perfect expresses Non-Perfect meaning.

4.1.2.1. The Progressive and Perfective Aspects

Since the two basic Asp~ctual oppositions are between
the perfective and the Progressive, only their uses are
stated below.

4.1.2.2. The Progressive Aspect

The most important function of the Progressive Aspect
is to convey the idea of activity which has begun, but is
not completed. This incomplete activity can be continuous
or it can consist of a series of uncompleted acts:
1. • • • as they were walking into the country ...
(Mk 16.12).
2. While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to
dine with him • • • (Lk 11.37).
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The Progressive form indicates Limited Duration:
1. Behold, he is calling Elijah (Mk 15.35).
2. The Teacher is here and is calling for you (In 11.28).
Repetition of events of Limited Duration is expressed by the
Progressive form:
1 • • • • Everyone is searching for you (Mk 1.37).
The Progressive has two other less important uses. They are:
(i) The Habitual or Iterative Use !

(ii) Anticipated events .in the future:

1. I will no longer talk much with you, for the

ruler of this world is coming (In 14.30).

2. Where I am going you cannot come (In 13.33).

4.1.2.3. The Perfective Aspect

The Perfective Aspect is used for a past happening
which is seen in relation to a later event or time. So the
Present Perfect means Past-time-related-to-present time:
1. John the baptizer has been raised from the

dead • • • (Mk 6.14).

2. I have bought a field and I must go out and
see it, •• (Lk 14.18).
There are four related uses of the Present Perfect. They are
to express:
(i) A state leading up to the Present Time:
1 . • • • they have been with me now three days(Mk 8.2).
2. And now I have told you before it takes place • . •
(In 14.29).
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(ii) Indefinite happening in a period leading up to
the Present Time:
1. And it has often cast him into the fire, into
the water, to destroy him • • • (Mk 9.22).
(iii) Habit in a period leading up to the Present Time:
1 • • • • Teacher, all these I have observed

from my youth (Mk 10.20).

2.. Lo, these many years I have served
you (Lk 15.20).
(iv) Past event with results in the Present Time:
1 • • • • He has risen, he is not here; see the

place where they laid him (Mk 16.6).

2. But take heed; I have told you all things
before hand (Mk 13.23).
The Past Perfect indicates past in the -past:
1 • • • • And when they had mocked him, they stripped

him of the purple cloak •• • (Mk 15.20).

2. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled,
and told it in the city and in the country (Lk 8.34).

4.1.3. Mood
Mood in Grammar means grmnrnatical distinctions in
verb forms which express a speaker's attitude towards his
utterance. It may be marked by verb inflections or by the
use of Auxiliaries. In English, Mood is denoted by the Modal
Auxiliaries, Past Tense forms and the Subjunctive.
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The subjenctive is an Optative when it expresses a
wish:
1. Peace! Be still (Mk 4.39)!
2. Grace be with you all (Tit 3. 15).
If the subjunctive is used to express possibility, it is
then called a Potential:
1. If anyone would be first, he must be last of
all and servant of all (Mk 9.35).
2. If you had been here, my brother would not have
died (In 11.21).
An Irrealis is the subjunctive that expresses unreality:
1. It would have been better for that man if he
had not been born (Mk 14.21).
2. If God ~ your Father, you would love me, for
I proceeded and came forth from God • . • (In 8.42).

4.2. Tense, Aspect and Mood in Malayalam

4.2.1. Tense (kaalam)

. .
In Malayalam there are three inflectional Tense forms,
namely, the Present (Va~ttamaa~am), the Past (bhuutam) and the
Future (bhaavi). Present and Future Tenses are formed from
the verb-base simply by adding the suffixes -unnu and ~

respectively. But the formation of the Past Tense is more

complex because there are two markers, a non-consonantal
one, -i and a consonantal one-tu with its various forms whose
distributional statement is quite complex.
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The following examples illustrate the use of these
Tense markers in Malayalam:
Verb Gloss Present Past Future
Stem Tense Tense Tense
form form form
va come varunnu vannu varum
aa is aakunnu aaji aalmm
cej do cejunnu cejtu cejjum
The main function of these Tenses is to indicate present,
past and future time. They have other functions also.

