I bought a present for my friend who is going to get married next week. in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• Aspect markers

  sei — 'will' or 'still'

  sei

  Tetun has no verb conjugation. Aspect and tense are marked by particles. 'sei' sits immediately before the verb — marking a definite future ('will') or a continuative ('still'). Combine with 'hela' after the verb for ongoing action. Negation is 'sei la' = 'will not'.

• 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'.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Ha'u espera katak tinan oin ami bele kaben.I hope that next year we can get married.
• Semana oin ami iha klínika movel iha Hatobuilico.Next week we have a mobile clinic in Hatobuilico.
• Ita bá Same agora, araska, tanba dalan kotu.It’s hard to get to Same at present, as the road is cut.
• Ha'u haksolok tebes hetan prezente furak hosi kolega.I was really happy on receiving a beautiful present from my friend.
• Semana liu ba ha'u nia kolega foti ain hosi Timor ba Irlándia buka serbisu.Last week my friend set out from Timor for Ireland to look for work.
• Lonia fó konvite ba nia xefe sira atu asiste nia kazamentu iha semana oin.Lonia gave invitations to her bosses to attend her wedding next week.