Petroleum can be a blessing to a nation, but can also become a curse. in Tetun
Mina rai bele sai bénsaun ba nasaun, maibé bele mós sai malisan.
English → Tetun phrasebook
Grammar in this phrase
Possibility & probability
bele / parese / dala ruma / kala — possibility
beleTetun 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.
Translate your own text with the free English ↔ Tetun translator or look up individual words in the Tetun dictionary.
Related phrases
- Oinsá mak Timor bele hamenus nasaun nia dependénsia ba mina?How can Timor reduce the nation's dependence on oil?
- Ami rasik la bele ajuda ita, maibé ami bele husu ajuda ba ema seluk.We ourselves can’t help you, but we can ask for help from someone else.
- Nasaun ne'e la iha sensura. Leitór sira bele post komentáriu saida de'it.This nation doesn't have censorship. Readers can post any comments at all.
- Ha'u nia matan hateke dook la moos, maibé se ha'u uza okulu haree moos loos.I can’t see clearly in the distance. But if I put a glasses, I can see clearly.
- 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.
- Sai pianista, aleinde atu espresa ha'u nia talentu, bele mós sai profisaun ida ne'ebé fó benefísiu ekonomia mai ha'u.Becoming a pianist, apart from expressing my talents, also could become a profession which brings me economic benefits.