4.2.1.1. Uses of the Present Tense

(i) The Present Tense chiefly denotes an action going
on at the time in which it is mentioned:

-
1. baalika, ninnootu naan parajunnu (Mk 5.41):
-
little girl you to I say
Little girl, I say to you:
2. naan
. .
ni~9alootu pa£ajunnu (Lk 12.8):
I you to say
I say to you:
(ii) To express the meaning of Immediate future time:
1. ente kunnumool marikkaan .
tuta~~unnu. • •

my little daughter die to starts (Mk 5.23).

My little daughter is at the point of death.
2. swargaraaJjam samiipiccirikjunnu (Mt 10.7).
kin~dom of-God is at hand
(The) kingdom of God is at hand.
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(iii) To indicate an action beginning in the past and not
completed:
1. veedaJnar avarumaaji taEkkik~unnu (Mk 9.14).
scribes with them argue
'The scribes are arguing with them.
2. guro, guro, ha\jl)a:t najikkjunnu (Lk. 8.24).

master, master, we perish

Master, Master, we are perishing.
(iv) To denote a habit:
1. ii Jenam adharao~a~ko~~a enne bahuma~ikkjunnu
(Mk 7.6).
this people lip~ with me honour
This people honour me with (their) lips.
2 • . . . niitijum deivasneehavum niDoa+ avaga~ikkjunnu
(Lk 11.42).
justice and the love of God you neglect
You neglect justice and the love of God.
(v) In commentaries and animated narrations;
1 • ita, ninakku varijorukkunna ente duutane
you to
.'
way prepare my
-
messenger
ajak~nnu
..J
naan ninakku mu~pe
-
I you to before send (Mk 1.2).
Behold, I send my messenger before you who
shall prepare your way.
2. ni9~a~ avarkku SavakkallaEaka~ niEmikkjunnu
(Lk 11.48).

you them for tombs build

You build tombs for them.

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(vi) To express universal truths:

1. bhaarjaje upeek~iccu. vee~oruvale vivaaharn

wife leaving another marriage
cejjunnavaD bhaarjakketiraaji vjabhicaaram
does who wife against adultery ~~,~

cejjunnu (Mk 10.11).

does

Who leaves (his) wife and marries ano'ther

commits adultery against her.

2. upp0 nallataan3 (Mk 9.50).

~

salt good is

Salt is good.

4.2.1.2. Uses of the Past Tense

(1) To indicate a definite past time event:

1. avar avane kruuJicCU (Mk 15.24).

they him crucified

They crucified him.

'2. ajaal erunnettu natannu (Acts 8.27).

he rose walked
He rose and walked.
(il) It represents an action in the past which has no

reference to the present time:

1. avan pala kaarijaD9a~um avare

.
pathippikkaan
-
he many things them teach to

began

He began to teach them many things.

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2. apool . fiSaaCUkka~ ajaalil
. ninnu pu£attu
then demons him from out
vannu pannikalil praveejiccu (Lk 8.33).
came swine entered

Then (the) demons came out of him and entered

(the) swine.

(iii) To denote past events:

1. aval avare paricariccu .(Mk 1.31).

she them served

She served them.

2. avar apprakkaram cejtu .. • (Lk 9.15).

they so did

They did so. ...

(iv) In interrogative sentences:

1. aaraa~~ eU1e vastrattil tottato

• Ii
(Mk 5.30)?

who my garments touched

Who touched my garments'?

2. entu kaanaa~aajirunnu niona~ marubhuumijileik~u

what see to was you wilderness to

poojat0 ... (Lk7. 24)?

went

What did you go into the wilderness to see?

