Your petrol tank has a hole in it. Perhaps that's why petrol keeps leaking out. 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'.

• Conditionals

  se / karik — conditionals

  karik

  'se' opens a definite conditional ('if X, then Y'). 'karik' sits at the end of a clause and hedges it ('perhaps'); it can also mark an uncertain conditional.

• 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

• Tiu ohin fakar sai bee iha tanke ba li'ur tanba fatin tanke fo'er.Uncle has just poured out the water from the tank because the tank is dirty.
• Motór nia mina maran ona, presiza bá enxe iha pertamina.The motorbike has run out of petrol, and needs to be filled up at the petrol station.
• Di'ak ida nia mai, di'ak ida la mai.Perhaps he'll come, perhaps he won't.
• Defeza ne'e tebe bola aut beibeik.The defence keeps kicking the ball out.
• Ita la'o kalan, kuidadu rama ambon.If you go out at night, watch out for metal darts.
• Kuandu tanke sentina nakonu, haruka ema mai supa sai.When the septic tank is full, get someone to pump it out.