Monday, July 9, 2012

I have a question about conjugating the phrase "I give." How do you distinguish between tenses? For example, I give, I gave, I was giving, I have given, I should give, I should have given? (Using ba instead of bay, please.)

Present tense: Mwen ba, ou ba, li ba, nou ba, yo ba
I give you my heart.Mwen ba ou kè'm
We give him everything he wants. → Nou ba li tout sa li vle.

Past tense: Mwen te ba, ou te ba, li te ba, nou te ba, yo te ba
He gave the order to demolish the house. Li te ba lòd pou demoli kay la.
I already gave her the money.Mwen te deja ba li lajan an.

Past Progressive:
She was giving them the news when the phone rang.
Li t'ap ba yo nouvèl la lè telefòn nan te sonnen.

She was giving a speech when she fainted.
Li t'ap ba yon diskou lè l te endispoze.


Present perfect:
I have given you ten beautiful children, and this is how you treat me!
Mwen ba ou dis bèl piti, e se konsa ou trete'm!

Mwen te ba ou dis bèl piti, e se konsa ou trete'm!
here indicating action that began in the past and continues in the present or the action could have been recently completed.  Thus, you'll sometimes here the Creole present tense or the past tense with indicator "te".



Past perfect:
I had given her key to the house.
Mwen te ba li kle kay la.


Using auxillary "should"
I should give the money to the poorest family.
Mwen ta dwe ba fanmi ki pi pòv la lajan an.
here indicating something that you are strongly advised to do.

We should have given him the car.
Nou te dwe ba li machin nan
here, realizing that you should have done an action that you did not get to do.

Using auxillary "must"
You must give him the medication every night.
Ou dwe ba li medikaman an chak swa.
here indicating an action that you are required to do.

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