-അത്

From അത് (atŭ, “that”). As a suffix, it converts a relative participle into a neuter pronominal noun.

-അത് • (-atŭ)

1. 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.

Like the personal suffixes, it can be the subject or the object:

• As Subject:

1. അവിടെ നടന്നത് ശരിയായില്ല.

   aviṭe naṭannatŭ śariyāyilla.

   What (the thing that) happened there was not right.

• As Object:

1. നീ പറഞ്ഞത് എനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു.

   nī paṟaññatŭ enikk iṣṭappeṭṭu.

   I liked what (the thing that) you said.

The suffix -അത് is used to turn an entire sentence into a noun clause that represents a fact or an event.

• അവൻ വന്നത് ഞാൻ അറിഞ്ഞില്ല.

  avaṉ vannatŭ ñāṉ aṟiññilla.

  I didn't know (the fact) that he came.

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:

  രാമനാണ് അത് പറഞ്ഞത്.

  rāmanāṇŭ atŭ paṟaññatŭ.

  It was Raman who said it.

  (Focus is on the person who spoke).

• Object Emphasis:

  രാമൻ അതാണ് പറഞ്ഞത്.

  rāmaṉ atāṇŭ paṟaññatŭ.

  It was that which Raman said.

  (Focus is on the specific thing that was said).

• -അവ (-ava) (neuter plural)
• -അവൻ (-avaṉ) (masculine singular)
• -അവൾ (-avaḷ) (feminine singular)
• -അവർ (-avaṟ) (plural/honorific)