Cases in Tulu and Kannada
In Kannada grammar the cases are named as Vibhakthigalu (In Kannada ವಿಭಕ್ತಿಗಳು). Traditional grammarians recognize 8 cases. They are Nominative, Accusative, Instrumental, Dative, Ablative, Genitive, Locative and Vocative. There are syntactic relationships such as Sociative in addition to the above 8 cases. There are case markers either in the form of suffixes or post-positions. Let’s examine and compare the 8 Tulu Cases with Kannada Cases to understand better. Following table shows the 8 Cases in Kannada and Tulu with examples for each case.
| Sl Number | Kannada Cases | Kannada Vibhakthi | Affix in Kannada | Singular Affix in Tulu | Plural Affix in Tulu | Kannada Example | Equivalent Tulu Example | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nominative | ಪ್ರಥಮಾ | ಕರ್ತೃ | ಉ | e, o or nothing | er, lu, kulu, allu | ಮರವು | Mara or Maro |
| 2 | Accusative | ದ್ವಿತೀಯ | ಕರ್ಮ | ಅನ್ನು | n, nu | ren, len | ಮರವನ್ನು | Maran or Maronu |
| 3 | Instrumental | ತೃತೀಯ | ಕರಣ | ಇಂದ | dd, ddu | redd, ledd | ಮರದಿಂದ | Maradd or Maroddu |
| 4 | Dative | ಚತುರ್ಥೀ | ಸಂಪ್ರದಾನ | ಕ್ಕೆ/ ಗೆ | k, g, ku, gu | reg, leg | ಮರಕ್ಕೆ | Marak or Maroku |
| 5 | Ablative | ಪಂಚಮಿ | ಅಪಾದಾನ | ಇಂದ or ದೆಸೆಯಿಂದ | dd, ddu | redd, ledd | ಮರದಿಂದ or ಮರದ ದೆಸೆಯಿಂದ | Maradd or Maroddu |
| 6 | Genitive | ಷಷ್ಟೀ | ಸಂಬಂಧ | ಅ | a, na, ta, da | re, rena, le, lena | ಮರದ | Marata or Marota |
| 7 | Locative | ಸಪ್ತಮಿ | ಅಧಿಕರಣ | ಅಲ್ಲಿ | d, t, du, tu | red, led | ಮರದಲ್ಲಿ | Marat or Marotu (in a tree) |
| 8 | Vocative | ಸಂಬೋಧನಾ | ಸಂಬೋಧನಾ | ಏ / ಓ | aa, oo | rae, lae | ಮರವೇ | Oo Maraa or Maroo |
1. Nominative Cases in Kannada and Tulu
The first or nominative case is unmarked and it is the noun or the stem itself. Most of the nouns in Kannada and Tulu take the other case suffixes directly but some nouns take an oblique suffix.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
| Sl No | In English | Singular form in Kannada | Singular form in Tulu | Plural form in Kannada | Plural form in Tulu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Younger Brother | ತಮ್ಮ(ನು) | Meggae | ತಮ್ಮಂದಿರು | Meggaelu or Meggaeanakulu |
| 2 | Son-in-law | ಅಳಿಯ(ನು) | Marmaye | ಅಳಿಯಂದಿರು | Marmayelu or Marmayenakulu |
| 3 | Daughter | ತಂಗಿ | Megdi | ತಂಗಿಯರು | Megdilu or Megdinakulu |
| 4 | Child | ಮಗು | Baale | ಮಕ್ಕಳು | Baalelu or Jokulu |
| 5 | Horse | ಕುದುರೆ | Kudre | ಕುದುರೆಗಳು | Kudrelu |
| 6 | Book | ಪುಸ್ತಕ | Pustaka | ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು | Pustakalu or Pustakolu |
| 7 | Flower | ಹೂವು | Poo | ಹೂಗಳು | Pookulu |
| 8 | Bridge | ಸೇತುವೆ | Sanka | ಸೇತುವೆಗಳು | Sankalu or Sankolu |
Stem Formation
Stem Formation in Masculine and Feminine Nouns
The oblique base is formed by adding an oblique suffix to the stem. But, in most cases the unmarked noun itself takes the case suffixes directly.
