Cause, purpose, time, concession: where the link stands
The third wave showed four seams (ކަމަށް, ވީމާ, ނަމަ, އިރު). Now they are to be sorted by meaning — and one general rule emerges: the link hangs on the verb of the dependent part and stands at its end. Divehi connects with a separate word in front for only three things, and they open the SECOND part, not the first. For example: “ވާރޭ ވެހޭތީ ދަތުރު ފަސްކުރި” — The trip was postponed because it is raining. A rule from…
How it works
The third wave showed four seams (ކަމަށް (kamah), ވީމާ, ނަމަ (nama), އިރު (iru)). Now they are to be sorted by meaning — and one general rule emerges: the link hangs on the verb of the dependent part and stands at its end. Divehi connects with a separate word in front for only three things, and they open the SECOND part, not the first.
Cause — the ending -ތީ on the verb (ވާރޭ ވެހޭތީ (vaarey veheythee), "since it is raining") or -ވީމާ (ވެހުނީމާ). In front the cause can be put only with the turn ސަބަބަކީ ("the reason is that"), and then it goes as the second part.
Purpose — the verb in -ން plus ވެގެން (vegen): ވިސާ ހޯދަން ވެގެން ("in order to get a visa"). The second way is ގޮތަށް ("so that"): ފެންނަ ގޮތަށް ބަހައްޓާ ("keep it where it can be seen").
Time — -އިރު ("when"), -ުމުގެ ކުރިން ("before"), -އަށްފަހު ("after"), -ުމާއެކު ("as soon as"). All four stand AFTER their verb: ދިއުމުގެ ކުރިން ("before leaving"), ކެއުމަށްފަހު ("after eating"), ނިމުމާއެކު ("together with the end").
Concession — the ending -އަސް (-as) right on the verb or adjective: އަގު ބޮޑަސް ("though expensive"), ވެހުނަސް ("though it will pour"). Nominal concession is ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް (kamugai viyas) after the noun.
And only އެހެންވެ ("therefore"), ނަމަވެސް ("however") and އެކަމަކު ("but, still") behave like English conjunctions: they stand as a separate word at the start of the second part. There are three of them, and it is easier to memorize them than everything else.
Table
| meaning | the means | where it stands | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| cause | -ތީ / -ވީމާ | at the end of the dependent part | ވެހޭތީ (veheythee) |
| purpose | -ން ވެގެން | at the end of the dependent part | ހޯދަން ވެގެން |
| time | -އިރު / -ކުރިން / -އަށްފަހު | after its verb | ދިއުމުގެ ކުރިން |
| concession | -އަސް | on the verb or the adjective | ބޮޑަސް (bodas) |
| however, therefore | ނަމަވެސް / އެހެންވެ / އެކަމަކު | at the start of the SECOND part | އެހެންވެ ނުދިޔައިން |
By example
- ވާރޭ ވެހޭތީ ދަތުރު ފަސްކުރިvaarey veheythee dhathuru faskuriThe trip was postponed because it is raining
- ވިސާ ހޯދަން ވެގެން ކޮންސިއުލޭޓަށް ދިޔައިންvisaa hoadhan vegen konsiuleytah dhiyainI went to the consulate to get a visa
- އަގު ބޮޑަސް ޓިކެޓު ގަތިންagu bodas tiketu gathinThough it was expensive, I bought the ticket
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
Cause, purpose, time, concession: how does it work in Maldivian?
The third wave showed four seams (ކަމަށް, ވީމާ, ނަމަ, އިރު). Now they are to be sorted by meaning — and one general rule emerges: the link hangs on the verb of the dependent part and stands at its end. Divehi connects with a separate word in front for only three things, and they open the SECOND…
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“ވާރޭ ވެހޭތީ ދަތުރު ފަސްކުރި” (vaarey veheythee dhathuru faskuri) — The trip was postponed because it is raining. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.