4.2.1.3. Uses of the Future Tense

In Malayalam, inflected verb forms are used to express

future time when English makes use of the modal auxiliaries

will and would for the same purpose:

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1. nak~at~anna~ aakaaJattilninnu viirum (Mk 13.25).

stars sky from fall will

The stars will fall from heaven.

, 2. . .• avar kajjil etukkum . • • (l\1k 1 6. 17 ) •
they serpents handin take will

. . . They will take serpents in (their) hands •

The other functions of the Future Tense are:

(i) To denote future possibility:

1. svantam Jiivane raksikkaan

,. aagrahikjunnava~0

one's life save to wish who to

.., " .
atu nasttappetum
, (Mk 8.35) •

it lose will

Who desires to save his life will lose it.

2. antac~idramulla bhavanam viinupookum (Lk 11.17).

divided household fall will

(A) divided household will fall.

(ii) To express eternal action:

1. • • • a0\Ja~e cejtaal viinno turutti

. .. pottik~um
~,.
thus (I"1k 2.22).
does if wine
wineskin burst will

... if (he) does the wine bursts the skins.

(iii) To express what is likely to take place:

1. viSappa~akka~te avare svobhava~a0~a~ileikkju

hunger satisfying not them their homes
,..,rv •
parannaJaccaal avar varijil talarnnu viirum
"' -
send if they " way" in faint

If (I) send them away to their homes, they will

faint on the way.

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2. eettam ce£ija kaarjattil vi5vastt~
very little things in faithful
valija"'karjattilum viJvasttanaajirikkjum (Lk 16.10).
great things also faithfull will be
He who is faithful in very little things will be
faithful in great things also.
(iv) To indicate a wish:
1. avar ..
roogikalute meel kajvachaal roogikal
.
they sick of on hand place if sick
sugam P£aapikkjum (Mk 16.18).
healing get will
If they lay their hands on the sick, they will
recover.
2. apoo; samaadhaanattinte deivam ni8Da~00~ukuu~i

then peace of God your with

untaajirikkjum (Phil 4.9).
••
will be
Then, the God of peace will be with you.
There are other means to convey the meaning of future time:
(i) By the addition of the present tense marker ~
and the auxiliaries ~a and· unt~
. ~

.
1. manusjaputran
- -- ..
paapikalute kajjileekkjo
son of man sinners of hands into
ottikkotukkappetaan pookunnu (Mk 14.22).
--. .-
to be betrayed going
The son of man is going to be betrayed into the

hands of sinners.
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If the verb pookunnu of the above sentence is substituted
either by pookukajaan9 or pokunnunt3 the sentence will
" • i

indicate a future time action.

4.2.2. The Aspectual system in Malayalam (paksam) .

As in English, the Aspectual system in Malayalam has
the
the Progressive andLperfective. The Auxiliary Verbs and
some of the Defective Verbs provide aspectual meaning.

4.2.2.1. The Perfective Aspect

The Perfective Aspect can be of three types, namely,
the Perfect of Result, Experiential Perfect and the Perfect
of Persistent situation.

4.2.2.1.1. The Perfect of Result·

There are two kinds of Perfect of Results. They are:
(1) Emphasizing the completion and closeness of action
, ·to the moment of speaking. This is usually
,,\/-v
expressed by the auxiliary verb karinnu
,......'"
1 • eelija .
vannukarinnu (Mk 9.13).
Elijah came finished
Elijah has come.
2. niD!Ja~kku~~a aaJvfsam
f\. .
ni~ryalkku
.
kittikkarinnu
(Lk 6.24).
your consolation you to received have
You have received your consolation.
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(ii) Emphasizing the result of the action. This type
indicates that the action took place in the
recent past and so there is no need of repeating
the same action. The structure of the verb
phrase is:
Relative participle + aano
t
1. niry~a~e vila kotu~u vaa~~ijataa~~ (1 Cor 7.23).
you price giving bought are
I have bought you with a price.
The ItI here is an infix.

