Editing Tetum language (section)

=== Morphology ===

==== Personal pronouns ====
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! colspan="2" | 
! Singular
! Plural
|-
! rowspan="2" | 1st person
! exclusive
| rowspan="2" | {{Lang|tet|Ha'u(-nia)}}
| {{Lang|tet|Ami(-nia)}}
|-
! inclusive
| {{Lang|tet|Ita(-nia)}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2nd person
! familiar
| {{Lang|tet|O(-nia)}}
| {{Lang|tet|Imi(-nia)}}
|-
! polite
| {{Lang|tet|Ita(-nia)}}
| {{Lang|tet|Ita boot sira(-nia)}}
|-
! colspan="2" | 3rd person
| {{Lang|tet|Nia (ninia)}}
| {{Lang|tet|Sira(-nia)}}
|}

<ref name="Williams-van Klinken 2002">{{Cite book |url=http://sealang.net/archives/pl/pdf/PL-528.pdf |title=Tetun Dili: A grammar of an East Timorese language |last1=Williams-van Klinken |first1=Catharina |last2=Hajek |first2=John |last3=Nordlinger |first3=Rachel |date=2002 |publisher=Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University |isbn=0858835096 |location=Canberra |doi=10.15144/pl-528 |hdl=1885/146149 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>

{{interlinear|number=(1)
|Hau rona asu hatenu
|1S hear dog barking
|"I hear the dog barking"|lang=tet}}

{{interlinear|number=(2)
|Nia sosa sigaru
|3S buys cigarettes
|"He/She buys cigarettes"|lang=tet}}

{{interlinear|number=(3)
|Ita rona rádiu?
|1PL hearing radio
|"Are we hearing a radio?"|lang=tet}}

{{interlinear
| number = (4)|Sira moris hotu ka?|3PL alive all ?|"Are they all alive?"
| lang = tet
}}

A common occurrence is to use titles such as {{Lang|tet|Senhora}} for a woman or names rather than pronouns when addressing people.

{{interlinear|number=(1)
|Senhora mai hori bain-hira?
|Mrs come PAST when
|"When did you arrive?"<ref name="Williams-van Klinken 2002" />|lang=tet}}

The second person singular pronoun {{Lang|tet|Ó}} is used generally with children, friends or family, while with strangers or people of higher social status, {{Lang|tet|Ita}} or {{Lang|tet|Ita boot}} is used.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Williams-van Klinken |first1=Catharina |last2=Hajek |first2=John |date=2006 |title=Patterns of address in Dili Tetum, East Timor |url=https://benjamins.com/catalog/aral.29.2.06wil/fulltext |journal=Australian Review of Applied Linguistics |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=21.1–21.18 |doi=10.2104/aral0621|doi-access=free }}</ref>

{{interlinear|number=(1)
|Nina, Ó iha nebee?
|Nina 2S.FAM LOC where
|"Nina, where are you?"|lang=tet}}

==== Nouns and pronouns ====

===== Plural =====

The plural is not normally marked on nouns, but the word {{Lang|tet|sira}} 'they' can express it when necessary.

:{{Lang|tet|feto}} 'woman/women' → {{Lang|tet|feto sira}} 'women'

However, the plural ending ''-s'' of nouns of Portuguese origin is sometimes retained.

:{{Lang|tet|Estadus Unidus}} – United States (from {{Lang|ms|Estados Unidos}})
:{{Lang|tet|Nasoens Unidas}} – United Nations (from {{Lang|ms|Nações Unidas}})

===== Definiteness =====

Tetum has an optional indefinite [[Article (grammar)|article]] {{Lang|tet|ida}} ('one'), used after nouns:

:{{Lang|tet|labarik ida}} – a child

There is no definite article, but the [[demonstrative]]s {{Lang|tet|ida-ne'e}} ('this one') and {{Lang|tet|ida-ne'ebá}} ('that one') may be used to express definiteness:

:{{Lang|tet|labarik ida-ne'e}} – this child, the child
:{{Lang|tet|labarik ida-ne'ebá}} – that child, the child

In the plural, {{Lang|tet|sira-ne'e}} ('these') or {{Lang|tet|sira-ne'ebá}} ('those') are used:

:{{Lang|tet|labarik sira-ne'e}} – these children, the children
:{{Lang|tet|labarik sira-ne'ebá}} – those children, the children

===== Possessive/genitive =====

The particle {{Lang|tet|nia}} forms the inalienable possessive, and can be used in a similar way to '''s'' in English, e.g.:

:{{Lang|tet|João nia uma}} – 'João's house'
:{{Lang|tet|Cristina nia livru}} – 'Cristina's book'

When the possessor is postposed, representing alienable possession, {{Lang|tet|nia}} becomes {{Lang|tet|nian}}:

:{{Lang|tet|povu Timór Lorosa'e nian}} – the people of East Timor

===== Inclusive and exclusive ''we'' =====

Like other Austronesian languages, Tetum has two forms of ''we'', {{Lang|tet|ami}} (equivalent to Malay {{Lang|ms|kami}}) which is exclusive, e.g. "I and they", and {{Lang|tet|ita}} (equivalent to Malay {{Lang|ms|kita}}), which is [[Clusivity|inclusive]], e.g. "you, I, and they".