1.1. In Kannada – Masculine and feminine Nouns ending in a will get n as an augment.
1.2. In Tulu – Masculine and feminine Nouns ending in e will get n or en as an augment.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
| Sl No | In English | In Kannada ending with "a" | Will get "n" as an argument | In Tulu ending with "e" | Will get "n" or "en"as argument |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Father | ತಾತ | ತಾತನನ್ನು | Ajjer | Ajjeren |
| 2 | Elder Brother | ಅಣ್ಣ | ಅಣ್ಣನನ್ನು | Palayae | Palayaen |
| 3 | King | ರಾಜ | ರಾಜನನ್ನು | Rajer | Rajeren |
| 4 | Elder Sister | ಅಕ್ಕ | ಅಕ್ಕನನ್ನು | Pali | Palin |
Stem Formation in Neuter Nouns
2.1. In Kannada – Neuter Nouns ending in a will get v as an augment in accusative case.
2.2. In Tulu – Neuter Nouns ending in a will get o as an augment in accusative case.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
| Sl No | English | In Kannada, neuter nouns ending with "a" | will get "v" as an argument | In Tulu, neuter nouns ending with "a" | will get "o" as an argument |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Book | ಪುಸ್ತಕ | ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು | Pusthaka | Pushthakonu |
| 2 | Tee | ಮರ | ಮರವನ್ನು | Mara | Maronu |
Stem Formation in Dative Nouns
3.1 In Kannada – They get k in dative case.
3.2 In Tulu – They get k or g in dative case.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
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ಪುಸ್ತಕ : ಪುಸ್ತಕಕ್ಕೆ : Pusthaka : Pushthakogu
ಮರ : ಮರಕ್ಕೆ : Mara : Maroku
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Stem Formation in in Other Cases
4.1. In Kannada – They get d in other cases.
4.2. In Tulu – They get d or t in other cases.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
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ಪುಸ್ತಕ : ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ : Pusthaka : Pushthakodugu
ಮರ : ಮರದಲ್ಲಿ : Mara : Marotuku
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Stem Formation in in all the Nouns or rest of the Nouns
5.1. In Kannada – All Nouns ending in u will get v in accusative case. They will get in before other cases optionally.
5.1. In Tulu – All Nouns ending in u will get e in accusative case. They will get in before other cases optionally.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
| Sl No | English | In Kannada, neuter nouns ending with "u" | will get "v" as an augement | In Tulu, neuter nouns ending with "a" | will get "o" or "e" or nothig as augement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow | ಹಸು | ಹಸುವನ್ನು | Petta | Pettonu |
| 2 | Teacher | ಗುರು | ಗುರುವನ್ನು | Gurukulu | Gurukulenu or Gurukulen |
| 3 | Village | ಊರು | ಊರನ್ನು, ಊರಿನಿಂದ | Ooru | Oorunu |
6.1. In Kannada – Nouns ending in i or e will have y in all cases except in dative.
6.2. In Tulu – Nouns ending in i or e will get nothing as augment in some cases cases except in dative as shown below.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
| Sl No | English | In Kannada, neuter nouns ending with "i" or "e" | will get "y" as an augement except in Dative | In Tulu, neuter nouns ending with "i" or "e" | will get nothig as augement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackel/Fox | ನರಿ | ನರಿಯನ್ನು | Nari | Narinu or Narin |
| 2 | Sheep | ಕುರಿ | ಕುರಿಯನ್ನು | Kuri | Kurinu or Kurin |
| 3 | Jasmine | ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ | ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯನ್ನು | Mallige | Malligenu or Malligen |
| 4 | Hampi | ಹಂಪಿ | ಹಂಪಿಯನ್ನು | Hampi | Hampinu or Hampin |
Pronouns
7. Pronouns form a separate class as the oblique base is different from other nouns.
7.1 In Kannada – Demonstrative pronouns (avanu, avaḷu, ātanu, adu, avu, avugaḷu) take case suffixes directly.
7.2 In Tulu – Demonstrative pronouns (avanu, avaḷu, ātanu, adu, avu, avugaḷu) take case suffixes directly.
7.3 In Kannada – The oblique forms of the other personal pronouns are formed by shortening the long vowel in the nominative or with other changes in the oblique base
7.4 In Tulu – The oblique forms of the other personal pronouns are formed by shortening the long vowel in the nominative or with other changes in the oblique base.
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
| Sl No | English | Pronouns in Kannada | Pronouns form a separate class in Kannada | In Tulu | In Tulu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | ನಾನು | ನನ್ (acc.), ನನ್ನ | Yaan | Yenna |
| 2 | we | ನಾವು | ನಮ್(acc.),ನಮ್ಮ | Enkulu | Enlena |
| 3 | You (singular) | ನೀನು | ನಿನ್ (acc.), ನಿನ್ನ | Ee | Ninna |
| 4 | You (plural) | ನೀವು | ನಿಮ್ (acc.), ನಿಮ್ಮ | Nikulu | Nikulena |
| 5 | He | ಅವನು | ಅವನ | Aaye | Aayena |
| 6 | She | ಅದು | ಅದರ | Avu | Aitha |
| 7 | They (neuter) | ಅವು, ಅವುಗಳು | ಅವುಗಳ | Aviklu | Aiklena |
2. Accusative Cases in Kannada and Tulu
In Kannada, the accusative or objective suffix is annu. The suffix is obligatory only with most of the human nouns. Nouns ending with i and e like Giri (Name or Mountain), Thande (Father) get an augment y. Neuter nouns ending with a and u like Mara (Tree), Hasu (Cow) get an augment v. Masculine and feminine nouns get an augment n.
