Grammar: Adjectives

In Haitian Creole, the verb To Be is omitted when using attributes:
In the Audio/Video Resources section, check out both videos on adjective for more practice.

There's more on adjectives in Exercise 43

Crossword puzzle 13 is also about adjectives.
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In Haitian Creole adjectives usually follow the noun.

1. The red car. --- Machin wouj la.

2. The blue cup. --- Gode ble a.

3. The sad girl. --- Ti fi tris la.

4. I sleep in a clean room. -- Mwen dòmi nan yon chanm pwòp.

5. The students wash the dirty car. -- Elèv yo lave machin sal la.
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Let's Practice! Translate the following sentences.

1. We bring good news today.

2. Put your dirty shoes on the floor.

3. I wear a red shirt today.

4. Chantal is a tall girl

5. The wet shirt.

6. She is a great friend.

7. I've got a lot of joy.

8. This is a wonderful party.

9. We got too much money.

10. This is a closed door.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page



1.nou pote bòn nouvèl jodi-a     2.mete soulye sal ou yo atè a     3.m mete yon chemiz wouj jodi-a 4.chantal se yon ti fi wo     5.chemiz mouye a   6.li se yon bon zanmi    7.m gen anpil jwa    8.sa se yon fèt mèveye    9. nou gen twòp lajan    10.sa se yon pòt fèmen

Grammar: verbs and subjects

Practice Makes Perfect. Please Translate.

1. The dogs bark all night.

2. We have bad news.

3. She cuts the oranges in four pieces.

4. The teacher translates for her.

5. They don't bring their books.

6. My friend doesn't drink coffee, he drinks tea.

7. The children sleep on the bed.

8. Her neighbor doesn't drive a car.

9. She writes in her notebook.

10. Her blouse has many flowers.

11. He cut my fingernails.

12. My sisters stay with me for one week.

13. You don't have any money.

14. She cleans her room daily.

15. They don't sleep on the floor.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page




1.chyen yo jape tout nan nwit     2.nou gen move nouvèl    3.li koupe zoranj yo nan kat moso    4.Pwofesè a tradwi pou li    5.yo pa pote liv yo    6 .zanmi mwen an pa bwè kafe, li bwè te     7.ti moun yo domi sou kabann nan     8.vwazen li a pa kondwi machin     9.li ekri nan kaye li a     10.kòsaj li a gen anpil flè    11.li koupe zong mwen    12.sè mwen yo rete avè mwen pou yon semèn     13.ou pa gen okenn lajan     14.Li netwaye chanm li a chak jou      15.yo pa dòmi a tè a.

Grammar: Negatives - Present Tense

In Haitian Creole, "pa" is used for the negative form.

1. We have two houses - Nou gen de kay.
2. We don't have two houses - Nou pa gen de kay.

3. I shower - m benyen
4. I don't shower - m pa benyen

5. he's tired - li fatige
6. he's not tired - li pa fatige 
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Let's Practice. - Please Translate.
1. we don't have a car.

2.  Cindy is not happy.

3. Ben doesn't have a pencil.

4. She doesn't have a skirt, she has a dress.

5. I don't need a pen, I need a piece of paper.

6. The mango is not green.

7. I don't understand

8. we don't know you

9. I don't speak Creole

10. they don't eat mangos

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



1.nou pa gen yon machin    2.Cindy pa kontan    3.Ben pa gen yon kreyon    4.li pa gen yon jip, li gen yon rad    5. m pa bezwen yon plim, m bezwen yon moso papye.    6.mango a pa vèt.   7. m pa konprann   8.nou pa konnen w   9.m pa pale kreyòl   10.yo pa manje mango

Grammar: Possessive Adjectives

httRemember the "Definite article". Most of the time the Haitian Creole Definite Article follows the Possessive Adjectives.

Please review Lesson 9 and memorize the definite articles.

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The Possessive adjective always follows the noun. And... most of the time a definite article will follow that possessive adjective.

