If no one candidate wins in the first round of a presidential election, then the two with the most votes continue on to the second round. 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'.

• Comparison

  liu — comparison 'more / most'

  liu

  Tetun comparison uses 'X liu Y' not 'mais X' — the adjective stays put and 'liu' follows. With a focus 'mak' it becomes superlative. Avoid Portuguese-style 'melhor' or 'mais boot'.

• Conditionals

  se / karik — conditionals

  se

  'se' opens a definite conditional ('if X, then Y'). 'karik' sits at the end of a clause and hedges it ('perhaps'); it can also mark an uncertain conditional.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• La iha kandidatu ida manán absoluta iha primeira ronda eleisaun prezidensiál nian, nune'e sei iha segunda ronda iha fulan Maiu.No candidate won an absolute majority in the first round of the presidential elections, so there will be a second round of elections in May.
• Kandidatu primeiru hetan votus hamutuk 127,342, koresponde ho 31%.The first candidate received a total of 127,342 votes, which equates to 31% (of the votes).
• Ha'u tenke te'in lai. Depois mak ita na'in rua bá pasiar.I have to cook first. Only then can the two of us go out.
• Nia kaben tiha ida, bá kait fali ida seluk. To'o ikus feto na'in rua baku malu tanba nia!He'd already married one, then went and too another as his mistress. In the end the two women fought because of him!
• Prosesu sorteiu ba eleisaun prezidensiál define kandidatu ne'ebé mak primeiru iha boletín du votu.The candidate whose name appears first on the ballot paper for the presidential elections is determined by drawing lots.
• Toni siku uluk ha'u mak ha'u baku nia.Toni elbowed me first, and only then did I hit him.