Comparing whole descriptions: -އަށްވުރެ and -ހާ
In a comparison the quality does not change — what changes is the thing you compare with. -އަށްވުރެ ("than") clings to it, and the quality comes after: މި ބަލި އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ. For example: “މި ބަލި އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ” — This illness is more dangerous than that one. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
In a comparison the quality does not change — what changes is the thing you compare with. -އަށްވުރެ ("than") clings to it, and the quality comes after: މި ބަލި އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ (mi bali e bayyahvure nurakkaa).
You can compare a whole group, and the order stays the same. މި ބޭސް އެ ބޭހަށްވުރެ އަވަހަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރޭ — "this medicine works faster than that one".
Equality is the ending -ހާ (-haa): އޭނާ އަހަރެންހާ ދިގު ("he is as tall as I am"). With a negation it becomes "not as tall as": އަހަރެންހާ ދިގެއް ނޫން.
Inside the group the strengtheners stand before the quality: ވަރަށް ("very"), މާ ("too", always a reproach), ދާދި ("almost"). މާ ގަދަ ހުން (maa gadha hun) — "too high a fever", already a complaint.
Table
| what we do | the means | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| more than | އަށްވުރެ (ahvure) | ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ | more dangerous than the illness |
| the same as | ހާ (haa) | އަހަރެންހާ ދިގު | as tall as I am |
| very | ވަރަށް (varah) | ވަރަށް ގަދަ | very strong |
| too | މާ (maa) | މާ ގަދަ | too strong |
By example
- މި ބަލި އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާmi bali e bayyahvure nurakkaaThis illness is more dangerous than that one
- އޭނާ އަހަރެންހާ ދިގުeynaa aharenhaa dhiguHe is as tall as I am
- އަހަންނަށް މާ ގަދަ ހުން އައިސްފިahannah maa gadha hun aisfiI came down with too high a fever
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How to say more than in Dhivehi?
In a comparison the quality does not change — what changes is the thing you compare with. -އަށްވުރެ ("than") clings to it, and the quality comes after: މި ބަލި އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ.
Dhivehi ahvure: how a comparison is built?
You can compare a whole group, and the order stays the same. މި ބޭސް އެ ބޭހަށްވުރެ އަވަހަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރޭ — "this medicine works faster than that one".
How to say as tall as I am in Dhivehi?
Equality is the ending -ހާ: އޭނާ އަހަރެންހާ ދިގު ("he is as tall as I am"). With a negation it becomes "not as tall as": އަހަރެންހާ ދިގެއް ނޫން.
Varah vs maa in Dhivehi?
Inside the group the strengtheners stand before the quality: ވަރަށް ("very"), މާ ("too", always a reproach), ދާދި ("almost"). މާ ގަދަ ހުން — "too high a fever", already a complaint.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“މި ބަލި އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ” (mi bali e bayyahvure nurakkaa) — This illness is more dangerous than that one. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.