4.2.2.1.2. The Experiential Perfect

The Experiential Perfect is expressed by the Verb
. Phrase: Past Tense form of the verb + ittu +
.. unt~
..
1. avarute pitaakka~maarum
.. -
kallapravaacakarootu
.
their fathers also false prophets to

.. ..
cejtittunt1) (Lk 6.26).
so have
Their fathers have done so to the false prophets.
2. ente makane '"
naan ninte atukkal ,
kontuvannittunt0
~ ~
..
(Mk 9.18).
my son I your near brought have
I have brought my son to you.

4.2.2.1.3. The Perfect of Persistent Situation

The perfect of Persistent Situation is expressed
either by simple present tense or by present progressive form.
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Besides that,a time adverbial is essential. Thus, if the
verb of the example quoted in 4.2.2.1.2 is used with the

..
time adverb rantu varsamaaji
... . it would run as:

1. ente makane naan ninte atukkal rantuvarsamaaji

-.
my son I your near two years
kontuvarunnu •
bring
I have .been bringing my son to you for two years.

4.2.2.2. The Progressive

The Progressive Aspect is usually realized by a verbal
form consisting of a participle ending ~ and the tense
suffix.

4.2.2.2.1. Present Progressive

The present progressive is formed by the use of
-uka + aan(}

1. kontuvarikajaan0
•
bringing is
is bringing
The present progressive can be realized by -kontiri used .
with the past tense form of the main verb and the suffix
-uka followed by· the tense suffix.
Past Tense + kontiri + uka + aan~
•
kontuvannu kontirikkukajaana .
brought be + ing is
is bringing
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The geminate consonant /kk/ and the palatal approximant/j/
are infixes.

4.2.2.2.2. Past Progressive

The past progressive is denoted by aajirunnu or
kontirunnu

1. jeeju • • • u~a~0ukajaajirunnu (Mk 5.38).

Jesus • sleeping be + past
Jesus • • • was sleeping.
2. P!aa~tniccukontirunnu (Lk 5.16).
prayed be + ing + past
was praying.

4.2.2.2.3. Future Progressive

The future progressive is formed by adding aajirik~Um
to the stem of the verb.
1. u~a~ou k · · · il~
aJaaJlr ~Jum.

sleep be + ing will

will be sleeping.

4.2.2.3. The Aspectual Auxiliaries in Malayalam

The auxiliary verbs ittu, kari, eeccu
--:...:- ~
..
ittuntg
..
aan~
..
kontiri aakum, aajirunnu,pooruka and varuka are

Aspectual Auxiliaries.
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40202.3.1. The Auxiliary Verbs expressing the Perfective Aspect
(i) _._0-
ittu 'put'

The auxiliary verb _0_0-

ittu is perfective and indicates
an action that is completed.
1. daaviid3 • 0 • iDl)a~e
.. ..
P£akjaapiccittunt9 (Mk 12.36).
David o 0 0 thus said has
David has said:
2. avarute
•
pitaakka~maarum
..
kallapravaacakanmaaroot3
- -
their fathers also false prophets to

.. ..
cejtittuntg (Lk 6 026)0
so' done have
Their fathers also have done so to the false
prophets.
(ii) kari 'to be finished'

kari is ~ of the other Aspectual Auxiliaries

. involving the notion of completion of action:
10 eelija vannukarinnu (Mk 9.13).
Elijah came finished
Elijah has come.
2. ivante vaajil ninnu naam tanne atu
his mouth from we ourselves it
.""IV
keettukarinnu
o
(Lk 22.7).
heard finished
We have heard it ourselves from his o\vn lipso
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(iii) -eeccu 'after'
-eeccu is semantically equivalent to kontu and
.--LS-
"'~
karinnu.
. And it is generally uSed only in
colloquial style.

(iv) -ittunto
•• po.
fP
'has'
-.v
1. ente makane naan ninte atukkal
my . son I your near

.. ..
kontuvannittunto (Mk 9.18).
brought has
I have brought my son to you.

..
ittunt0 has a resultative meaning as it is expressed
..
in this example. ittu is used to indicate a past
-'-'-
action before another past.

