We'll go when it's daytime. While it's still night like this, there are lots of bad things around. in Tetun

Grammar in this phrase

• Aspect markers

  hela — 'currently' or 'reside'

  hela

  After a verb, 'hela' marks continuous aspect ('is ...-ing'). As a standalone verb it means 'live, reside'. Often paired with 'sei' for 'is still ...-ing'.

• 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'.

More patterns like these in the Tetun grammar guide.

Related phrases

• Haree ba leten, kalohan mutin barak loos.Look up, there are lots of white clouds.
• Ha'u gosta hili buat ne'ebé fasil mai ha'u hodi aprende.I like choosing things that are easy for me to learn.
• Nu'udar ema foin-sa'e, ha'u gosta duni aprende buat barak.As a young person, I really like to learn many things.
• Ha'u la gosta du'ut ne'e, tanba iha tarak barak.I don’t like this grass/shrub, as it has lots of thorns.
• Ó ne'e mane, tenke hatudu ó nia hahalok nu'udar mane, la bele hanesan fali feto.You’re a man, and should act like a man, not like a woman.
• Ha'u la gosta gasta tempu ba fali halo buat ruma ne'ebé la iha valór.I don’t like wasting time on doing things that have no value.