sakemm
Until or as Long as
Its clause can bound a situation or give a condition for its continuation.
How It Works
Follow sakemm with a finite clause. In an “until” reading, the subordinate event marks the endpoint of the main situation. Waiting can last up to an opening event; a stay can last up to someone's arrival. An imperfect can name an anticipated endpoint with a future main clause.
In an “as long as” reading, the subordinate situation gives a continuing condition. Compare Se nibqa' hawn sakemm tasal Rita, “I will stay here until Rita arrives,” with Sakemm ma tasalx Rita, nibqgħu hawn, “As long as Rita does not arrive, we stay here.” Her continued absence supplies the condition for remaining.
Negation contributes meaning; do not automatically convert it into an affirmative English endpoint. Context connects conditions and endpoints, while each verb keeps agreement with its own subject.
Examples (3)
- Stennejna sakemm Pawlu fetaħ il-ħanut.
We waited until Pawlu opened the shop.
Pawlu's opening the shop marks the endpoint of waiting.
- Se nibqa' hawn sakemm tasal Rita.
I will stay here until Rita arrives.
Rita's anticipated arrival bounds the speaker's stay.
- Sakemm ma tasalx Rita, nibqgħu hawn.
As long as Rita does not arrive, we stay here.
The negative subordinate clause supplies a continuing condition.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Distinguish an event bounding a situation from a condition sustaining it, interpreting the actual subordinate polarity in context.
Related Patterns
Practice sakemm in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Maltese lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
