Even if / even though / although

A…conditional + உம்

This construction translates as: ‘even if A does X, even though A did X, although A did X.’

Notice that this construction, composed of the conditional form of the verb plus –உம் ‘inclusive’ and thus literally meaning ‘even if’ may be used to refer not only to events that have not yet occurred (‘even if A does X’) but also to events that have occurred (‘even though A did X’).

E.g. அவன் அவளை மிகவும் நேசித்தாலும் அவனால் அவளைப் பார்க்க முடியவில்லை – Even though he loved her very much, he could not visit her.
E.g. பொய் சொன்னாலும் புலவருக்கு ஒரு ரூபாய் தான் கிடைத்தது – Even though he told a lie, the poet only received one rupee.