Possessive adjectives:

My - Mwen

Your - Ou

His - Li

Her - Li

Its - Li

Our - Nou

Your - Nou

Their - Yo

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Possessive adjectives followed by singular definite article.

Mwen an

Ou  a

Li a

Nou an

Yo a


Possessive adjectives are followed by plural definite article.

Mwen yo

Ou yo

Li yo

Nou yo

Yo an
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Examples

1. my pencil - kreyon mwen or kreyon mwen an
2. her house - kay li or kay li a
3. our child - pitit nou or pitit nou an4. my car is white - Machi-n mwen an blan.
5. my child's name is Kalou - Pitit mwen an rele Kalou.
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Shall we practice? Please translate.

1. My name is John.

2. Our bed is too small.

3. His hair is short.

4. Your kids are on the roof of the house.

5. Their book is heavy.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



1.non mwen se John    2.kabann nou an twò piti    3.cheve li kout    4.ti moun ou yo sou tèt kay la    5.liv li yo lou.

Learn more about Possessive adjectives at these links:

Possessive adjectives 1

Possessive adjectives 2
Possessive adjectives 3

Possessive adjectives 4

Grammar: Present tense

In Haitian Creole the verbs retain their form always. There's no subject-verb agreement.

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The verb: To go

I go - Mwen ale
You go - Ou ale
He goes - Li ale
She goes- Li ale
It goes - Li ale
We go - Nou ale

You go - Nou ale

They go - Yo ale
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The verb: To sing

I sing - Mwen chante
You sing - Ou chante
He sings - Li chante
She sings - Li chante
It sings - Li chante
We sing - Nou chante

You sing - Nou chante

They sing - Yo chante

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Let's Practice.

(To look for - Chache) 1. The teacher looks for the book.

(To love - Renmen) 2. Manny loves Tata a lot.

(To sit - Chita) 3. The Nurse sits on the chair.

(To go - Ale) 4. They go to the Theatre.

(To eat - Manje) 5. We eat avocados a lot.

(To Agree - Dakò) 6. I agree with you

(To wash - lave) 7. He washes his face

(To fight - batay) 8. We fight all the time.

(To rain - Fè lapli) 9. It rains every day

(Can - Kapab) 10. I can read

Find answer key at the bottom of this page



1.pwofesè a chache liv la    2.Manny renmen Tata anpil    3. Enfimyè a chita sou chèz la     4.Yo ale nan teyat la    5.Nou manje zaboka anpil     6.M dakò ak ou     7. li lave figi li     8.Nou batay tout tan (or) nou goumen tout tan     9.Li fè lapli chak jou     10. M kab li (or) M kapab li (or) M ka li.

Grammar: Object Pronouns / Possessive Pronouns

Object pronouns

Me - Mwen (contracted form: m)

You - You (contracted form: w)

Him/her - Li (contracted form: l)

Us - Nou  (contracted form: n)

You (plural) - Nou (contracted form: n)

Them - Yo

Examples:

1. I love them - mwen renmen yo
2. she understands me - li konprann mwen 
3. we love you - nou renmen w
4. Sierra found it - Sierra te jwenn li
5. the people hated us - pèp la te rayi n
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Possessive Pronouns

The possessive pronouns: mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs are translated as the followings:

Mine - Pa mwen or  contracted form: Pa m

Yours - Pa ou or contracted form: Pa w

His / Hers - Pa li or contracted form: Pa l

Ours - Pa nou or contracted form: Pa n

Yours - Pa nou or contracted form: pa n

Theirs - Pa yo

Examples:

1. This book is mine - Liv sa se pa mwen

2. The house is his - Kay la se pa l.

3. The country is ours - Peyi a se pa n

4.  The money is theirs - lajan an se pa yo

5.  This is yours - Sa se pa w.

6. The babies are mine. - Bebe yo se pa mwen.

7. I love them very much. - Mwen renmen yo anpil.

8. The car is his. - Machi-n nan se pa li.

9. He likes it a lot. - Li renmen l anpil.

10. Give me liberty or death! - Ban m libète ou lanmò!
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Let's practice! Translate the following phrases.
1. The chairs are mine. Do not sit on them.

