The teacher asked that whoever knew the answer to the question raise their hands. in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• 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

• Sira sempre manifesta sira nia fidelidade ba sira nia lider.They always demonstrate their faithfulness to their leader.
• Nu'udar mestre ha'u hakarak fasilita ha'u nia estudante hotu atu atinji sira nia potensiál.As a teacher I want to enable all my students to reach their potential.
• Alin feto sira baku baba-dook hodi fó benvindu ba prezidente ba sira nia eskola.The young girls beat their drums to welcome the president to their school.
• Iha kampaña eleitorál, kandidatu sira uza apoiu partidáriu hodi hatudu sira nia kbiit.Throughout the electoral campaign, the candidates use the support of their parties to show their power.
• 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.
• Nia husu kona ba eskola.He asked about school.