I have a sow, and ask for my friend's boar so that we can mate them. in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• 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.

• Aspect markers

  lai — 'first' / polite request

  lai

  After the verb or object, 'lai' means 'first, for a moment' — often softens a request by implying the action won't last long.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Ami rasik la bele ajuda ita, maibé ami bele husu ajuda ba ema seluk.We ourselves can’t help you, but we can ask for help from someone else.
• Sira na'in rua konslet hela, la bele bolu mai tuur hamutuk.The two of them are aren't talking, you can't call them to sit together.
• Haas huun boot ne'e nia fuan barak mangál ona, ita bele ku'u hodi han.This large mango tree has lots of nearly-ripe fruit. We can pick them and eat them.
• Ha'u espera katak ha'u bele hasoru fali sira iha kondisaun ne'ebé saudavel.I hope I can again meet them in good health.
• Hahán feitu ona, haruka sira mai han de'it.The food is ready. Just ask them to come and eat.
• Karik labarik han rebusadu barak, bele halo nia nehan kuak tiha.If children eat a lot of lollies, this can give them cavities.