2. The house is mine. My daughter sleeps in it.

3. The shirts are his. He washes them every week.

4. God bless you.

5.  He told me the truth.

6.  He asked me to marry him.

Answer key at the bottom of this page



 1.chèz yo se pa m.Pa chita sou yo    2.kay la se pa-m.Piti fi mwen an dòmi ladan l    3.chemiz yo se pa-l.Li lave yo chak semèn.    4.Bondye beni w    5.Li di m la verite     6.li mande m maryaj

Grammar: Review

Please translate the following sentences.

1. Nènè is thirty years old.

2. The cars are red.

3. The shirts are ready.

4. I hear a bird.

5. You see a little boy.

6. The books have three pages.

7. The theater has no chairs.

8. The beds are huge.

9. The houses are small.

10. Resilia has red hair.

11. The lessons are easy.

12. It is a bird.

13. You are a baby.

14. She has a baby.

15. Ti Roro gives me a house.

16. The nurses are Americans.

17. The teachers have three books.

18. The girls have two luggage.

19. The cans are small.

20. The houses fall.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page



1.Nènè gen tran tan    2.Machin yo wouj    3. Mayo yo prè    4.M tande yon zwazo    5. Ou wè yon ti gason    6. Liv yo gen twa paj    7. Teyat la pa gen chèz    8. Kabann yo laj    9. Kay yo piti    10. Resilia gen cheve wouj    11. Leson yo fasil    12.Se yon zwazo    13.Ou se yon bebe    14.Li gen yon bebe    15.Ti Roro ban mwen yon kay    16.Enfimyè yo se Ameriken    17.Pwofesè yo gen twa liv   18.Ti fi yo gen de malèt    19.Mamit yo piti    20.kay yo tonbe.

Grammar: Singular and Plural nouns

Singular or Plural does not affect nouns in Haitian Creole.
The nouns remain the same.

1. Yon kay - One house

2. Twa kay - Three houses

3. yon kabann - a bed

4. senk kabann - five beds
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Let's Practice. Please translate.

1. The girls are ready.

2. The girl is happy.

3. The shoes are red.

4. The cup is small.

5. They need five rooms.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



1.ti fi yo prè    2.ti fi a kontan    3.soulye yo wouj     4.tas la piti    5.yo bezwen senk chanm.

Grammar: Indefinite Article

The indefinte articles Yon or On always precede the noun.

You may use YON or ON interchangeably.

1. Yon gason - A man

2. On gason - A man

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Let's Practice.  Translate the following.

1. This is a car.

2. She has a house.

3. A cup

4. A table

5. I have a baby

Find answer key at the bottom of this page



1.sa se yon machin    2.li gen yon kay    3.yon tas    4.yon tab    5.m gen yon bebe

Grammar: The Definite Article (Plural)

The plural definite article "yo" always follows the noun. It does not change.

1. Liv yo - The books

2. Machin yo - The cars

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Let's practice. Please translate.

1. the beds

2. the girls

3. the boys

3. the shoes are ready.

4. the houses have mice.

5. the cups are full.

6. the people are here.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



 1.kabann yo     2.ti fi yo   3.ti gason yo    3.Soulye yo prè    4.Kay yo gen sourit     5.Tas yo plen     6.Moun yo la.

Grammar: Review sounding out words in sentences

Pronunciation exercises - Say the following sentences out loud!