:{{Lang|tet|ami-nia karreta}} – 'our [family's] car'
:{{Lang|tet|ita-nia rain}} – 'our country'

===== Nominalization =====

Nouns derived from verbs or adjectives are usually formed with [[affix]]es, for example the [[suffix]] ''-na'in'', similar to "-er" in English.

:{{Lang|tet|hakerek}}  'write' → {{Lang|tet|hakerek-na'in}} 'writer'

The suffix ''-na'in'' can also be used with nouns, in the sense of 'owner'.

:{{Lang|tet|uma}}  'house' → {{Lang|tet|uma-na'in}} 'householder'
In more traditional forms of Tetum,  the [[circumfix]] ''ma(k)- -k'' is used instead of ''-na'in''. For example, the nouns 'sinner' or 'wrongdoer' can be derived from the word {{Lang|tet|sala}} as either {{Lang|tet|maksalak}}, or {{Lang|tet|sala-na'in}}. Only the [[prefix]] ''ma(k)-'' is used when the root word ends with a consonant; for example, the noun 'cook' or 'chef' can be derived from the word {{Lang|tet|te'in}} as {{Lang|tet|makte'in}} as well as {{Lang|tet|te'in-na'in}}.

The suffix ''-teen'' (from the word for 'dirt' or 'excrement') can be used with adjectives to form derogatory terms:

:{{Lang|tet|bosok}} 'false' → {{Lang|tet|bosok-teen}} 'liar'

==== Adjectives ====

===== Derivation from nouns =====

To turn a noun into a nominalised adjective, the word {{Lang|tet|oan}} ('person, child, associated object') is added to it.

:{{Lang|tet|malae}} 'foreigner' → {{Lang|tet|malae-oan}} 'foreign'

Thus, 'Timorese person' is {{Lang|tet|Timor-oan}}, as opposed to the country of Timor, {{Lang|tet|rai-Timor}}.

To form adjectives and actor nouns from verbs, the suffix ''-dór'' (derived from Portuguese) can be added:

:{{Lang|tet|hateten}} 'tell' → {{Lang|tet|hatetendór}} 'talkative'

===== Gender =====

Tetum does not have separate masculine and feminine gender, hence {{Lang|tet|nia}} (similar to {{Lang|ms|ia}}/{{Lang|ms|dia}}/{{Lang|ms|nya}} in Malay) can mean either 'he', 'she' or 'it'.

Different forms for the genders only occur in Portuguese-derived adjectives, hence {{Lang|tet|obrigadu}} ('thank you') is used by men, and {{Lang|tet|obrigada}} by women. The masculine and feminine forms of other adjectives derived from Portuguese are sometimes used with Portuguese loanwords, particularly by Portuguese-educated speakers of Tetum.

:{{Lang|tet|governu demokrátiku}} – 'democratic government' (from {{Lang|pt|governo democrático}}, masculine)
:{{Lang|tet|nasaun demokrátika}} – 'democratic nation' (from {{Lang|pt|nação democrática}}, feminine)

In some instances, the different gender forms have distinct translations into English:

:{{Lang|tet|bonitu}} – 'handsome'
:{{Lang|tet|bonita}} – 'pretty'

In indigenous Tetum words, the suffixes {{Lang|ms|-mane}} ('male') and {{Lang|ms|-feto}} ('female') are sometimes used to differentiate between the genders:

:{{Lang|tet|oan-mane}} 'son' → {{Lang|tet|oan-feto}} 'daughter'

===== Comparatives and superlatives =====

Superlatives can be formed from adjectives by [[reduplication]]:

:{{Lang|tet|barak}} 'much, many' → {{Lang|tet|babarak}} 'very much, many'
:{{Lang|tet|boot}} 'big, great' → {{Lang|tet|boboot}} 'huge, enormous'
:{{Lang|tet|di'ak}} 'good' → {{Lang|tet|didi'ak}} 'very good'
:{{Lang|tet|ikus}} 'last' → {{Lang|tet|ikuikus}} 'the very last, final'
:{{Lang|tet|moos}} 'clean, clear' → {{Lang|tet|momoos}} 'spotless, immaculate'

When making comparisons, the word {{Lang|tet|liu}} ('more') is used after the adjective, optionally followed by {{Lang|tet|duké}} ('than' from Portuguese {{Lang|pt|do que}}):

:{{Lang|tet|Maria tuan liu (duké) Ana}} — Maria is older than Ana.