1 • avan
- avare ..
pa!:ailnajaccitt~ utan
- ... (Mk 8.10).
he them send after at once
After sending them he .. •
2. . • . d,eevaalaj a . goopurattinu mukalil kontupooji
temple pinnacle on took went
ni!:ttijittu pa!:ahnu (Mt 4.5).
set and said

• • • set (him) on (the) pinnacle of (the) temple.'·

and said.
The concept of completion is denoted by the use of the
simple past tense:
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1• it~ avante Si~j~aar keettu
••
(Mk 11.14).
this his disciples heard
His disciples heard this.
2. heerodoos ajaale . kaanaan aagrahiccu (Lk 9.9).
Herod him see to wanted
Herod wanted to see him.

4.2.2.3.2. Auxiliary Verbs expressing the Progressive Aspect

The auxiliary verbs kont0 + iri ,aakunnu; aakum, aana ,
-_.-
aajirunnu, pooruka and varuka indicate the Progressive Aspect.

..
(i) kontiri 'remain'

1. j eeS uVi~e avar Sradhiccuko~~irunnu

Jesus they watch be + ing
They were watching Jesus.
(ii) aant> 'is'

(iii) aakunnu (is'

1. jeeJuvine avar JEadhiccuko~~irikkajaakunnu.
(iv) aakum 'will be'
With a future time adverb ,aakum/ indicates future
time. Thus it is possible to say:
·1. naale ii samajatta jeeJuvi~e avar
Jradhiccuko~~irikkajaakum'(Future Progressive).

(v) aajirunnu 'was'

1. jeej'uvi~e avar jradhiccuko~~irikkajaairunnu

(Past Progressive).
 127
(vi) pooruka 'come'
n
1• jeeSUVi~e avar
- J:£adhiccupoonnu (Past Progressive).

(vii) varuka 'come'

1 • jeeSUVi~e avar jradhiccuvarunnu (Present
- Progressive).
varuka denotes the progressive aspect which is inclusive of
the notion of habit.

4.2.3. Mood (p~akaaram)

Mood in Malayalam is realized by the addition of

inflectional suffixes to the verb~stem or by modifying the
verbs by using auxiliary verbs. Mood is used to express
the manner or form in which the action or state denoted by
the verb is performed, or exists. Mood also denotes the
~sychological attitude of the speaker towards an event. The
notion of Mood is distinguished from the notion of Tense and
Aspect by its non-factual nature. There are four Moods in
Malayalam, namely, Indicative (nirdheeSakam), Potential
(vidhaajakam), Imperative (nijooJakam) and Permissive
(anu0naajakam). V. R. Prabodhachandran Nair describes seven
types of Moods. 1
(i) Permissive
Verb-stem + -aam

1 "Aspectual System in Malayalam," Lll&, Vol. VIII

( 1979), 289-299.
 128
1. cerippu dharikkaam (Mk 6.9).

slippers wear can

(You) can wear slippers.

(ii) Imperative
To expres& different degrees of politeness the
following suffixes are added to the verb stem:
1. -uu

keelkkuu (Mk 4.3)! (Formal)'

2. -'0
·
keelkkC) (Informal)
•
3. -eekka
k
keetteek:a (Less informal than the use of /- /
••
4. -eekku
keetteekku (Informal order/command)
·.
5. -oolu
·
keettoolu' (Lnformal)
••
6. -aalum

·.
keettaalum (Polite)

(iii) Compulsive

.
Verb + veenam (anam)
. . . atimajaakanam
. . (Mk 10.44).
slave must be
. . . must be a slave.

(iv) Prohibitive
Verb+ kuutaa or aru t 0·
 129
1. rant-a dharikkarut8 (Mk 6.10).
••
two gown wear must not
(You) must not wear two gowns.
2. bharttaava tante bhaarjaje .
Upeeksikkajum
.

husband his wife divorce

arut()
should not (1 Cor 7.11).
(The) husband should not divorce his wife.

