LingoflyAlready, still and all this while: aspect and duration
To say "already", there is the ending -ެއްޖެ: ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެ (kensalvejje) ("has been cancelled"), ނިމިއްޖެ (nimijje) ("has finished"). It is not about how long ago, but about a change you can see now. The same form is also written ފުރައިފި (furaifi) ("has already left"). For example: “މޫސުން ގޯސްވެގެން ފްލައިޓު ކެންސަލްވެއްޖެ” (moosun goasvegen flaitu kensalvejje) — 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 (kensalvejje) ("has been cancelled"), ނިމިއްޖެ (nimijje) ("has finished"). It is not about how long ago, but about a change you can see now. The same form is also written ފުރައިފި (furaifi) ("has already left").
The state left by an action is the ending -ފައި (-fai): ބަންދުކޮށްފައި (bandhukohfai) ("closed"), ތާށިވެފައި ("stuck and sitting"). It also stitches two actions of one doer: ކައިފައި ދިޔަ (dhiya) — "ate and left".
Duration is -މުން ދަނީ (dhanee) ("the doing goes on"): ވެހެމުން ދަނީ (dhanee) ("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 (vandhen) ("for the space of") AFTER the span: ދެ ގަޑިއިރު (gadiiru) ވަންދެން (vandhen) (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 (dhanee) | ވެހެމުން ދަނީ (dhanee) (vehemun dhanee) | keeps falling |
| interrupted | -ނިކޮށް | ދަނިކޮށް (dhanikoh) | while driving |
| for how long | ވަންދެން (vandhen) after the span | ދެ ގަޑިއިރު (gadiiru) ވަންދެން (vandhen) | 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
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 (kensalvejje) ("has been cancelled"), ނިމިއްޖެ (nimijje) ("has finished"). It is not about how long ago, but about a change you can see now. The same form is also written ފުރައިފި (furaifi) ("has already left").
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“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.