te - past tense indicator.
Mwen konprann. → I understand.
Mwen te konprann → I understood.
Mwen la. → I'm here
Mwen te la. → I was here.
Li manje. → He eats.
Li te manje. → He ate.
Kay la bèl. → The house is beautiful.
Kay la te bèl. → The house was beautiful.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Hello! I saw this sentence "Sierra found it - Sierra te jwenn li - What is "te" and why is it there?
Hello! I saw this sentence "Sierra found it - Sierra te jwenn li - What is "te" and why is it there?
te - past tense indicator.
Mwen konprann. → I understand.
Mwen te konprann → I understood.
Mwen la. → I'm here
Mwen te la. → I was here.
Li manje. → He eats.
Li te manje. → He ate.
Kay la bèl. → The house is beautiful.
Kay la te bèl. → The house was beautiful.
Grammar - Using "pa" for possessive pronouns
Yes, "pa" indicates the negative in Haitian Creole.
But, the word "pa" also have other definitions/roles in Creole.
But, the word "pa" also have other definitions/roles in Creole.
And one of them is to indicate the possessive pronouns.
Mine
Pa mwen (uncontracted)
Pa m (contracted)
Yours
Pa ou (uncontracted)
Pa w (contracted)
His/hers
Pa li (uncontracted)
Pa l (contracted)
Ours
Pa nou (uncontracted)
Pa n (contracted)
Theirs
Pa yo
Examples:
1. This is mine.
Sa se pa mwen.
or
Sa se pa m.
2. The house is yours.
Kay la se pa ou.
or
Kay la se pa ou.
or
Kay la se pa w.
3. This is yours.
Sa se pa ou an*.
or
Sa se pa ou an*.
or
Sa se pa w la*.
* Sometimes you'll see a definite article after the possessive pronoun.
The definite articles will follow a set of rules. See #3 & #4, the sentences are the same, except that one has a contracted pronoun and the other one does not. The Creole definite article will change according to the word it follows.
4. This is mine.
Sa se pa mwen an*.
Sa se pa m nan*.
5. This is not mine.
Sa se pa pa mwen an.
Sa se pa pa mwen an.
Sa se pa pa m nan*.
In example #5, see how the first "pa" indicates the negative, and the second "pa" does not.
6. This is my own food.
Sa se manje pa mwen an.
Sa se manje pa mwen an.
Sa se manje pa'm nan.
7. Don't sit here. This is my own chair.
Pa chita la. Sa se chèz pa mwen.
Pa chita la. Sa se chèz pa m.
8. Are these your kids?
Eske sa yo se timoun pa ou yo?
Eske sa yo se timoun pa w yo?
Mine Yours and Ours- possessive pronouns
possessive pronouns 2
possesive pronouns 3
The following is FYI only:
FYI: Other translations/definitions of "pa" in Haitian Creole.
pa → indicates negative, as in: Mwen pa konprann. - I don't understand
pa → helps to indicate possessive, as in: Tè sa a se pa m. - This land is mine.
pa (n.) → step, as in: I will take one step every day. M'ap fè yon pa chak jou.
Mine Yours and Ours- possessive pronouns
possessive pronouns 2
possesive pronouns 3
The following is FYI only:
FYI: Other translations/definitions of "pa" in Haitian Creole.
pa → indicates negative, as in: Mwen pa konprann. - I don't understand
pa → helps to indicate possessive, as in: Tè sa a se pa m. - This land is mine.
pa (n.) → step, as in: I will take one step every day. M'ap fè yon pa chak jou.
Grammar: Demonstratives
"yo" is an indicator of the plural form.
bear with me please :)
examples:
liv la → the book (singular)
liv yo → the books (plural)
ti gason an → the little boy (singular)
ti gason yo → the little boys (plural)
kay sa → this house (singular)
kay sa yo → these houses (plural)
moun sa → this person (singular)
moun sa yo → these people (plural)
So...
Sa se kreyon mwen. → This is my pencil.
Sa yo se kreyon mwen → these are my pencils.
Sa se yon radyo. → This is a radio.
Sa yo se radyo. → These are radios.
Liv sa se pa m. → This book is mine.
Liv sa yo se pa m. → Those books are mine.
Mesye sa se frè m, → That guy is my brother.
Mesye sa yo se frè m. → Those guys are my brother.
Mwen renmen foto sa. → I like this picture.
Mwen renmen foto sa yo. → I like these pictures.
Mwen pa konprann mo sa. → I don't understand this word.
Mwen pa konprann mo sa yo. → I don't understand these words.
FYI: The word "yo" just like the other Haitian Creole pronouns can be confusing.
"Yo" is the plural definite article → as in: liv yo - the books
"yo" is the subject pronoun → as in: Yo pale - they talk
"yo" is the object pronoun → as in: Mwen renmen yo - I love them
"yo" is the possessive adjective → as in: Sa se kay yo. - This is their house.
Grammar: how vs. how come
how → kouman, kòman, kijan, ki fason, ki mannyè, pa ki mwayen, kijan subject fè
how come → kijan fè, kouman fè, kòman fè
How's the food?
Kouman manje a ye?
How are you?
Kijan ou ye?
How's your mom?
Kòman manman w ye?
How did you get here so fast?
Kijan ou fè rive vit konsa?
How did you get here so fast?
Kijan ou fè rive vit konsa?
How are you going get in the concert?
Pa ki mwayen w'ap antre na konsè a?
How are you going to get in the house without anyone seeing you?
Pa ki mwayen w'ap antre nan kay la san okenn moun pa wè w?
How do you say your name?
Ki fason yo pwononse non w?
How come you're up so early?
Kouman fè ou leve bonè konsa?
How come you're up so late?
Kijan fè ou poko dòmi?
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Grammar: The verb To give → Is it Ba, Ban, or Bay?
The verb "to give" is translated in Creole as "ba, ban, or bay"
To give → ba, ban, bay
"Ban" used before a nasally sounding pronouns MWEN & NOU.
You will say:
ban mwen → give me
ban nou → give us
ban nou (plural) → give you all
Examples:
1. Ban mwen yon ti dlo tanpri.
Ban m yon ti dlo tanpri. (even when the pronoun is contracted, continue to follow this rule)
Give me some water please.
2. Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban mwen yon kado.
Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban m yon kado. (m is contracted form of mwen)
For my birthday, Nadine gave me a gift.
3. Li ban nou lavi.
Li ban n lavi. (n is contraced form of nou)
He gives us life.
4. Ban mwen yon ti moso.
Ban m yon ti moso.
Give me a small piece.
Before the pronouns OU & YO, always use "ba"
Mwen ba ou → I give you
Do not say: Mwenbay ou.
Do not say: Mwenban ou.
Mwen ba yo → I give them.
Do not say: Mwenbay yo.
Do not say: Mwenban yo.
Examples:
1. I gave them everyhing I had.
Mwen ba yo tout sa m-te genyen.
2. Kisa mwen dwe ba ou?
Kisa mwen dwe ba w? (Expect that Creole speakers will use contractions. W is contracttion for ou)
What must I give you?
3. Nou ba yo tout manje a.
We gave them all he food.
Always use "bay" at the end of a sentence.
5. Konbyen pou m bay?
How much should I give?
6. It is not correct to say:
Konbyen pou mba?
Konbyen pou mban?
How much should I give?
(Don't use "ba" or "ban" at the end of a sentence.)
7. But, you could say:
Konbyen pou m ba ou?
How much should I give you?
Konbyen li te ban mwen?
How much did he/she give me?
Lastly, except in the above cases, you can interchangeably use "BA" or "BAY" everywhere else.
Examples:
You can say:
8. Mwen bay Jacques liv la. or
Mwen ba Jacques liv la.
I gave the book to Jacques.
9. An nou bay lanmen. or
An nou ba lanmen
Let's shake hands.
10. Nou te bay anpil liv gratis yè. or
Nou te ba anpil liv gratis yè.
We gave away a lot of free books yesterday.
In the following five sentences, use ba, ban, or bay.
11. I gave you a book.
Mwen _____ ou yon liv.
12. Give me your heart.
________ mwen kè ou.
13. I gave them what they asked for.
Mwen te ________ yo sa yo te mande a.
14. I gave blood today.
Mwen te _________ san jodi a.
15. I have no money to give.
Mwen pa gen lajan pou m _________
Answers: 11. ba 12. ban 13. ba 14. bay/ba 15. bay
To give → ba, ban, bay
"Ban" used before a nasally sounding pronouns MWEN & NOU.
You will say:
ban mwen → give me
ban nou → give us
ban nou (plural) → give you all
Examples:
1. Ban mwen yon ti dlo tanpri.
Ban m yon ti dlo tanpri. (even when the pronoun is contracted, continue to follow this rule)
Give me some water please.
2. Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban mwen yon kado.
Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban m yon kado. (m is contracted form of mwen)
For my birthday, Nadine gave me a gift.
3. Li ban nou lavi.
Li ban n lavi. (n is contraced form of nou)
He gives us life.
4. Ban mwen yon ti moso.
Ban m yon ti moso.
Give me a small piece.
Before the pronouns OU & YO, always use "ba"
Mwen ba ou → I give you
Do not say: Mwen
Do not say: Mwen
Mwen ba yo → I give them.
Do not say: Mwen
Do not say: Mwen
Examples:
1. I gave them everyhing I had.
Mwen ba yo tout sa m-te genyen.
2. Kisa mwen dwe ba ou?
Kisa mwen dwe ba w? (Expect that Creole speakers will use contractions. W is contracttion for ou)
What must I give you?
3. Nou ba yo tout manje a.
We gave them all he food.
Always use "bay" at the end of a sentence.
5. Konbyen pou m bay?
How much should I give?
6. It is not correct to say:
Konbyen pou m
Konbyen pou m
How much should I give?
(Don't use "ba" or "ban" at the end of a sentence.)
7. But, you could say:
Konbyen pou m ba ou?
How much should I give you?
Konbyen li te ban mwen?
How much did he/she give me?
Lastly, except in the above cases, you can interchangeably use "BA" or "BAY" everywhere else.
Examples:
You can say:
8. Mwen bay Jacques liv la. or
Mwen ba Jacques liv la.
I gave the book to Jacques.
9. An nou bay lanmen. or
An nou ba lanmen
Let's shake hands.
10. Nou te bay anpil liv gratis yè. or
Nou te ba anpil liv gratis yè.
We gave away a lot of free books yesterday.
In the following five sentences, use ba, ban, or bay.
11. I gave you a book.
Mwen _____ ou yon liv.
12. Give me your heart.
________ mwen kè ou.
13. I gave them what they asked for.
Mwen te ________ yo sa yo te mande a.
14. I gave blood today.
Mwen te _________ san jodi a.
15. I have no money to give.
Mwen pa gen lajan pou m _________
Answers: 11. ba 12. ban 13. ba 14. bay/ba 15. bay
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Grammar: Using Contractions in Creole.
m contraction for mwen (i, me, my)
w contraction for ou (you, your)
l contraction for li (he/her, him, his)
n contraction for nou (we, our, us)
y contraction for yo (they, their, them) (Contraction only used with subject pronoun "they")
Rule 1: When placing contractions after a word, place them only after words that end with a vowel.
Example:
Koute m. → Listen to me
Mwen konprann ou. (Instead of: Mwen konprann w) → I understand you.
Sa se manman m. (the word "manman" ends with nasal vowel "an") → This is my mother.
Sa se liv nou. (instead of: Sa se liv n) → This is our book.
