Already, still and all this while: aspect and duration
To say "already", there is the ending -ެއްޖެ: ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެ ("has been cancelled"), ނިމިއްޖެ ("has finished"). It is not about how long ago, but about a change you can see now. The same form is also written ފުރައިފި ("has already left"). For example: “މޫސުން ގޯސްވެގެން ފްލައިޓު ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެ” — Because of the bad weather the flight has already been cancelled. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on…
How it works
To say "already", there is the ending -ެއްޖެ: ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެ ("has been cancelled"), ނިމިއްޖެ ("has finished"). It is not about how long ago, but about a change you can see now. The same form is also written ފުރައިފި ("has already left").
The state left by an action is the ending -ފައި (-fai): ބަންދުކޮށްފައި ("closed"), ތާށިވެފައި ("stuck and sitting"). It also stitches two actions of one doer: ކައިފައި ދިޔަ — "ate and left".
Duration is -މުން ދަނީ ("the doing goes on"): ވެހެމުން ދަނީ ("the rain keeps falling"). An interrupted action is closed by -ނިކޮށް: ދުއްވަމުން ދަނިކޮށް ("while we were driving").
How long it took is the word ވަންދެން ("for the space of") AFTER the span: ދެ ގަޑިއިރު ވަންދެން (dhe gadiiru vandhen). English puts such a word in front; Divehi puts it behind.
Table
| what we show | the means | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| already happened | -ެއްޖެ | ފުރައިފި (furaifi) | has already left |
| the state after | -ފައި | ތާށިވެފައި (thaashivefai) | stuck |
| keeps going | -މުން ދަނީ | ވެހެމުން ދަނީ (vehemun dhanee) | keeps falling |
| interrupted | -ނިކޮށް | ދަނިކޮށް (dhanikoh) | while driving |
| for how long | ވަންދެން after the span | ދެ ގަޑިއިރު ވަންދެން | for two hours |
By example
- މޫސުން ގޯސްވެގެން ފްލައިޓު ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެmoosun goasvegen flaitu kensalvejjeBecause of the bad weather the flight has already been cancelled
- އަހަރެމެން ދެ ގަޑިއިރު ވަންދެން އެއަރްޕޯޓުގައި ތާށިވެފައިaharemen dhe gadiiru vandhen earpoatugai thaashivefaiWe sat stuck at the airport for two hours
- ކާރު ދުއްވަމުން ދަނިކޮށް ވާރޭ ވެހުނުkaaru dhuvvamun dhanikoh vaarey vehunuWhile we were driving, it started to rain
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
Already, still and all this while: how does it work in Maldivian?
To say "already", there is the ending -ެއްޖެ: ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެ ("has been cancelled"), ނިމިއްޖެ ("has finished"). It is not about how long ago, but about a change you can see now. The same form is also written ފުރައިފި ("has already left").
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“މޫސުން ގޯސްވެގެން ފްލައިޓު ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެ” (moosun goasvegen flaitu kensalvejje) — Because of the bad weather the flight has already been cancelled. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.