-അത്

Malayalam Etymology From ml അത് that. As a suffix, it converts a relative participle into a neuter pronominal noun. Suffix ml suffix that which; the thing which; what... Attached to a relative participle to form a noun referring to an object, a fact, an action, or an abstract concept. Syntactic Roles Like the personal suffixes, it can be the subject or the object: As Subject: ml അവിടെ നടന്നത് ശരിയായില്ല. What (the thing that) happened there was not right. As Object: ml നീ പറഞ്ഞത് എനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു. I liked what (the thing that) you said. Special Functions Fact/Action Nominalization The suffix -അത് is used to turn an entire sentence into a noun clause that represents a fact or an event. ml അവൻ വന്നത് ഞാൻ അറിഞ്ഞില്ല. I didn't know (the fact) that he came. Emphasis The suffix -അത് is essential for creating "cleft sentences." When the copula ആണ് (āṇŭ) is used to place emphasis on a specific component (Subject, Object, or Time), the main verb must nominalize using -അത്. Subject Emphasis: ml രാമനാണ് അത് പറഞ്ഞത്. It was Raman who said it. (Focus is on the person who spoke). Object Emphasis: ml രാമൻ അതാണ് പറഞ്ഞത്. It was that which Raman said. (Focus is on the specific thing that was said). Related Suffixes ml -അവ (neuter plural) ml -അവൻ (masculine singular) ml -അവൾ (feminine singular) ml -അവർ (plural/honorific)