meta

Asking or Saying When

Level 2

Meta introduces a time question or a when clause.

How It Works

Meta asks for a time or introduces a clause locating another event in time. It is invariant. Its verb agrees with its own subject independently of the main clause. A temporal frame may precede or follow the main event.

Meta se tiftaħ int il-librerija?, “When will you open the library?”, asks for the time of an anticipated action. Here int identifies the person opening it. In Meta waslet Sara, bdejna nieklu, “When Sara arrived, we started eating,” a completed arrival frames the main action.

Se nagħlaq it-tieqa meta nitlaq, “I will close the window when I leave,” uses an imperfect with future reference in the temporal clause. Compare jekk nitlaq, “if I leave,” which presents a condition. In an embedded question, meta identifies the time being asked about. The verb construction and context determine temporal reference.

Examples (3)

  1. Meta se tiftaħ int il-librerija?

    When will you open the library?

    Meta asks when the addressee will perform the action; tiftaħ is second-person singular.

  2. Meta waslet Sara, bdejna nieklu.

    When Sara arrived, we started eating.

    A completed arrival supplies the temporal frame.

  3. Se nagħlaq it-tieqa meta nitlaq.

    I will close the window when I leave.

    The temporal imperfect has future reference.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

metaLevel 2Asking or Saying When

Learn This First

Introduce meta as a request for a time or a link supplying an occasion. Contrast completed arrival with anticipated leaving, keeping each clause's participants and temporal construction distinct.

Words in This Pattern

metameta