Wednesday, April 13, 2011

How does "if...then" work in Creole? e.g. Si ou genyen konpetisyon ou (then they will suspect you of cheating)? What word is used for "will"?


Two of the ways to make the future form in Haitian Creole:

I will  -  m pral
you will  - ou pral
he/she/it will - li pral
we will  - nou pral
they will - yo pral

or

I will - mwen ap (map)*
you will - ou ap (wap)
he/she/it will - li ap (lap)
we will - nou ap (nap)
they will - yo ap (yap)
*contracted form is in parentheses.

Examples:

1. Si ou manje mango a, w'ap malad.
If you eat the mango, then you'll get sick.

2. Si ou dòmi bonè, w'ap leve bonè.
If you go to bed early, you'll get up early.

3. Si nou bwè lèt, n'ap gen fòs.
If we drink milk, then we will get strong.

4. Si li etidye, l'ap pase egzamen an.
If she studies, then she'll pass the exam.

5. Si ou fè silans, m'ap ba ou yon kado.
If you stay quiet, then I will give you a gift.

6. Si ou respekte manman'w ak papa'w, w'ap viv lontan.
    If you honor your mother and father, then you'll live long.

7.  Si ou chèche li, w'ap jwenn li.
    If you look for it, then you'll find it.

8. Si ou ri avè li, l'ap ri avè w.
    If you smile at her, then she'll smile back at you.

9.  Si yo mande m, m'ap di yo.
    If they ask me, then I'll tell them.

10. Si ou pran medikaman ou, w'ap fè mye.
    If you take your medicine, then you'll get better.

***(check out the following post where instead of the future form (will), you'd use the conditional form (would).
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