(v) Optative
Verb + atte..
1. deivam jooJippiccatine manusjan
God united - man· -
veerpetuttaatirikkatte (Mk 10.9).
- (,J ~ ~

separate may not "

May not (the) man separate what God has united.

2. ka£ttaavaaja jeeSuk£istuvi~!e k£ipa ni~na~ute
lord Jesus Christ of grace your
aatmaavootukuute ~ ~ .
.~ . , (Phil 4.23)~
untaajirikkatte
spirit with be may
May (the) grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit.

(vi) Perfective
1. Present Perfect

mooJe ... .
parannittunta
- (Mk 7.10):

Moses said has

Moses has said:
 130
2 • • • • avar entekuu~e
..
adhvaaniccittunt~ (Phil.4.3).
they me with laboured have
they have laboured with me.
untaaji i$ used to express the neutral statement of a past
..
event. It is used more frequently in press reports and
radio broadcasts.

4.2.3.1. The Modal Suffixes in Malayalam

,.
Modal functions are performed by'verbal compounds and
it is the suffix that represents the specific modal function.
The modal auxiliaries are used to express ability, possibility,
necessi.ty, obligation, willingness, 'probability a~d prohibition.
-aam, ..
ootte -eekkaam, aajirikkjum -~lam, -irikkaanam .
ulltaavallam, and paatilla are modal auxiliaries.

~ is a very productive suffix because it can'

express meanings such as ability, permission,
possibility and willingness.
(a) Ability
1. aakaaJattile paravakalkka atinte tanalil
sky of birds to its shade in
kuutu vajkkaam (Mk 4.32).
nest 'build can
(The) birds of the sky can build nests in
its shade.
2. e~ikkju ma~u~jare kaanaam (Mk 8.24).
me to men see can
I can see men.
 131
(b) Possibility
1. ajaa~e bhendiccaJee~am tii~ccajaajum aa
him binding after surely that

.
viita kollajatikkaam
•• •
(Mk 3.27).
house plunder may
After binding him (he) may plunder his house.

(c) Willingness
1. nammukk8 samiipattu~~a pa!!a!;a~!)a~ileikkj<g~.

we nearby towns to
pookaam (Mk 1.38).
go shall
Let us go on to the neighbouring towns.
2 • • • • namukkum pookaam • • • (In 11.16).
we also go may
Let us also go. ...
(d) Permission
If the SNP of the former sentence is replaced by
ni9QatkkB the sentence will indicate a permission.

(ii) -ootte -atte

_--=-.,::...- I ••

The suffix -ootte expresses permission. Its use is

restricted to questions with first person pronouns,
and to optative sentences.
(a) Permission in Questions

1. ""'
naan pootte?
••
I go may
May I go?
 132
(b) Permission in Optatives or Wishes

avan ..
pootte:
he go let
Let him go:
As the suffix -ootte is used more in colloquial
~tyle than in literary usage, no examples are
found in the text chosen for the study.

(iii) -eekkaam
The suffix -eekkaam expresses possibility:
J2..Q.Q

poojeekkam
go may (might)
May (might) go.
It can also express the speaker's willingness combined
with the meaning of promise when used with the first
person pronouns.
N
naan poojeekkam
I go shall
I shall go.

(iv) aajirikkjum
aajirikkjum denotes future possibility.

pookumaajirikkaam
go may (might)
May (might) go.
 133
(v) -aajirikkaam
Doubtful possibility in the recent Past is indicated
by the suffix -aajirikkaam:

..
poojittuntaajirikkaam.
"',
gone might have
Might have gone.

(vi) -anam.
The suffix -anam is very productive. It can express
necessity and obligation when used with the imperative form
of the verb. So it corresponds to the use of must, should,
ought to and have to in English:

.
pookanam •
go must
Must go.

(vii) -irikkanam .
The idea of probability is indicated by the use of

.
-irikkanam. It is a translation equivalent of must have •

poojirikkanam . .
gone must have
Must have gone.

