How can Timor reduce the nation's dependence on oil? in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• Focus

  mak — focus marker

  mak

  'mak' focuses the preceding constituent — used when English would bold or cleft ('it was X who...'). Also forms the superlative with 'liu'.

• Possession

  nia / nian — possession

  nia

  'nia' goes BEFORE the thing possessed; 'nian' goes AFTER. Both function the same way; position decides which form. 'nia' is also the 3rd-person pronoun (he / she / it) — disambiguate by position.

• Possibility & probability

  bele / parese / dala ruma / kala — possibility

  bele

  Tetun hedges less than English, but has a cluster of markers. 'bele' before the verb = can / may. 'parese' at the start = 'seems'. 'dala ruma' at the start of a clause = 'perhaps, sometimes'. 'kala / kal' before a number = 'approximately'.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Oinsá mak ita bele hala'o kresimentu ekonómiku hodi halo redusaun pobreza iha Timor-Leste?How can we get economic growth and reduce poverty in Timor-Leste?
• Mina rai bele sai bénsaun ba nasaun, maibé bele mós sai malisan.Petroleum can be a blessing to a nation, but can also become a curse.
• Sira debate kona ba mina Timor rame loos.They debated vigorously about Timor's oil.
• Nasaun Timor-leste prodús kafé kualidade di'ak.The nation of Timor-Leste produces good quality coffee.
• Governu halo planu atu dada kadoras mina nian mai Timor.The government plans to bring the oil pipeline to Timor.
• Nasaun seluk la bele lori sira nia lei mai aplika iha Timor.Other nations can't take their laws here and apply them in Timor.