2. The Verb "Se"

Question 1

What does the verb “se” mean

Answer 1

The Creole verb se has the same meaning as the English verb to be.

Question 2

Define:

1. Mwen se
2. Ou se
3. Yo se

Answer 2

1. → I am
2. → You are
3. →They are

Question 3

FUN FACT

Answer 3

You can use the verb se identify a noun (person, place or object)

Question 4

1. Mwen se pwofesè a*
2. Nou se yon ekip
3. Ou se yon elèv
   * The word a means “the.”

Answer 4

1. I am the teacher
2. We are a team
3. You are a student

Question 5

When are you NOT supposed to use “Se”

Answer 5

You cannot use se before adjectives and prepositions.

Question 6

FUN FACT

For example, let us suppose that you want to say you are beautiful in Haitian Creole.

The correct translation of that is Ou bèl. This is because the word bèl (beautiful) is an adjective.

Answer 6

When the person, place or thing you are describing comes directly next to the adjective, it is okay to use se. For example, let us suppose that you want to say You are a beautiful woman in Creole.

The translation of that would be Ou se yon bèl fi. As you can see in that example, it is okay to use se because the adjective bèl is describing a noun, fi.

Question 7

The Creole words bon (good) and rapid (fast) are adjectives; what is the sentence in creole?

1. You are good
2. I am fast

Answer 7

✓ Ou bon
✗ Ou se bon

✓ Mwen rapid
✗ Mwen se rapid

Question 8

The Creole words anndan (inside) and prè (near) are prepositions; what is the sentence in Creole?

1. He is inside
2. They are near

Answer 8

✓ Li anndan
✗ Li se anndan

✓ Yo prè
✗ Yo se prè