(viii) -untaakanam

..
-untaakanam also expresses probability:

.. ..
poojittuntaakanam
,
gone have- must
Must have gone.
 134
.
(ix) -paatilla

The suffix -paatilla denotes prohibition. It is

an equivalent of must not:
pookaa~
.
paatilla •
go to must not
Must not go.

(x) -kuuta

The meaning of prohibition can be expressed

by the use of -kuuta:
poojikkuuta.. '

go must not
Must not go.

4.3. Contrastive Features of Tense, Aspect and Mood in

English and Malayalam

(i) English verbs have two tense forms, namely,

the present and the past, while Malayalam verbs
have three inflectional tense forrns--the present,
the past and the future.

(ii) In present tense, concord of/number between the

subject and the verb is strictly observed in
English. Thus asing~lar subject takes a
singular verb.
 135
E: 1. Jesus ~ walking ..• (Mk 10.32) (Singular).
2. They ~ walking (Plural) •

M: 1 • jeeJu natakkukajaajirunnu (Singular).

2. avar .
natakkukajaajirunnu (Plural) •

they walking were

They were walking.

The above examples show that there is the subject-

predicate concord in English when the linking verb be
is used. And it makes use of-s or ~ for singular
verbs and ~ suffix for plural verbs. But in Malayalam
both singular and plural subjects take the same verb
form.

(iii) In English habitual action is indicated by simple

present but in Malayalam it is usually done by the
future tense form.

E: • • • and they have no root in themselves but

endure for a while (Mk 4.17).
M: (ava) kure samajam maatram
.
piticcunilkkum
they sometime only endure will
I
They will endure~for) a while.

(iv) Simple past tense is used in Malayalam to indicate

a habit in the past when English uses the auxiliary
verb used to for the same purpose.
 136
(v) In conditionals Malay~lam makes use of simple past
where English uses simple present.

M: taan parajunnata s~mbavikkjum enna

Lfl .
vJ'vaslccaa 1 " •• (Mk 11.23).

E: • • • believes that what he says will come to

pass.. • •

(vi) Malayalam does not make any distinction of first person

and the other persons in the future ,tense form, when
English differentiates first person from the rest by
using shall to indicate future time.

M: 1 • naan ' aare

'V

- cumbikjunnuvo .. • (Mk 14.44)

(First Person).
2. nii aare cumbikjunnuvo . . . (Second Person) •
3. avan aare cumbikjunnuvo • . • (Third Person) •

E: 1. The one I shall kiss is the man (First Person).

2. The one you will kiss is the man (Second Person).
3. The one he will kiss is the man (Third Person).

(vii)Sequence of tenses in reported speech is rigidly

followed in English while in Malayalam it is rather
relaxed and free.

(viii)In English, modality is mainly indicated by a change

in the form of the lexical verb of inflection, or with
auxiliary verbs. While in Malayalam, modal auxiliaries
express mood:
 137
E: You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Mk 12.31).
M: ninneppoole
i1't
ninte
-
ajalkkaaraneejum< s~eehikkjuka.

(ix) Unlike~English, the modal suffixes follow their main

verbs:
E: They will kill him • • • (Mk 9.31).
modal MV
M: avar ava~e kollum.
MV modal
(x) Both in Malayalam and in English imperative mood.is
expressed by the root of the verb. In addition to this,
Malayalam makes use of polite forms with the suffixes
aaM-uu,
-,;--
aalum, and -u + vin. In English the same
meanig is brought out by adding words like please ·and
kindly.

M: ninak~
..
aagrahamullatentum coodiccukolluu (Mk 6.22).
..
E: Please ask me fpr whatever you wish.

(xi) Malayalam uses the auxiliaries--illa, and -alla for·

negation when English uses the auxiliary verbs with
the negative suffix not.

M: avasaanam i~ijum
..
aajittilla (Mk 13.8).

E: But the end is not yet (come).

