Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the -kontiru- suffix attached to the verbal participle to describe actions happening at this very moment.
- Take the past participle of the verb: 'saappittu' (having eaten).
- Add the suffix '-kontiru-': 'saappittukontiru'.
- Conjugate for person/number: 'saappittukontirukkiren' (I am eating).
Meanings
This grammar indicates an action that is currently in progress or ongoing at the time of speaking.
Immediate Action
Actions happening exactly now.
“Mazhai peithukontirukkirathu (It is raining).”
“Avan pesikontirukkiran (He is talking).”
Extended Progressive
Actions occurring over a period of time.
“Naan puthagam eluthikontirukkiren (I am writing a book).”
“Avar velai seithukontirukkirar (He is working).”
Conjugation of 'Padi' (to study)
| Person | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Naan | Padithukontirukkiren | Padithukontirukkavillai |
| Nee | Padithukontirukkirai | Padithukontirukkavillai |
| Avan | Padithukontirukkiran | Padithukontirukkavillai |
| Aval | Padithukontirukkiral | Padithukontirukkavillai |
| Naangal | Padithukontirukkirom | Padithukontirukkavillai |
| Avargal | Padithukontirukkirargal | Padithukontirukkavillai |
Spoken Contractions
| Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| Padithukontirukkiren | Padichukitturuken |
| Saappittukontirukkiren | Saaptukitturuken |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Participle + kontiru + V | Naan padikkiren |
| Negative | Participle + kontiru + illai | Naan padikkavillai |
| Question | Participle + kontiru + V + aa? | Padithukontirukkiraya? |
| Short Answer | Yes/No | Aam/Illai |
正式程度
Naan velai seithukontirukkiren. (Workplace)
Naan velai seithukontirukkiren. (Workplace)
Naan velai seithukitturuken. (Workplace)
Velai seiyuren. (Workplace)
The Progressive Flow
Past
- Saappittu Having eaten
Auxiliary
- kontiru remaining
Present
- kkiren I am
按水平分级的例句
Naan saappittukontirukkiren
I am eating
Avan vilaiyadikontirukkiran
He is playing
Naangal velai seithukontirukkirom
We are working
Mazhai peithukontirukkirathu
It is raining
Avar pesikontirukkum pothu naan vanthen
I came while he was talking
Kuzhanthaigal urangikontirukkum neram ithu
This is the time when children are sleeping
容易混淆
Both can translate to English present continuous.
常见错误
Padi-kontiru-kkiren
Padithu-kontiru-kkiren
Naan saappittukontiru
Naan saappittukontirukkiren
Avan pesikontirukkirathu
Avan pesikontirukkiran
Naan velai seithukontirukkum
Naan velai seithukontirukkiren
句型
Naan ___ kontirukkiren.
Real World Usage
Enna pannikitturuke?
Listen for the contraction
Smart Tips
Contract 'kontiru' to 'kittu'.
发音
Contraction
In speech, 'kontiru' often collapses into 'kittu'.
Question
Padithukontirukkiraya? ↑
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
记住它
记忆技巧
Kontiru is like a 'continuous' train; it keeps moving forward.
视觉联想
Imagine a person running with a 'Konti' (a stick) in their hand, constantly moving.
Rhyme
Add kontiru to the past, the action will surely last.
Story
Ravi is cooking. He takes the past participle 'samai-thu'. He adds 'kontiru'. Now he is 'samaithukontirukkiran'. He is busy!
Word Web
挑战
Describe 3 things you are doing right now using the formula.
文化笔记
Very common to use 'kitturuken' instead of 'kontirukkiren'.
Derived from the verb 'kol' (to take/hold) and 'iru' (to be).
对话开场白
Neenga enna pannikontirukkireergal?
日记主题
Test Yourself
Naan ___ (eat) kontirukkiren.
Score: /1
练习题
1 exercisesNaan ___ (eat) kontirukkiren.
Score: /1
常见问题 (1)
No, use the future tense.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Estar + gerundio
Tamil uses the past participle, Spanish uses the gerund.
-te iru
Tamil is SOV, Japanese is SOV, but the auxiliary placement differs.
am ... sein
Tamil is purely morphological.
être en train de
Tamil is more integrated into the verb.
yaktubu
Tamil uses a compound verb structure.
zài + verb
Tamil is suffix-based.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Connected Grammar
Past Participle
PrerequisiteEssential for forming -kontiru-.
