Sunday, May 27, 2012

May / Might (in Creole), which verb to use?

To suggest possibility or probability in Haitian Creole,  use kapab or its contracted forms kab or ka (please see link for  more info on ka, kab, kapab)


may be / might be


1. He might be a crook.
    Li ka se yon volè.
    Li ka yon volè.


2.  It may be a tumor.
     Li ka se yon timè.
     Li ka yon timè.


3. Answer the phone.  It might be your father calling.
    Reponn telefon nan.  Li ka se papa'w k'ap rele.


4.  It may be too late.
     Li ka twò ta.




may / might


5.  He might be sleeping.
      Li ka ap domi. 


6.  He might have been sleeping.
     Li ka t'ap dòmi.


(in #5 and #6, note how Haitian Creole progressive marker is used after "ka", to indicate present of past progressive.


7. I might have forgotten.
    M ka te bliye.
(in #7, note how Haitian Creole past tense marker te is used after "ka", to indicate a form of the past tense.)


8.  This may take a while.
     Sa ka pran yon ti tan.


9.  It might rain later.  Bring your umbrella.
     Li ka fè lapli pita. Pote parapli'w.


10. The shoes might be too small for him.
     Soulye a ka two piti pou li.


11. May I talk to you in private please?
      Eske m'kapab pale ak ou an prive tanpri?

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