Chyen an te mòde l. → The dog bit him.
Rule 2: Do not place contractions after the prepositions: sou (on), nan (in,at), and pou (for).
Example:
The coffee spilled on me.
Kafe a tonbe sou mwen.
(instead of: kafe a tonbesou m.)
This gift is for her.
Kado sa se pou li.
(instead of: Kado sa sepou l.)
Believe in me.
Kwè nan mwen.
(instead of: Kwènan m.)
Have ever seen these contractions in a sentence?
k contraction for ki (who, that)
p contraction for pa (negative marker)
t contraction for te (past tense marker)
Example:
1. Sa'k pase?
(instead of: Sa ki pase?)
What's happenning?
2. Mwen p'ap chante.
(instead of: Mwen pa ap chante.)
I will not sing.
3. Mwen t'ale wè yo.
(instead of: Mwen te ale wè yo.)
I went to see them.
Some contractions for a few Creole words:
al contraction for ale (to go)
vin contraction for vini (to come)
fin contraction for fini (to complete)
konn contraction for konnen (to know)
ka, kab contraction for kapab (to be able)
Examples of some sentences in which contractions are used. See if you can translate them. Scroll down for answers.
1. Mwen t'al wè w. Ou pa't la.
2. Ede m pote malèt la. Mwen p'ap ka pote l pou kont mwen.
3. Poukisa w'ap meprize m konsa?
4. Papa n rete Ayiti.
5. Y'ap pale avè n lè yo pare.
1. I went to see you. You weren't there.
2. Help me to carry the suitcase. I won't be able to carry it on my own.
3. Why are you ignoring me?
4. Our dad lives in Haiti.
5. They will talk to us when they're ready.
w contraction for ou (you, your)
l contraction for li (he/her, him, his)
n contraction for nou (we, our, us)
y contraction for yo (they, their, them) (Contraction only used with subject pronoun "they")
Rule 1: When placing contractions after a word, place them only after words that end with a vowel.
Example:
Koute m. → Listen to me
Mwen konprann ou. (Instead of: Mwen konprann w) → I understand you.
Sa se manman m. (the word "manman" ends with nasal vowel "an") → This is my mother.
Sa se liv nou. (instead of: Sa se liv n) → This is our book.
Chyen an te mòde l. → The dog bit him.
Rule 2: Do not place contractions after the prepositions: sou (on), nan (in,at), and pou (for).
Example:
The coffee spilled on me.
Kafe a tonbe sou mwen.
(instead of: kafe a tonbe
This gift is for her.
Kado sa se pou li.
(instead of: Kado sa se
Believe in me.
Kwè nan mwen.
(instead of: Kwè
Have ever seen these contractions in a sentence?
k contraction for ki (who, that)
p contraction for pa (negative marker)
t contraction for te (past tense marker)
Example:
1. Sa'k pase?
(instead of: Sa ki pase?)
What's happenning?
2. Mwen p'ap chante.
(instead of: Mwen pa ap chante.)
I will not sing.
3. Mwen t'ale wè yo.
(instead of: Mwen te ale wè yo.)
I went to see them.
Some contractions for a few Creole words:
al contraction for ale (to go)
vin contraction for vini (to come)
fin contraction for fini (to complete)
konn contraction for konnen (to know)
ka, kab contraction for kapab (to be able)
Examples of some sentences in which contractions are used. See if you can translate them. Scroll down for answers.
1. Mwen t'al wè w. Ou pa't la.
2. Ede m pote malèt la. Mwen p'ap ka pote l pou kont mwen.
3. Poukisa w'ap meprize m konsa?
4. Papa n rete Ayiti.
5. Y'ap pale avè n lè yo pare.
1. I went to see you. You weren't there.
2. Help me to carry the suitcase. I won't be able to carry it on my own.
3. Why are you ignoring me?
4. Our dad lives in Haiti.
5. They will talk to us when they're ready.
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