Permissions and polite or neutral questions

Question 1

Default verb suffix expressing permission

Answer 1

-ആം
(subject in dative case)

നിനക്ക് പോകാം, അവന് ഇവിടെ വരാം

usually used for 2nd and 3rd person subject

Question 2

1st person subject case + -ആം

ഞാൻ മലയാളം പഠിക്കാം

Answer 2

denotes willingness (only usable with 1st person)

ഞാൻ മലയാളം പഠിക്കാം (I will learn Malayalam)

means: speaker has the intention, desire, willingness to learn Malayalam.

Question 3

Turning a permission into a question

ഞാൻ എഴുതാം. നിനക്ക് … ? (I will write. Can you write?)

Answer 3

Replace -ആം with -ആമോ

ഞാൻ എഴുതാം. നിനക്ക് എഴുതാമോ? (I will write. Can you write?)

Question 4

When to use questions with subject in nominative case and -ഉമോ

നീ വരുമോ?

Answer 4

forms an open, neutral yes/no question

നീ വരുമോ? (Will you come?)

Open, neutral question. Speaker is expecting a “yes” or “no” from the other person.

Question 5

When to use questions with subject in dative case and -ആമോ

നിനക്ക് വരാമോ?

Answer 5

forms a polite question or an indirect request

നിനക്ക് വരാമോ? (Can you come?)

This can be a polite of really asking for a yes/no, or indirectly requesting the other person to come