We need to mix sawdust and glue, so we can use the mixture to cover the join in the wood which is still loose. 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'.

• 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

• La bele han ai-fuan ne'e lai, tanba sei tara hela horok. Aban liurai sei hasai horok mak bele han.You can't eat the fruit yet, because it is still under the horok taboo. You can only eat the fruit once the king removes the horok.
• Uza baliu ne'e hodi fera ai.Use this axe to split wood.
• Oan, lolo masin mai ha'u atu ha'u bele uza.Son, hand me the salt so I can use it.
• António uza goma atu lem nia surat tahan iha parede.António used glue to glue his paper to the wall.
• Ita tenke matan moris neon na'in para ema la bele manipula ita.We need to be alert, so people can’t manipulate us.
• Ami uza kareta ne'e ba ami nia an.We use this car for ourselves (i.e. for private use).