Planning to/Trying to: Sinhala Grammar #43

Ayubowan!

Today’s lesson will be about expressing things we are planning or trying to do

with the verb “hadanawa”. Let’s jump right into the lesson with the first example.

I am planning to go to the store.

මම කඩේ යන්න හදන්නේ. 

Mama kade yanna hadanne.

Depending on the context of the situation, the meaning of hadanne changes a bit.

In this sentence, hadane suggests that the speaker is going to try to go to the store. 

The direct translation of this sentence is “I am making on going to the store”. This idea

of making is what gives this sentence a sense of certainty in the speaker's mind.

Let's take a look at a few more examples.

(Are you) trying to be hidden?

හැංගිලා හදන්නේද ?

Hangila* hadanneda?

In this context, we see this same idea of but in a slightly different way. Similarly to the

previous sentence we have this idea of attempting something. In this case, the person

who the speaker is referring to is trying to (or was planning to) stay hidden.

*In proper grammatical terms, I believe that hangila is the past participle of hanginawaa/හන්ගිනවා

(Hidden vs. Hide)

I am planning to become a doctor.

මම දොක්ටෝර් කෙනෙක් වෙන්න හදන්නේ.

Mama doctor kenek venna hadanne.

That’s all for this lesson! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please

leave them down in the comments below.

The next lesson will be up on February 1st at 12 AM PST.

Thank you for reading!