If we plant cassava in black soil, it produces very good tubers. in Tetun
Se ita kuda ai-fariña iha rai metan, nia isin di'ak loos.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
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.
Intensifiers
Intensifiers (loos, tebes, demais, laduun)
loosPosition matters. 'loos' / 'tebes' / 'demais' follow the adjective ('barak loos' = very many). 'laduun' PRECEDES the adjective ('laduun diak' = not very good). 'liu tan' = even more.
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.
More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.
Translate your own text with the free English ↔ Tetun translator or look up individual words in the Tetun dictionary.
Related phrases
- Dose bolus ne'e mamar loos, ita han mós gostu loos.This cake is very soft and taste good.
- Nasaun Timor-leste prodús kafé kualidade di'ak.The nation of Timor-Leste produces good quality coffee.
- Timor Telecom nia rede iha distritu ladún di'ak.Timor Telecom’s network in the districts is not very good.
- Bainhira ita kuda ai-horis iha ne'e buras loos tanba rai bokur.When we plant crops here they thrive, because the soil is fertile.
- Nia tau faru risku-risku maibé saia funan-funan, haree ba la di'ak!She's wearing a striped top but a flowery skirt. It doesn't look very good!
- Ami hotu aprende lalais tanba mestra nia métodu hanorin di'ak teb-tebes.We are all learning fast because the teacher has very good teaching methods.