Two thoughts in one sentence: ކަމަށް, ވީމާ, ނަމަ, އިރު
The sentences so far were short. Now they get stitched together — and in Divehi the seam always stands at the end of the dependent part, not in front of it the way English "that", "if", "when" do. For example: “އޭނާ ބުނީ މާދަމާ އަންނާނެ ކަމަށް” — He said he would come tomorrow. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The sentences so far were short. Now they get stitched together — and in Divehi the seam always stands at the end of the dependent part, not in front of it the way English "that", "if", "when" do.
"That" after words of speech and thought is ކަމަށް (kamah): އޭނާ ބުނީ އަންނާނެ ކަމަށް (eynaa bunee annaane kamah) — literally "he said: will come — so". The dependent clause goes first, ކަމަށް closes it, and only then comes the main verb.
"Because" is expressed by the word ވީމާ ("since it became") after the cause: ވާރޭ ވެހޭތީ ބޭރަށް ނުދިޔައިން (vaarey veheythee beyrah nudhiyain), or the simpler ވާރޭ ވެހުނީމާ ގޭގައި ތިބިން — "since it rained, we stayed home".
"If" is ނަމަ (nama) at the end of the condition: ވަގުތު އޮތްނަމަ ގުޅާނަން ("if there is time, I will call"). "When" is އިރު (iru), literally "hour, time": އަހަރެން އައި އިރު އޭނާ ނިދާފައި (aharen ai iru eynaa nidhaafai) — "when I came, he was asleep".
The order inside a complex sentence is the same as in a simple one, only longer: circumstances and the dependent clause first, then the main part, and the verb is always last.
Table
| link | meaning | where it stands | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ކަމަށް (kamah) | that | at the end of the dependent clause | އަންނާނެ ކަމަށް ބުނި |
| ވީމާ (veemaa) | because | after the cause | ވާރޭ ވެހުނީމާ |
| ނަމަ (nama) | if | at the end of the condition | ވަގުތު އޮތްނަމަ |
| އިރު (iru) | when | after the first part | އައި އިރު |
By example
- އޭނާ ބުނީ މާދަމާ އަންނާނެ ކަމަށްeynaa bunee maadhamaa annaane kamahHe said he would come tomorrow
- ވަގުތު އޮތްނަމަ ގުޅާނަންvaguthu oiynama gulhaananIf there is time, I will call
- އަހަރެން އައި އިރު އޭނާ ނިދާފައިaharen ai iru eynaa nidhaafaiWhen I came, he was asleep
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
Two thoughts in one sentence: how does it work in Maldivian?
The sentences so far were short. Now they get stitched together — and in Divehi the seam always stands at the end of the dependent part, not in front of it the way English "that", "if", "when" do.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“އޭނާ ބުނީ މާދަމާ އަންނާނެ ކަމަށް” (eynaa bunee maadhamaa annaane kamah) — He said he would come tomorrow. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.