LingoflyComparing 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 (bali) އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ (nurakkaa). For example: “މި ބަލި (bali) އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ” (nurakkaa) — 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 (bali) އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ (nurakkaa) (mi bali e bayyahvure nurakkaa).
You can compare a whole group, and the order stays the same. މި ބޭސް (beys) އެ ބޭހަށްވުރެ އަވަހަށް (avahah) މަސައްކަތްކުރޭ (masakkaiykurey) — "this medicine works faster than that one".
Equality is the ending -ހާ (-haa): އޭނާ (eynaa) އަހަރެންހާ ދިގު (dhigu) ("he is as tall as I am"). With a negation it becomes "not as tall as": އަހަރެންހާ ދިގެއް ނޫން (noon).
Inside the group the strengtheners stand before the quality: ވަރަށް (varah) ("very"), މާ ("too", always a reproach), ދާދި (dhaadhi) ("almost"). މާ ގަދަ ހުން (gadha hun) (maa gadha hun) — "too high a fever", already a complaint.
Table
| what we do | the means | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| more than | އަށްވުރެ (ahvure) | ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ (nurakkaa) | more dangerous than the illness |
| the same as | ހާ (haa) | އަހަރެންހާ ދިގު (dhigu) | as tall as I am |
| very | ވަރަށް (varah) | ވަރަށް (varah) ގަދަ (gadha) | very strong |
| too | މާ (maa) | މާ ގަދަ (gadha) | too strong |
By example
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 (bali) އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ (nurakkaa).
Dhivehi ahvure: how a comparison is built?
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 (bali) އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ (nurakkaa).
How to say as tall as I am in Dhivehi?
Equality is the ending -ހާ: އޭނާ (eynaa) އަހަރެންހާ ދިގު (dhigu) ("he is as tall as I am"). With a negation it becomes "not as tall as": އަހަރެންހާ ދިގެއް ނޫން (noon).
Varah vs maa 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 (bali) އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ (nurakkaa).
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“މި ބަލި (bali) އެ ބައްޔަށްވުރެ ނުރައްކާ” (nurakkaa) (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.