Tamil grammar
Tamil negation with இல்லை
இல்லை (illai) is Tamil's all-purpose negator — it denies existence, possession, and identity, and is also the everyday word for "no."
No (plain answer)
இல்லை
illai
The default way to say "no."
There is no water
தண்ணீர் இல்லை
taṇṇīr illai
Negates existence.
I don't have money
என்னிடம் பணம் இல்லை
eṉṉiṭam paṇam illai
Negates possession.
This is not a book
இது புத்தகம் இல்லை
itu puttakam illai
Negates an identity/description statement.
He didn't come
அவன் வரவில்லை
avaṉ varavillai
இல்லை combines with the verb base to negate a past action.
You should not go
நீ போக கூடாது
nī pōka kūṭātu
கூடாது (kūṭātu) is used specifically for "should not / must not."
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