Scene 47GrammarPremium

Ilni, ilek, ilu

For how long: ilni hawn tliet xhur

To say how long something has been going on, when it still is, Maltese puts , I have been, before the time: I've been here three months, and I'm still here. It takes the endings you know from . A verb after it stays in the present tense, because it is still going on: I've been learning Maltese for three months. To ask, put , how much, in front: How long have you been here?

with every person

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Person	Form	Example	Meaning
Singular
			I have been · I've been here three months.
I have been · I've been here three months.
			you have been · How long have you been in Malta?
you have been · How long have you been in Malta?
			he has been · Ġorġ has been looking for the mouthpiece.
he has been · Ġorġ has been looking for the mouthpiece.
			she has been · Lina has been making cakes for twenty years.
she has been · Lina has been making cakes for twenty years.
Plural
			we have been · We've been neighbours for three months.
we have been · We've been neighbours for three months.
			you have been · How long have you been waiting?
you have been · How long have you been waiting?
			they have been · They've been in Gozo for a week.
they have been · They've been in Gozo for a week.

The endings are the ones of , except that I is -ni: . A thing takes the ending of its noun: , the café has been here.

Jien Spanjola, imma ilni noqgħod f'Malta għaxar snin.I'm Spanish, but I've lived in Malta for ten years.
Ilni nitgħallem tliet xhur.I've been learning for three months.
Ilni nitgħallem tliet xhur.I've been learning for three months.
U hu ilu fid-dar iktar minni.And he's been in the house longer than me.
U hu ilu fid-dar iktar minni.And he's been in the house longer than me.

The time comes straight after, with no word for for. One is the noun on its own, two is the dual (-ejn), three to ten take the plural, and from eleven on the noun is singular again: . Compare the past: , I came in March, is over and done; is still going on.

How long

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
One	Two	Three to ten	Meaning
			a minute · two minutes · ten minutes
a minute · two minutes · ten minutes
			an hour · two hours · eight hours
an hour · two hours · eight hours
			a month · two months · three months
a month · two months · three months
			a year · two years · ten years
a year · two years · ten years

A week is , two weeks .

Practice 1/7 · Finding words

Find the words

Tap the words for has been, have been.

, .
I'm Spanish, but I've lived in Malta for ten years.
.
Anna has been with us for three months.
.
Ċikku has been in the house longer than me.
.
Ċikku has been in the house longer than me.
.
Lina and I have been friends for twenty years.
, : ?
Ella, Ġorġ: how long have you been waiting?
, : ?
Ella, Ġorġ: how long have you been waiting?
.
My parents have been in Hamburg for thirty years.
.
My parents have been in Hamburg for thirty years.
?
How long have you been learning?

Practice 2/7 · The right form

Who has been?

Choose the form that fits the person.

Jien f'Malta għaxar snin.
I've been in Malta for ten years.
U int, kemm f'Malta?
And you, how long have you been in Malta?
Ċikku fid-dar iktar minni.
Ċikku has been in the house longer than me.
Anna magħna tliet xhur.
Anna has been with us for three months.
Aħna ħbieb tliet xhur!
We've been friends for three months!
Intom hawn ħafna snin, hux?
You've been here for many years, haven't you?
Intom hawn ħafna snin, hux?
You've been here for many years, haven't you?
Il-ġenituri tiegħi f'Hamburg tletin sena.
My parents have been in Hamburg for thirty years.
Jien nitgħallem il-Malti tliet xhur.
I've been learning Maltese for three months.
Jien nitgħallem il-Malti tliet xhur.
I've been learning Maltese for three months.
Lina tagħmel il-kejk għoxrin sena.
Lina has been making cakes for twenty years.
Ġorġ jfittex il-bokkin mill-festa.
Ġorġ has been looking for the mouthpiece since the festa.

Practice 3/7 · Questions

How long?

Choose the right answer.

Kemm ilek f'Malta?
How long have you been in Malta?
Kemm ilha Anna magħkom?
How long has Anna been with you?
Kemm ilek titgħallem il-Malti?
How long have you been learning Maltese?
Ġorġ u Ella, kemm ilkom ħbieb?
Ġorġ and Ella, how long have you been friends?
Kemm ilhom il-ġenituri tiegħek f'Hamburg?
How long have your parents been in Hamburg?
Kemm ilu Ċikku fid-dar?
How long has Ċikku been in the house?
Kemm ilkom tistennew?
How long have you two been waiting?

Practice 4/7 · Fill the gaps

At the interview

Fill the gaps with the words from the box.

Jien Spanjola, imma noqgħod f'Malta għaxar .
I'm Spanish, but I've lived in Malta for ten years.
Anna magħna tliet xhur.
Anna has been with us for three months.
U kemm f'Malta?
And how long have you been in Malta?
hawn tliet xhur biss. f'Marzu.
I've only been here three months. I came in March.
hawn tliet xhur biss. f'Marzu.
I've only been here three months. I came in March.
U Ċikku fid-dar iktar minni.
And Ċikku has been in the house longer than me.
U Ċikku fid-dar iktar minni.
And Ċikku has been in the house longer than me.
Jien u Lina ħbieb għoxrin sena.
Lina and I have been friends for twenty years.
Ella u Ġorġ, kemm tistennew?
Ella and Ġorġ, how long have you been waiting?
Ella u Ġorġ, kemm tistennew?
Ella and Ġorġ, how long have you been waiting?
Il-ġenituri tiegħi f'Hamburg tletin sena.
My parents have been in Hamburg for thirty years.
Il-ġenituri tiegħi f'Hamburg tletin sena.
My parents have been in Hamburg for thirty years.

Practice 5/7 · Building sentences

Put the words in order

Put the words in order.

I've lived in Malta for ten years.
How long have you been learning Maltese?
I've only been here three months.
I've only been here three months.
Anna has been with us for three months.
Ċikku has been in the house longer than me.
Ċikku has been in the house longer than me.
We've been friends for three months.
Ella and Ġorġ, how long have you been waiting?
Ella and Ġorġ, how long have you been waiting?
My parents have been in Hamburg for a long time.

Practice 6/7 · In situations

The right words

Choose the right words for the situation.

Lucía asks how long you've been in Malta. It's three months.
You say:
Lucía asks how long you've been in Malta. It's three months.
You say:
Ask Ġorġ how long he's been playing the trumpet.
You say:
Ask Ġorġ how long he's been playing the trumpet.
You say:
Ġorġ tells you he's been playing in the band for twenty years.
Ġorġ says:
Lucía tells you how long Anna has been with the company.
Lucía says:
Tell Lina that you and Ella have been waiting for ten minutes.
You say:
Tell Lina that you and Ella have been waiting for ten minutes.
You say: