9. Saying The (definite)

Question 1

NOTES

Answer 1

Creole has five words for the definite article “the” (e.g. the car).

They are a, la, an, lan and nan.

The definite article you use depends if the noun ends with nasal or non nasal vowel.

Question 2

In Creole, the definite article always comes after the noun.

Answer 2

For example, the Creole expression Machin nan word-for-word means Car the.

Of course, the real meaning is The car.

Question 3

Use a when the noun ends with a non-nasal vowel.

Answer 3

Let us consider the Creole expression Kafe a (The coffee).

You should use the definite article a because the word kafe ends with the non-nasal vowel e.

Question 4

1. Bwa a
2. Ke a
3. Ji a
   * A for non nasal

Answer 4

1. The wood
2. The tail
3. The juice

Question 5

Use la when the noun ends with a non-nasal vowel, followed by a consonant.

Answer 5

Let us consider the Creole expression Bib la (The Bible).

You should use the definite article la because the word Bib ends with the non-nasal i, followed by the consonant b.

Question 6

1. Bwat la
2. Fwèt la
3. Kòb la

The underlined letters stand for the non-nasal vowel, followed by the consonant

Answer 6

1. The wood
2. The whip
3. The money

Question 7

Use an when the noun ends with a nasal vowel.

Answer 7

Let us consider the Creole expression Reken an (The shark).

You should use the definite article an because the word Reken ends with the nasal vowel en.

Question 8

1. Ban an → The bench
2. Pen an → The bread
3. Son an → The sound

The words have nasal vowels

Answer 8

1. The bench
2. The bread
3. The sound

Question 9

1. Foumi an
2. Lanmou an
3. Jenou an

Also use an when the noun ends as mi, mou, ni or nou

Answer 9

1. The ant
2. The love
3. The knee

Question 10

Use lan when the noun ends with a nasal vowel followed by a consonant.

Answer 10

Let us consider consider the Creole expression Ponp lan (The pump).

You should use the definite article lan because the word ponp ends with the nasal on, followed by the consonant p.

Question 11

1. Kanp lan
2. Pwent lan
3. Konsyans lan

Answer 11

1. The camp
2. The point
3. The conscience

Question 12

1. Nuit lan
2. Siy lan
3. Liy lan

Also use lan when the noun ends as iy or uit (very few nouns end like this)

Answer 12

1. The night
2. The sign
3. The line

Question 13

Use the definite article nan when the noun ends with m or as nn.

Answer 13

Let us consider the Creole expression Fim nan (The film).

You should use the definite article nan because the word fim ends with the letter m.

Question 14

1. Chanm nan
2. Kodenn nan
3. Fim nan

Answer 14

1. The room
2. The turkey
3. The film

Question 15

1. Chèn nan
2. Kouwòn nan
3. Lalin nan

Also use nan when the noun ends as èn or òn

Answer 15

1. The necklace
2. The crown
3. The moon

Question 16

When the noun is plural, you should always put yo after it.

You don’t have to worry about nasal or non-nasal vowels.

Answer 16

Suppose that you want to say The cars in Haitian Creole (machin yo).

Because the Creole word machin is plural, you need to put yo after it.

Question 17

1. Bato yo
2. Wòch yo
3. Direksyon yo

In Creole, plural words don’t end with the letter s.

Answer 17

1. The boats
2. The rocks
3. The directions