| se el | conj. | when (in the future); whenever. |
| se el sekum | conj. | if (used in negative sentences). |
| sel | cont. | se el |
| er se er a | expr. | when (in the past). |
| er se er a Sebadong | expr. | last Saturday. |
| er se er a taem er a mekemad | expr. | during the war. |
| er sei | expr. | over there; in that place. |
| mekera isei | expr. | [used to refer to a method of doing something that the speaker has forgotten.] |
| ngera isei | expr. | thingamajig; thingamabob; whatchamacallit. [used to refer to something whose name the speaker has forgotten.] |
| se di kau | expr. | it's up to you. |
| se el soam | expr. | whatever you want; it's up to you. |
| se el tebel | expr. | that table (over there). |
| se er a | expr. | conj. when (in the past). |
| techa isei | expr. | what's-his-name; what's-her-name. [Used to refer to someone whose name the speaker has forgotten.] |
| tela isei | expr. | [used to refer to a number that the speaker has forgotten.] |
Examples: |
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> Stop continuing like that. |
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> The words of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was still imprisoned in the palace courtyard. |
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> That family is well-known to have resources in betel nut. |
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> the bad sewer water that came out on Wednesday and Thursday of last week |
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> Put the cup on the table; John was putting the cup on the table (just now, recently); John put the cup on the table (yesterday, a week ago, etc.). |
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Proverbs: |
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> When my eyes are closed. When one dies the eyes are "closed"; hence, to be dead. The term for "death" is mad as is the term for "eye," (mad; madak: "my eye"). Some sources suggest that the term for death refers to the closed eyes of a dead person. |
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More Examples: |
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> My kids are so unruly sometimes. |
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> I think there should be a curfew on land and have flights only come in during the day like before. |
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> |
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> When the sun sets slowly. |
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> Portions of this building can no longer be safely accessed, notably on the second floor. |
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