I'll go and check where there is a vacancy, and then let you know. in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• 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.

• 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

• Ita bá deskansa iha ai-mahon depois ita kontinua fali la'o.Let’s go and take rest under the shade of the tree, then we will continue walking.
• Mestre ho mestra sira nia devér mak lori estudante atu hatene saida mak sira seidauk hatene.It is the duty of teachers to help their students to know things that they don’t yet know.
• Ita halo funu durante 24 anus, la'ós insusesu de'it, susesu mós iha.During those 24 years that we fought, there weren't just failures, there were also successes.
• Semana liu ba udan boot. To'o agora bee nalihun iha uma oin, halo susuk barak tan de'it.Last week there was heavy rain. Even now there is water pooled in front of the house, leading to an increase in mosquitoes.
• Ferik balu dehan, se sukaer musan kona, entaun foti batar kose hadulas dala hitu. Depois tuku rahun tiha batar ne'e, se lae, hodi batar ne'e soe tiha ba fahi han.Some older women say, if you have swollen glands, then you should take a (cob of) corn and swirl it around the gland seven times. Then smash the corn, or else throw it to the pigs to eat.
• Mai ita bá hananu.Let's sing.