This lesson tells you about உரிச்சொல் or Tamil adjectives. Defining ‘adjective’, the lesson explains the grammar of this word, besides its classification.

In the first unit is presented the general grammar of உரிச்சொல் followed by the qualities referred to by this group of Tamil words. The second unit distinguishes living beings from non-living objects. Living beings are classified in the third unit. In relation to living beings qualities indicate their nature and function. They are illustrated in the fourth unit. Dealing mainly with non-living objects and their properties, the fifth unit lists the functional properties of living as well as non-living objects. The sixth unit summarises the lesson.

Tamil grammarians classify living beings based on their sensory knowledge. Knowledge is catagorised into a hierarchy of five levels. They are the five senses. Those beings which possess one or other of these five categories of sensory knowledge are called living ones. Body without life along with all other objects of the world are non-living objects.

Tactile feeling is called the mono-knowledge as in the case of செடி, கொடி, புல் and மரம். Taste includes tactile and hence di-knowledge. Conches and shells possess taste devices and hence belong to this group. Smell is the third in the hierarchy as in ants and white ants. Sight is the fourth level as in the insects of தும்பி and வண்டு. The highest category of hearing is possessed by beings like animals, birds and humans having ears.

Living beings with bodies are said to have 32 qualities besides five functional properties. Non-living beings have properties like shapes and good and bad smells. Five colours, six tastes and eight feelings are attributed to non-living beings. Both the beings have some functional properties like appearing, disappearing, growing, shrinking, leaving etc.,