The government will negotiate with the martial arts groups about how to create statutes catering for them. 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'.

• 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

• Governu sei hatuun dekretu lei hodi regulariza arte marsiais iha rai laran.The government will bring out a decree law to regulate martial arts in this country.
• Haas iha toos lar tasak hotu ona, ami atu bá kait.The mangoes on the farm are all ripe, we’re about to go and hook them (to pick them).
• Governu mak selu kombustivel ba kareta estadu nian.It is the government that pays for fuel for government vehicles.
• Ami sei kordena ho amu pároku kona ba uza salaun parokiál nian.We will coordinate with parish priest about using the parish hall.
• Polísia militár kumpre regras ne'ebé governu fó sai bá sira.The military police obey the rules set for them by the government.
• Sira sei halo kordenasaun ho sira nia xefe depois mak fó desizaun.They will coordinate with their boss, then they will make a decision.