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Tamil verbs exhibit a number of forms which
express commands or exhortations. These are the imperative singular
non-polite, the imperative singular polite, and the imperative plural
polite. There is also the `hortative' form which is actually the modal
`may', but which can also be interpreted as a 1st person plural
imperative `let's (do something'.
Verbs are ordinarily listed in the dictionary in the stem form which is
identical to the imperative singular non-polite form. Suffixes are then
added directly to this stem. This is the formally least complex of
all verb forms.
The Singular polite forms are rare in most dialects, but may be used between
high status equals, or in cases of doubt.
Harold F. Schiffman
Sat Nov 2 21:16:08 EST 1996