Sunday, July 29, 2012

Mandaly, how is the verb 'to be' specifically used in these expressions: Be patient, Be happy or Be blessed. Speaking to a congregation I want to say, "Be happy in the Lord!" The translation I got was "Ou dwe kontan nan Senyè a!", but i don't want to say "You must be happy...". I want to say "Be happy..."

I see...
These sentences comes across as either an advice, an encouragement, or a benediction....
In that case you would say:

1. Be happy in the Lord.
    Se pou nou kontan nan Senyè a. (nou is plural as it seems that you're speaking to a crowd)


2. Be patient.
    Se pou ou pasyan. (singular)
    Se pou nou pasyan. (plural) 
    or you can also say:
    Se pou'w pasyante.
    Se pou nou pasyante.

3. Be blessed. (blessed by God, right?)
    Se pou Bondye beni'w. (singular)
    Se pou Bondye beni nou (plural)
    or you may rephrase this:
    Se pou'w jwenn benediction. (May you find blessing.)

other examples (using Se pou....)

4. Be there before 9 PM.
    Se pou nou la anvan nevè di swa.


5. Be kind to them.
    Se pou'w fè jantiyès avèk yo.


6. 'Be quick, but don't hurry'
    'Se pou'w rapid, men pa prese'
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

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