The government is not responsible for whether this report is true or not. 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'.

• Intensifiers

  Intensifiers (loos, tebes, demais, laduun)

  loos

  Position matters. 'loos' / 'tebes' / 'demais' follow the adjective ('barak loos' = very many). 'laduun' PRECEDES the adjective ('laduun diak' = not very good). 'liu tan' = even more.

• 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.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Governu mak selu kombustivel ba kareta estadu nian.It is the government that pays for fuel for government vehicles.
• 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.
• Iha eleisaun, observadór sira buka, halibur no tetu informasaun atu halo relatóriu hodi fó hatene katak eleisaun ne'e la'o loos ka la loos.In elections, the observers search for, collate and weigh up information in order to make a report to inform whether the election ran correctly.
• Organizasaun ne'e sempre kontra governu.This organization always opposes the government.
• Kareta ne'e ha'u nian privadu, la'ós estadu nian.This car is my private car, not a government one.
• Doadór presiza relatóriu gastus ba tinan 2018.The donor requires a report of expenditure in 2018.