These fundamental principles will guide the state in its social policies. 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.
• Se ita la tesi haas huun ne'e, nia abut sei estraga ita nia uma.If we don’t cut down this mango tree, its roots will damage our house.
• Kareta platina hanesan ne'e, se ó obriga nafatin, orsida sinta embreajen mohu!If the car keeps spinning its wheel, if you keep forcing it, the clutch will wear out!
• 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.
• 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.
• UNTL sei hala'o graduasaun iha 14 Dezembru bazeia ba despaxu reitór.The National University of East Timor will hold its graduation on the 14th of December, based on a written ruling by the rector.