The government has warned the people to not allow their animals loose in the city. in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• Permission

  husik / hataan / foo — permission verbs

  husik

  Three 'let / allow' verbs. 'husik' = leave, let, allow, abandon; 'husik hela' = leave behind. 'hataan' = agree, permit formally. 'foo' = let, give — also heads compound verbs like 'foo haan' (feed), 'foo hatene ba' (inform).

• Negation

  la — 'not' (general negation)

  la

  Placed before verbs and adjectives to negate them. For contrastive 'not X but Y' use 'laós'; for 'not yet' use 'seidauk'; for 'no longer' wrap 'la ... ona' around the verb.

• 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

• Kuandu ema hala'o edukasaun sívika, sira hanorin povu kona ba lia polítiku nian, no mós kona ba direitu no responsabilidade reinu nian, atu foti povu nia konsiénsia polítiku.When people conduct civic education, they teach the people about political affairs, and also about the rights and responsibilities of the people, to raise their political awareness.
• Ema boot servisu iha parlamentu, balu han matak povu nia osan.Some senior people who work in the parliament swindle the people of their money.
• Tuir sistema governu demokrasia, povu hili sira nia reprezentante atu ukun sira.According to the democratic system of government, the people choose their representatives to rule them.
• Bainhira povu hili governu tuir prosesu ne'ebé la'o ho loos tuir lei, governu ne'e lejítimu.When the people choose a government according to a process that is run properly in accordance with the law, this government is legitimate.
• Waiñira ema tanis nia matan been sai.When people cry their tears flow.
• Ema barak hatudu nia talentu iha palku leten.Many people showed their talents on the stage.