(xii) Modal auxiliaries cannot co-occur in English verb

phrases; but, in Malayalam modal suffixes can co-occur.
 138

(xiii) In English the past tense forms of modal

auxiliaries can indicate more politeness. In
Malayalam the degree of politeness is indicated
by the modal 8uffix -aamo and =QffiQ. -aamo
indicates more politeness than ~ does. The'
use of an equivalent of the Emphatic do is not
found in Malayalam.

4.4. Voice
Voice is defined as "a verb form or particular
syntactic construction indicating certain relationship
2
between the subject and the object of a verb." Different
languages have different systems of voice. English and
Malayalam have two voices and Greek has three. Besides
the active and the passive which are common to many
languages, Greek has the middle voice. If the sentence
expresses an action performed by the subject on himself
or for himself, it is said to be in the Middle Voice~ The
active voice occurs in a sentence when the grammatical
subject does some activity or be in a state or process:
1. He went out again besides the sea (Mk 2.1'3).
2. And they were on the road (Mk 10.32)~

When the grammatical subject is the goal or sufferer of

the action expressed by the verb, the Passive or Inactive
Voice occurs:

2 R.R.K. Hartmann and F. C. Stork (1972), p. 251.

 139
1. Now after John was arrested, . • • (Mk 1.14)

4.4.1. Voice in English

The Passive Voice is used more frequently in English
than in many other languages. The Passive Voice consists of
a form of the verb be and the past participle. The passive
voice is formed by placing the ~object of an action in the
grammatical position of the subject.
1• • • • his hand was restored (Mk ~.5).
2. • • • the powers in the heavens will be shaken
(Mk 13.25).
In informal style get is often used with a past participle
to express passive meaning. So the sentence "John was
arrested" (Mk 1.14), would run as "John got arrested". The
doer or the agent of the action is not always expressed with
passive verbs:
1• • . . John the baptizer has been raised from the
dead (Mk 6.14);
When it is expressed, it is done usually by the preposition :Qy:
1 • This kind cannot be driven out .Qy anything but prayer
(Mk 9.29L

4.4.2. Types of Verbs used in the Passive Verb Phrases

(i) Only those verbs that have objects can be changed
into the passive voice as the passive voice
places the object in the grammatical position
of the subject. Therefore, verbs like work, ~,

and die are not usually used in the passive.

 140
(ii) The two-word verbs which are followed by objects
and many of the phrasal verbs can be used in the
passive voice:
1. . . . they will deliver you llQ to councils • • •
(Mk 13.9) (Active).
you will be delivered up to councils (Passive).

(iii) Modals are used with.be + past participle to make

the modal passive phrase:
1 • • • • I shall be made well (Mk 5.28).

4.4.3. The Passive is preferred to the active in the

following situations:
(i) When the speaker's main interest is in the action
itself and not in the doer of the action:
1. So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to
them, was taken up into heaven and sat down
at the right hand of God. (Mk 16.19)

(ii) When the doer of the action is unknown:

1. The powers in the heavens will be shaken (Mk 13.• 25).

(iii) When the doer of the action is obvious:

1. John the baptizer has been raised from the
dead • • • {r-Ilk 6.14).

(iv) When the statement must sound impersonal or less

direct:
1. My house shall be called a house of prayer for
all the nations (Mk 11.17).
 141
4.4.4. Voice in Malayalam (prajoogam)
The Voice system in Malayalam consists of two voices,
namely, the Active (ka£ttari P£ajoogam) and the Passive
(ka£ma~i P£ajoogam). In Malayalam the passive voice is
very rarely used in ordinary speech and writing. And the
passive is formed by adding the auxiliary verb petu to the
~

main verb.
1. makage nillte paapanQal ksamikkapettirikkjunnu
~ ,. J

(Mk 2.5).
son your sins forgiven are
Son, your sins are forgiven.
The structure of the passive verbal form is as follows:
Verb stem + passive suffix + tense suffix
ksamikka ..
pett~ + irikkjunpu

The preposition RY used in the passive construction in

English is represented by the suffix -aal in Malayalam.