To describe something as the most or least, the word {{Lang|tet|hotu}} ('all') is added:

:{{Lang|tet|Maria tuan liu hotu}} — Maria is the oldest.

==== Adverbs ====

Adverbs can be formed from adjectives or nouns by reduplication:

:{{Lang|tet|di'ak}} 'good' → {{Lang|tet|didi'ak}} 'well'
:{{Lang|tet|foun}} 'new, recent' → {{Lang|tet|foufoun}} 'newly, recently'
:{{Lang|tet|kalan}} 'night' → {{Lang|tet|kalakalan}} 'nightly'
:{{Lang|tet|lais}} 'quick' → {{Lang|tet|lailais}} 'quickly'
:{{Lang|tet|loron}} 'day' → {{Lang|tet|loroloron}} 'daily'

==== Prepositions and circumpositions ====

The most commonly used [[preposition]]s in Tetum are the verbs {{Lang|tet|iha}} ('have', 'possess', 'specific locative') and {{Lang|tet|baa/ba}} ('go', 'to', 'for'). Most prepostional concepts of English are expressed by nominal phrases formed by using {{Lang|tet|iha}}, the object and the position (expressed by a noun),optionally with the possessive {{Lang|tet|nia}}.

:{{Lang|tet|iha uma (nia) '''laran'''}} — ' ''inside'' the house'
:{{Lang|tet|iha foho (nia) '''tutun'''}} — ' ''on top of'' the mountain'
:{{Lang|tet|iha meza '''leten'''}} — ' ''on'' the table'
:{{Lang|tet|iha kadeira '''okos'''}} — ' ''under'' the chair'
:{{Lang|tet|iha rai '''li'ur'''}} — ' ''outside'' the country'
:{{Lang|tet|iha ema (nia) '''leet'''}} — ' ''between'' the people'

==== Verbs ====

===== Copula and negation =====

There is no [[Copula (linguistics)|verb ''to be'']] as such, but the word {{Lang|tet|la'ós}}, which translates as 'not to be', is used for negation:

:{{Lang|tet|Timor-oan sira la'ós Indonézia-oan.}} — 'The Timorese are not Indonesians.'

The word {{Lang|tet|maka}}, which roughly translates as 'who is' or 'what is', can be used with fronted phrases for focusing/ emphasis:

:{{Lang|tet|João maka gosta serveja.}} — 'It's John who likes beer.'

===== Interrogation =====

The [[Grammatical polarity|interrogative]] is formed by using the words {{Lang|tet|ka}} ('or') or {{Lang|tet|ka lae}} ('or not').

:{{Lang|tet|O bulak ka?}} — 'Are you crazy?'
:{{Lang|tet|O gosta ha'u ka lae?}} — 'Do you like me?'

===== Derivation from nouns and adjectives =====

[[Transitive verb]]s are formed by adding the prefix ''ha-'' or ''hak-'' to a noun or adjective:

:{{Lang|tet|been}} 'liquid' → {{Lang|tet|habeen}} 'to liquify, to melt'
:{{Lang|tet|bulak}} 'mad' → {{Lang|tet|habulak}} 'to drive mad'
:{{Lang|tet|klibur}} 'union' → {{Lang|tet|haklibur}} 'to unite'
:{{Lang|tet|mahon}} 'shade' → {{Lang|tet|hamahon}} 'to shade, to cover'
:{{Lang|tet|manas}} 'hot' → {{Lang|tet|hamanas}} 'to heat up'

[[Intransitive verb]]s are formed by adding the prefix ''na-'' or ''nak-'' to a noun or adjective:

:{{Lang|tet|nabeen}} — '(to be) liquified, melted'
:{{Lang|tet|nabulak}} — '(to be) driven mad'
:{{Lang|tet|naklibur}} — '(to be) united'
:{{Lang|tet|namahon}} — '(to be) shaded, covered'
:{{Lang|tet|namanas}} — '(to become) heated up'

===== Conjugations and [[inflection]]s (in Tetun-Terik) =====

In {{Lang|tet|Tetun-Terik}}, verbs inflect when they begin with a vowel or consonant h. In this case [[consonant mutation|mutation]] of the first consonant occurs. For example, the verb {{Lang|tet|haree}} ('see') in {{Lang|tet|Tetun-Terik}} would be [[Grammatical conjugation|conjugated]] as follows:

:{{Lang|tet|ha'u '''k'''aree}} —  'I see'
:{{Lang|tet|ó  '''m'''aree}} — 'you (sing.) see'
:{{Lang|tet|nia '''n'''aree}} — 'he/she/it sees'
:{{Lang|tet|ami '''h'''aree}} — 'we see'
:{{Lang|tet|imi '''h'''aree}} — 'you (pl.) see'
:{{Lang|tet|sira '''r'''aree}} — 'they see'