1. Nancy kontan - Nancy is happy

2. Li kontan anpil - She is very happy

3. Joe sonje m - Joe misses me

4. Li pa bliye m - He does not forget me.

5. Nou se enfimyè - We are nurses.

6. Yo se doktè - They are doctors.

7. Sa se yon liv - This is a book.

8. Sa se yon ti mayo - This is a little shirt.

9. Sa se pa yon soulye - This is not a shoe.

10. Sa yo se malèt mwen - These/ those are my suitcase.

11. Sa se piti mwen - This is my child.

12. Sa yo se pa liv mwen - These/ those are not my books.

13. Ou se madam mwen - You are my wife.

14. Li se mari -m - He is my husband.

15. Li se menaj mwen - She/he is my girfriend/boyfriend.

16. Li se tonton m - He is my uncle.

17. Sa se kay mwen - This is my house.

18. Joumou se yon vejetab - Squash is a vegetable.

19. Tout fig se fwi - All bananas are fruits.

20. Jodi-a nou se Ayisyen - Today we are Haitians.

Grammar: Verb: To be

This audio clip is available for download at this link:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/1fe3e7b1-232f-21f8-0649-4d31b2b2c292.mp3


Click on the play button to listen



se - to be

****The verb To Be is used to identify a person or an object.

1. Mwen se yon fanm - I am a woman

2. li se yon pilòt - he/she is a pilot

3. nou se Ameriken - We are Americans

4. ou se pitit Joseph - you are Joseph's child.

5. Sa se yon kay - This is a house

6. Yo se Ayisyen - They are Haitians.

7. Sa se yon blag - That is a joke

8. Se yon zwazo - it's a bird

9. Joujou se yon Ayisyen - Joujou is Haitian

10. Mesye sa se zanmi m - This man is my friend
Mèsi.

Track:  Mise sa by Dédé Saint-prix
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Let's Practice! Please translate the following sentences.

1. I am a boy

2. She is a girl

3. This is a t-Shirt

4. That is a shoe

5. He is a man

6. She is my sweetheart

7. She is a nuisance

8. It is a lie

Find answer key at the bottom if this page



1.m se yon ti gason   2.li se yon ti fi   3.sa se yon mayo    4.sa se yon soulye    5.li se yon misye.    6.li se boubout mwen    7. li se yon pongongon     8.se yon manti

Grammar: Pronouns You and I

This audio clip is available for download at this link:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/ec923b9a-ae55-8d2c-3ae9-53bdb3069896.mp3

Click the play button to listen


mwen means I
m also means I

(Next)

ou means you
w also means you


Example:

mwen wè ou  - I see you
m wè w - I see you


"m" is the abbreviated form of "mwen"
"w" is the abbreviated form of "ou"
We, creole speakers, use it a lot.


1. mwen rele ou - I call you

2. m rele w - I call you

3. m bezwen w - I need you

4. m pa bezwen w - I don't need you ("pa" indicates a negative form)

5. ou bezwen m - you need me

6. ou pa bezwen m - you don't need me

7. m ba ou de ti wòch - I give you two little rocks

8. m kwè w - (Non contracted form - mwen kwè ou) - I believe you

9. M pa kwè w - I don't believe you

10. m tande w - I hear you

11. m pa tande w - I don't hear you

12. M konprann ou - I understand you

13.  m pa konprann ou - I don't understand you

Mèsi, se tout - thank you, that's all

Track:  Kay Manman by Jocelyne Béroard
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Let's Practice - Please translate the following sentences.

1. (To call - rele) -- You call me.

2. (To choose - chwazi) -- I choose you.

3. (To help - ede) -- You help me.

4. (To thank - remèsye) -- I thank you.

5. (To wish - swete) -- I wish you

6. (To honor - onore) --I honor you

7. (To worship - adore) -- I adore you

8. (To show -montre) --You don't show me

9. (To  look at - gade) -- I look at you

10. (To look at - gade) -- I don't look at you

Find the answer key at the bottom of this page




1.ou rele m or ou rele mwen   2.m chwazi w or mwen chwazi ou   3.ou ede m   4.m remèsye w   5.m swete w   6.m onore w   7.m adore w   8.ou pa montre m   9.m gade w   10. m pa gade w

Grammar: Review vowels and Consonants Vocalization

Click the play button and listen.  Practice your pronunciation of the following words and phrases.  Use the pause button to work on each word separately.



