1. Conjugating Verbs Flashcards
FUN FACT
Unlike English, Creole verbs always stay the same regardless of what person they are referring to.
This rule applies to all Creole verbs except the verb bay.
- I️ am
- You are
- He is
- Mwen se
- Ou se
- Lines
FUN FACT
Notice how the verb pran (to take) always remains the same regardless of who is talking.
- Mwen pran bous mwen.
- Nou pran bagay nou.
- Ou pran liv la.
- → I take my wallet
- → We take our things
- → You take the book
What’s a Tense Marker?
A tense marker is a word that shows the period of time the verb is referring to.
For example, consider the English sentence “I did go.” The word did acts as a tense marker because it shows that the verb “go” is referring to something that happened in the past.
In Creole, the tense marker always comes just before the verb, while the verb itself stays the same.
Creole uses tense markers for four verb tenses: the past progressive, the past, the present progressive and the future.
Note:
Creole does not use a tense marker for the present tense.
Therefore, to show that a verb is referring to the present, don’t put a tense marker before it and keep it as it is.
Creole does not use a tense marker for the present tense. To show that a verb is referring to the present, don’t put a tense marker before it and keep it as it is.
It really is that simple. Let us take the Creole sentence Mwen ale (I go) as an example. Since the sentence is in the present tense, there is no tense marker before ale.
What is the tense marker?
T ap
T ap jwe
Was playing
Past Progressive
The tense marker t ap is actually shorter or contracted version of the words te ap. However, native Creole speakers rarely say it this way. The tense marker t ap is also pronounced as “tap” in “tapping”
What is the tense marker?
Te
Te jwe
Did play
Past
What is the tense marker?
Ap
Ap jwe
Playing
Present Progressive
What is the tense marker?
Pral
Pral jwe
Will/ going to play
Future
Identify tense marker and define:
Mwen t ap jwe
Past Progressive → I was playing
Identify tense marker and define:
Mwen te jwe
Past → I did play
Identify tense marker and define:
Mwen ap jwe Lendi
Mwen ap jwe Lendi
Present Progressive → I am playing Monday
→ I will play Monday
Identify tense marker and define:
Mwen pral dòmi
Future → I️ am going to sleep
Note: Use pral for the future. It means “going to”.
