The president added that he will strive to resolve this issue. 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'.

• Possession

  nia / nian — possession

  nia

  'nia' goes BEFORE the thing possessed; 'nian' goes AFTER. Both function the same way; position decides which form. 'nia' is also the 3rd-person pronoun (he / she / it) — disambiguate by position.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Sira sei halo kordenasaun ho sira nia xefe depois mak fó desizaun.They will coordinate with their boss, then they will make a decision.
• Ita sei liu iha imigrasaun hodi revista ita nia sasán hotu mak foin ita bele sai ba li'ur.We will go through immigration where they will inspect our goods before we can go outside.
• Prezidente da Repúblika seidauk fó hatene, nia atu promulga ka veto lei ne'e.The President of the Republic has not yet announced whether he will promulgate or veto this law.
• Tribunál sei notifika sasin Bendito atu mai marka prezensa iha julgamentu judisiál ne'ebé sei hala'o iha loron 6 Marsu.The court will notify the witness Bendito that he has to be present at the trial which will take place on the 6th of March.
• Aban ha'u sei mai fali.Tomorrow I will come back.
• Ó hakarak saida de'it, apá fó.Whatever you want, Dad will give.