Dhivehi and English/Contrastive Grammar
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div-eng tests
SOV Word Order
English is Subject-Verb-Object order, while Dhivehi is Subject-Object-Verb.
- (div) !އަހަރެން އެކަނި ދުކޮހް ލާ → (eng) Leave me alone!
- (div) އަހަރެން<prn><pers><p1><sg><std><dir> އެކަނި<adj> ދުކޮހް<v><tv><act><pres><p3><imp> ލާ<mod> !<sent> → (eng) Leave<vblex><imp> me<prn><obj><p1><mf><sg> alone<adv>
- (div) .މާދަމާ އަލީ ފާހަނަ ސާފު ކުރާނެ → (eng) Tomorrow Ali will clean the bathroom.
- (div) މާދަމާ<adv> އަލީ<np> ފާހަނަ<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> ސާފު<adj> ކުރަ<v><tv><act><fut><p3>.<sent> → (eng) Tomorrow<adv> Ali<np><cog><sg> will<vaux><pri> clean<vblex><inf> the<det><def><sp> bathroom<n><sg>.<sent>
No explicit "be" (except in Noun-Noun Sentences)
In Dhivehi, there is no explicit "be" except in noun-noun sentences. (An example noun-noun sentence is "A is B." where A, B are nouns.)
- (div) ކޮބާ ފާހަނަ؟ → (eng) Where is the bathroom?
- (div) ކޮބާ<itg> ފާހަނަ<n><nhum><sg><def><dir>؟/؟<sent> → (eng) Where<adv><itg> be<vbser><pres><p3><sg> the<det><def><sp> bathroom<n><sg>?<sent>
- (div) !އަހަރެން ފެތެނީ → (eng) I am sinking!
- (div) އަހަރެން<prn><pers><p1><sg><std><dir> ފެތެ<v><iv><pass><pprs>!/!<sent> → (eng) I<prn><subj><p1><mf><sg> be<vbser><pres><p1><sg> sink<vblex><ger>!
Definiteness as Suffix
In Dhivehi, definiteness of nouns is marked with a suffix. In English, the word "the" is used.
- (div) މީހާ → (eng) the person
- (div) މީހާ<n><hum><sg><def><dir> → (eng) the<det><def><sp> person<n><sg>
- (div) މަދްރަސާ → (eng) the school
- (div) މަދްރަސާ<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> → (eng) the<det><def><sp> school<n><sg>
- (div) ތަރައްގީ → (eng) the improvement
- (div) ތަރައްގީ<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> → (eng) the<det><def><sp> improvement<n><sg>
Sentence Final -އެވެ
In Dhivehi, sentences often end with the particle (-އެވެ) or "-eve". The particle has no meaning.
- (div) .މަދްރަސާ ގެއަށްވުރެ މާ ބޮޑެވެ → (eng) The school is much bigger than the house.
- (div) މަދްރަސާ<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> ގެ<n><nhum><sg><def><dat>+ވުރެ<post> މާ<adv> ބޮޑު<adj>+އެވެ<mod>.<sent> → (eng) The<det><def><sp> school<n><sg> be<vbser><pri><p3><sg> much<adv> big<adj><sint><comp> than<cnjcoo> the<det><def><sp> house<n><sg>.<sent>
- (div) .އެކަމަކު 24 ގަޑި އިރު ނުވަނީސް އެމީހުން ވަނީ ދުކޮށްލާފައެވެ → (eng) But they were released within 24 hours.
- (div) އެކަމަކު<cnjcoo> 24 ގަޑި<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> އިރު<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> ނުވަނީސް<adv> އެމީހުން<prn><pers><p3><pl><dst><dir> ވަނީ<v><tv><act><pres><p3> ދުކޮށްލާ<v><tv><act><pprs>+ފަ<succ>+އެވެ<mod>.<sent> → (eng) But<cnjcoo> they<prn><subj><p3><mf><pl> be<vbser><past> released<vblex><pp> within<adv> 24 hours<n><pl>
Future Tense Marked with Suffix
In English, the future tense is marked with "will". In Dhivehi, the future tense is marked with a suffix (takes the stem, lengthens the last vowel and append "-ne").
- (div) .މުބާރާތް މިއަދު ނިމޭނެއެވެ → (eng) The competition will end today.
- (div) މުބާރާތް<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> މިއަދު<adv> ނިމެ<v><iv><pass><fut><p3>+އެވެ<mod>.<sent> → (eng) The<det><def><sp> competition<n><sg> will<vaux><pri> end<vblex><inf> today<adv>.<sent>
- (div) .މާދަމާ އަލީ ފާހަނަ ސާފު ކުރާނެ → (eng) Tomorrow Ali will clean the bathroom.
- (div) މާދަމާ<adv> އަލީ<np> ފާހަނަ<n><nhum><sg><def><dir> ސާފު<adj> ކުރަ<v><tv><act><fut><p3>.<sent> → (eng) Tomorrow<adv> Ali<np> will<vaux><pri> clean<vblex><inf> the<det><def><sp> bathroom<n><sg>.<sent>