In Tulu, the accusative or objective suffix is n or “nu”
Check the following examples in Kannada and Tulu:
| Sl No | English | In Kannada | Gets suffix "annu" in Kannada | In Tulu | Gets suffix " n" or "nu" in Tulu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giri | ಗಿರಿ | ಗಿರಿಯನ್ನು | Giri | Girin |
| 2 | Father | ತಂದೆ | ತಂದೆಯನ್ನು | Ammer | Ammeren |
| 3 | Tree | ಮರ | ಮರವನ್ನು | Mara or Maro | Maronu |
| 4 | Cow | ಹಸು | ಹಸುವನ್ನು | Petta or Petto | Pettonu |
| 5 | Rama | ರಾಮ | ರಾಮನನ್ನು | Rame | Ramen |
| 6 | Sister(Elder) | ಅಕ್ಕ | ಅಕ್ಕನನ್ನು | Pali | Palin |
| 7 | Brother(Younger) | ತಮ್ಮ | ತಮ್ಮನನ್ನು | Meggae | Meggaen |
| 8 | He | ಅವನು | ಅವನನ್ನು | Aaye | Aayen |
| 9 | She | ಅವಳು | ಅವಳನ್ನು | Aal | Aalen |
| 10 | That | ಅದು | ಅದನ್ನು | Avu | Aven |
| 11 | Those | ಅವು, ಅವುಗಳು | ಅವನ್ನು, ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು | Aiklu | Aiklen |
| 12 | I | ನಾನು | ನನ್ನನ್ನು | Yaan | Yenan |
| 13 | You | ನೀನು | ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು | Eee | Ninan |
| 14 | You(Plural) | ನೀವು | ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು | Nikulu | Nikulen |
Accusative suffix is optional in neuter nouns.
Examples in Kannada:
ಮನೆ ನೋಡು : See the house
ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದು : Read the book
ನಾನು ಹಣ್ಣು ತಂದೆ : I brought fruits
ಅವನು ಮರ ಹತ್ತಿದ : He climbed the tree
Examples in Tulu:
Illa Thula : See the house
Pushtaka Oodu : Read the book
Yaan Parand Kanthe : I brought fruits
Aaye Mara Mithariye : He climbed the tree
3. Instrumental and Ablative Cases in Kannada and Tulu
The suffix is inda.
inda is now used in the sense of possibility.
ಇದು ಅವನಿಂದ ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ It is not possible for him.
ಈ ಕೆಲಸ ನನ್ನಿಂದ ಆಯಿತು This work was done by me / It was possible for me to do this work
Ablative case also takes the suffix inda, but it means ‘from’.
ಅವನು ಮೈಸೂರಿನಿಂದ ಬಂದನು He came from Mysuru
ಅವಳು ಅಮೆರಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಬಂದಳು She came from America
ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳಿಂದ ನಮಗೆ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಸಿಕ್ಕುತ್ತದೆ We get knowledge from books
4. Sociative Cases in Kannada and Tulu
The suffixes for sociative case are jate, jateyalli or oḍane which is added to the oblique stem (genititive). Examples:
5. Dative Cases in Kannada and Tulu
The case suffixes for the fourth or dative case are ge, ige, ke and akke. Examples:
6. Genitive Cases in Kannada and Tulu
The sixth or genitive or possessive case is the same as the oblique base. The suffix for genitive is a. In many cases the base does not differ from the noun.
7. Locative Cases in Kannada and Tulu
The suffixes for eighth or locative case are alli and oḷage. They convey the meaning of location (in, inside).
ಅವನಲ್ಲಿ in him
ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ inside the house
ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ in the house
ಊರಿನಲ್ಲಿ in the village
ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ in me
ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ in them
As a post position, locative suffix indicates the meaning ‘with’ or ‘before’.
ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಣ ಇದೆ There is money with me
ನಾನು ನಾಳೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತೇನೆ I will come before tomorrow
8. Vocative Cases in Kannada and Tulu
The eighth or vocative case is indicated by lengthening the final short vowel. ē is added to the plural suffix lu and other u ending nouns.
ರಾಮಾ O Rama!
ರಾಮನೇ O Rama!
ಅಕ್ಕಾ O sister!
ಗುರುಗಳೇ O teacher!
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