Photography

1. Inap mi kisim piksa bilong yu?

   Can I take a photo of you?

   Usage

   Asking permission before taking someone's photo

   Grammar Note

   "Inap" from "enough" signals ability or permission: "is it OK for me to."

2. Kisim piksa bilong mipela, plis

   Please take a photo of us

   Usage

   Asking someone to take a group photo

   Grammar Note

   "Mipela" from "me fellow" is the exclusive first-person plural pronoun — "we" not including the listener.

3. Dispela gaden em i naispela ples bilong kisim piksa

   This garden is a beautiful place to take photos

   Usage

   Recommending a spot for taking photos

   Grammar Note

   "Ples" from "place" means a place or location, and also a hometown or village.

4. Baterai bilong kamera i dai pinis

   The camera battery is dead

   Usage

   Reporting that the camera battery has run out

   Grammar Note

   "Dai" = die, used for dead batteries too. "Pinis" marks completion. "Dai pinis" = completely stopped/dead.

5. Mi laik printim dispela piksa long pepa

   I want to print this photo on paper

   Usage

   Saying you want to print a photo

   Grammar Note

   "Printim" is "print" plus the transitive suffix -im, meaning to print (as in the Remote Work category). "Long pepa" means on paper. "Raitim" means to write and is not used for printing.

6. Laip bilong yu i kamap gut long dispela piksa

   You look great in this photo

   Usage

   Complimenting someone on how they look in a photo

   Grammar Note

   "Laip" from "life" extends to appearance or demeanor. "Kamap gut" = looks good / came out well.

7. Inap mi salim dispela piksa i go long fon bilong yu?

   Can I transfer this photo to your phone?

   Usage

   Asking if you can send a photo to someone's phone

   Grammar Note

   "Salim ... i go long" (from "send him") means to send something to. It is the same pattern as in the Post Office category. "Senisim" means to change/exchange, so it is not used for sending.

8. Laip bilong bikbus em i nais long piksa

   The jungle scenery looks great in photos

   Usage

   Saying that the jungle looks beautiful in photographs

   Grammar Note

   "Bikbus" = big bush = jungle/forest. "Nais" from "nice" functions as a positive adjective.

9. Nogut kisim piksa long haus lotu

   Do not take photos inside the church

   Usage

   Warning that photography is not allowed inside the church

   Grammar Note

   "Nogut" = no good, used to express prohibition or warning. "Haus lotu" = house of worship/church.

10. Dispela san i mekim laip bilong ples i kamap naispela

    This sunlight makes the scenery very beautiful

    Usage

    Commenting on sunlight enhancing the beauty of scenery for photography

    Grammar Note

    "Mekim" from "make him" is a general transitive verb meaning to make or cause something.

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