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Sunday, March 7, 2010

Lessons 24 - Future Tense and other Verbs

Future Tense and Other Verbs

Future Tense = Subject + Pral + Verb

Or…Future Tense = Subject + Ap + Verb

Contraction: = Subject + P + Verb

(Study the different ways to say something in the future tense)

Examples:

(To go - ale)
1. She will go tomorrow.
(non contracted) - li pral ale demen
(contracted) - li prale demen
(Contracted) - li pral demen


(To see - wè)
2. I will see Joan tomorrow.
(non contracted) Mwen pral wè Joan demen
(contracted)  Mwen ap wè Joan demen
(contracted) M ap wè Joan demen = Map wè Joan demen

(To bring - pote)
3. He will bring the plate.
li pral pote plat la
li ap pote plat la
l ap pote plat la = lap pote plat la

(To be)
4. They will be there.
yo pral la
yo ap la
 yap la

(To sit - chita)
5. We will sit in front.
nou pral chita devan
nou ap chita devan
nap chita devan

____________________________________________
Let’s review. Translate the following sentences.

1. The book will fall.

2. She will tell the story.

3. They will fight.

4. We will have more money.

5. Carline will sit here.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



1.liv la pral tonbe    2.li pral rakonte istwa a    3.yo pral batay or yo pral goumen    4.nou pral gen plis lajan    5.Carline pral chita la











4 comments:

  1. Is there an option to use "va" (and contracted m'a, l'a, w'a, n'a, y'a) for future tense too? Or do no Haitians actually use that? Something like "M'a ale nan kay la" - I will go to the store

    I find it's easier for me to remember to use that for future and then "M'ap, L'ap, W'ap, N'ap, Y'ap) for ongoing tense like "M'ap ale nan kay la" - I am going to the store.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Mr. Wendel, you may use "va" and/or its contracted form for the future tense in H. Creole if you want.
      Have you tried "pral"? You might be comfortable with it too.

      Examples:

      Mwen pral manje. I'm going to eat.
      Mwen pral dòmi. I'm going to sleep.
      Mwen pral ale nan magazen an. I'm going to go to the store.
      Nou pral danse nan fèt la. I'm going to dance at the party.
      Yo pral li liv la. They're going to read the book.

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  2. Thank you! Yes! I'm familiar with "pral" but more as future tense using it like "will" as in your lesson. I have completed the full HaitiHub course and am just trying to learn as much as I can. It seems like the future tense indicators and the ongoing tense ones are practically interchangeable?

    Thank you so much for this great resource.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes they are interchangeable most of the times.

      pral and va are indicators of the future tense in H. Creole, just as will, shall, and going to are indicators of the future tense in English.

      ap, on the other hand, may indicate the future tense or a progressive form.

      You probably heard this future tenses formation with "va", have you?:
      N'a wè demen. We'll see you tomorrow
      N'a wè pita, We'll see you later

      So Haitians are big on using "va" :)

      Chapo ba zanmi.

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