If you keep not passing exams, the university will expel you! 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'.

• 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

• Dosente sei koriji ita nia ezame semana ida ne'e.The lecturer will correct our exams this week.
• Oras ida mestra Portugés fó ezame orál ho mós eskrita.Later the Portuguese teacher will give oral and written exams.
• Sira sei halo kordenasaun ho sira nia xefe depois mak fó desizaun.They will coordinate with their boss, then they will make a decision.
• Estudante ne'ebé nia notas la tuir kritéria universidade nian, sei hetan DO.Students whose marks don't need the criteria of the university will be expelled.
• Kareta platina hanesan ne'e, se ó obriga nafatin, orsida sinta embreajen mohu!If the car keeps spinning its wheel, if you keep forcing it, the clutch will wear out!
• Ita sei liu iha imigrasaun hodi revista ita nia sasán hotu mak foin ita bele sai ba li'ur.We will go through immigration where they will inspect our goods before we can go outside.