This audio clip is downloadable at this link:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/4c2efc19-37ce-294b-22f2-b711cc826642.mp3


Bonjou, repete apre mwen - Hello, repeat after me.

1. Van - wind.

2. chita - "sheetah" -sit down

3. kanpe - "cuhpay" -stand up

4. Konbyen -how much

5. kabann  -bed

6. chèz - "shez" - chair

7. chèz la - the chair

8. gode a - "gowday" - the cup

9. yon gode - a cup

10. gason an -the man

11. ti gason -boy

12. fanm  nan -the lady

13. ti fi a - the little girl

14. ti machin - little car

15. ti kay - little house

16. gwo liv - big book

17. gwo soulye a - the big shoe

18. yon mayo - a t-shirt

19. de mayo - the two t-shirts

20. pye bwa yo - the trees

21. de pye bwa - two trees

22. yon gwo soulye - a big shoe

23. de gwo soulye yo -the two big shoes

24. de ti bebe yo -the  two little babies

25. de ti fi - two little girls

Grammar: Consonants

b pronounced as in believe, become, behave

ch pronounced as in show, shave, shower (Never as chop or chit-chat)

d pronounced as in David, day

f pronounced as in free, fall, freak

g pronounced as in gain, garbage, gallop (Never as barge, Marge, or merge)

j pronounced as in genre, jolie (Never as Job or Jesus)

k pronounced as in Khaki, Koala

l pronounced as in lola, lollita, love

m pronounced as in me, mandate memo

n pronounced as in Nancy, novice, new

p pronounced as in party, poll, pope

r pronounced as in (that's a hard one!) ...Rio

s pronounced as in society, Samson (Never like confusion)

t pronounced as in tea, tax

v pronounced as in violin, voltage,

W pronounced as in water, wash, week

z pronounced as in zigzag, zoo

y pronounced like the sound of "y" as in yahoo, yay myèl, fyèl, Kreyòl
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Let's practice! Please say out loud.

1. B - Bobo, bòlèt, boutèy.

2. ch - Chay, chante, chare, cheri, chokola, chandèl

3. D - Diri, dòmi, devan, dèyè, divòs

4. F - Fennen, fouye, frape, fèy, ti fifi

5. G - gaga, genyen goud, gade, gode, gouyad, granpanpan

6. J - Jounen, jenjanm, jwen, jodi-a, janbe, joujou, sonje.

7. K - kay, koulèv, kalalou, koze, kamyon, kaliko

8. L - Lamitye, lanmou, lontan, lendi, lavi.

9. M - Maten, monnen, malanga, mapou, moumou,mizik

10. N - Nenpòt, nannan, novanm, nanpwen, nwa, nimewo

11. P - Pantan, pon, repo, pati,repete, kapab

12. R - radyo, repo, reponn, pran, rele, repete, rezoud, ranmase

13. S - Soulye, souri, separe, sonnen, solèy, siwo

14. T - Tonbe, tankou, tablo, tete, tankou,tabak

15. V - Vini, vwayaj, vire, vit, vwazen

16. W - Woule, wouze, wè, wete, wouye, wayan

17. Z - Zewo, zantray, zwazo, zonbi, zanmi, zaboka, zoklo

18. Y - Soulye, serye, meyè, katye, metye, dezyèm, twazyèm, katriyèm, miyò.

Grammar: Vowel Sounds

***Audio voice included for practicing the vowel sounds.
Just click on the play button when you get to the practice section.
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The Haitian Creole vowels are divided into two groups.

