New land has to be broken up roughly first before it can be ploughed. 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'.

• Possibility & probability

  bele / parese / dala ruma / kala — possibility

  bele

  Tetun hedges less than English, but has a cluster of markers. 'bele' before the verb = can / may. 'parese' at the start = 'seems'. 'dala ruma' at the start of a clause = 'perhaps, sometimes'. 'kala / kal' before a number = 'approximately'.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Ita bá oin la bele ona, muda ba marxa atrás para bá kotuk lai.We can't go forward any more, put (the car) into reverse so we can go backwards first.
• 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.
• Habosok labarik toba tiha lai mak ó han.Distract the child into sleeping first, and then you can eat.
• Selín motór nian aat ona, ita tuur la di'ak.The motorbike saddle has broken, you can’t sit on it properly.
• Ha'u sei bá kaza dé banhu lai, depois mak ita la'o hamutuk.I will go to the bathroom first, then we can go walking together.
• Labarik sira iha primeiru anu hatene ona hakerek letra Á to'o Z.The children in first grade can already write the letters A to Z.