4. Contracting "Te"

Question 1

When to Contract the Word “Te”

The contraction of the word te is simply written as /t/. There are three ways to contract te

Answer 1

The Creole word te is a tense marker, because you can use it before a verb to show that you are referring to the past tense.

It basically means “did” or “was” (e.g. Mwen te ale → I did go). There are three situations where you can contract te.

Question 2

How to Contract “Te” Before “Ale”

The contraction of te and ale is written as t ale.

Answer 2

The Creole verb ale means “to go.” Since, te means did and ale mean “to go,” te and ale put together mean “did go.”

People who speak Creole commonly say both te ale and t ale. So, it doesn’t matter which one you use.

Question 3

Te ale contractions

1. He did go
2. They did go
3. We did go to school

Answer 3

»•« Contraction «•» No Contraction

1. »•« Li t ale
   «•» Li te ale
2. »•« Yo t ale
   «•» Yo te ale
3. »•« Nou t ale lekòl
   «•» Nou te ale lekòl

Question 4

Contract Te Before Ap

The contraction of te and ap is written as t ap.

The word ap is another tense mark. You can use it in front of a verb to show an ongoing action (e.g. Li ap jwe → He is playing).

Answer 4

Now, since, te means “was” or “did,” when te comes before ap in the form te ap, it shows an ongoing action that happened in the past (e.g. Li te ap jwe → He was playing).

Granted, it is not wrong to say te ap. But, it is recommended to use the contraction t ap instead.

This is because Creole speakers rarely say te ap, to the point that saying it sounds strange.

Question 5

Contract Te Before Ap

1. I was working
2. He was talking
3. We were jumping

Answer 5

»•« Contraction «•» No Contraction

1. »•« Mwen t ap travay
   «•» Mwen te ap travay
2. »•« Li t ap pale
   «•» Li te ap pale
3. »•« Nou t ap vole
   «•» Nou te ap vole

Question 6

Contract “Te” After “Pa”

The contraction of pa and te is written as pa t.

Remember you can only contract te after pa.

Answer 6

The Creole word pa means “don’t” or “not.” Since te means “did” or “was” the meaning of pa and te put together is “did not” or “was not.”

Granted, it is not wrong to say pa te. But, contracting these words is so common in Creole that it becomes necessary to do so.

Therefore, it is best to say the contraction pa t instead of pa te.

Question 7

Contract “Te” After “Pa”

1. He did not run
2. He was not a coward
3. He did not have money

Answer 7

»•« Contraction «•» No Contraction

1. »•« Li pa t kouri
   «•» Li pa te kouri
2. »•« Li pa t yon kapon
   «•» Li pa te yon kapon
3. »•« Li pa t gen kòb
   «•» Li pa te gen kòb