Non nasal vowels - a, e, è, i, o , ou
Nasal vowels - an, en, on
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a pronounced like the letter "a" in fat, cat, car - Please say out loud: papa, mama, baba, tata, lala, gaga

an pronounced like the sound in "uh-huh" - Please say out loud: ban, ran, pan, van, nan-nan, dan, gan (n is always silent unless indicated by "-", "double n", or a "n'n" as in ban-n, van-n, kann, fann, an'n

àn pronounced like the "an"sound in "Liliane" - Please say outloud: bekàn, soutàn, avwàn, lamàn 

e pronounced like the sound of "ay" as in ray, say, lay . Please say out loud: - prete, mete, bwete, tete, fele, rete

è pronounced like the sound of "et" as in wet, vet, get, met, let - Please say out loud: bèkèkè, mèt, lèt, dèt, malèt.

en pronounced like the sound "en" makes as in garden, den - Please say out loud:mennen, genyen, senyen,fennen, tenten, limen

i pronounced like the sound of "ee" as in see, meet, peep - Please say out loud: piki, di, mimi, ti pitit, pipirit

in pronounced like the sound of "in" in "win" - Please say out loud: vin, machin, boulin

o pronounced like the sound of "ow" as in low, grow, row - Please say out loud: poto, dodo, toto, roro, yoyo, tito, Sodo

ò pronounced like the sound of "o" as in more, corps, sore - Please say out loud: mò, lò, kò, tòtòt, bòkò

on pronounced like the sound of "oun" as in young, - Please say out loud:non, don, vonvon, fon

ou pronounced like the sound of "ou" as in you - Please say out loud: jou, joumou, dou, fou

___________________________________________
Let's Practice! Click on the play button and listen. 

(if the pace is too fast you may pause to repeat.)


Download this audio clip here
:http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/8bc8d644-2d46-37a0-b432-ccf33446aed0.mp3


1. Papa, Nana, Tata, kapab, pala, kay

2. Pantan, chany, gan, vant, jant ... - ... pann, ran'n, van-n.

3. Bekàn, soutàn, avwàn, pàn, lamàn

4. Rate, mete, bwete, fele, gete, rele

5. Tèt, pèp, rèl, pwomès, fyèl.

6. fennen, mennen, senyen, vwazen, peny

7. machin, boulin, rasin, vin, min

8. Zanmi, piti, piki, zegwi, manti

9. Chapo, towo, poto, dodo, wololoy

10. Kò, vòlò, dakò, mantò, atò.

11. Bonbon, tonton, zonyon, kamyon, sanwont

12. Koukouy, sekou, mapou, woule, souke

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Also, let's practice vocalizing the following sentences.

Click on the play button and listen.

(If the pace is too fast you may pause to repeat)



This audio clip is available to download at this link:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/9ec8db15-0ddb-1bf8-1b43-df7b22492cb6.mp3



1. Ou sound - Nou damou pou tout moun ki pale dou.
We're in love for everyone that is soft spoken

2.  On sound - Yon bon tonton san non manje yon zonyon tou won.
A good uncle without name ate an onion that's all round.

3. e sound - Pepe te manje yon pate ki pike.
Pepe ate a spicy pâté.

4.  a sound - Tata pa kapab chita dwat.
Tata can't sit straight.

5. an sound - Prentan se tan pou dans.
Spring is dancing time.

6. àn sound - Lap manje avwàn sou yon bekàn.
He's eating oatmeal on a bike.

7.  o sound - Mario mete yon chapo pou l dodo sou do.
Mario put on a hat to sleep on his back.

8. è sound - Pwomès se dèt, men vrè dèt pi rèd.
Promises are debts, but real debts are worse.

9.  en sound - Mwen genyen senk pen e vennsenk boutèy diven.
I have five breads and twenty-five bottles of wine.

10.  ò sound - Yo dakò pou bay lòt tò.
They agree to give others the blame.

11. i sound - Pitit li li yon liv ki difisil anpil.
His child read a book that's very difficult.

12. in sound - Machin nan vin ak tout boulin.
The car came with great speed.

Track:  Ban m la jwa by Emeline Michel