I don't quite understand because in sentence 6 and 7, you crossed out the "ke" and replaced it ........

In reference to tanndat post

I don't quite understand because in sentence 6 and 7, you crossed out the "ke" and replaced it with "depi". Is "depi" interchangeable with "ke" in those contexts? In the additional sentences, starting with "sa gen lontan", you use "depi" instead of "ke", is there any reason for that or is it just your preference? Also, doesn't "sa fè" and "sa gen" mean "since" as well alongside "depi"?

I had examined your response again and realized that in sentence 1, 2, and 4, you used the present progressive marker and in sentence 3 and 5, you didn't instead you used the simple present tense. Could you explain to me why was that?

Refresh my memory, just to be sure, how is "depi", "sa fè", "se gen" used with the past progressive marker or other past tenses?

Can "depi", "sa fè", "se gen" be used with the conditional tenses? If yes, can you give examples? I want to be sure about that as well.

 

Answer

 

1.     Use “depi” instead of “ke”. “Ke” is actually considered French in this type of sentence.  But you can use “ke” if you want.  I am inclined to use “depi”.

2.     “Sa fè” or “sa gen”, IN THESE TYPES OF SENTENCES, stand for “it has been”.  Your sentences do not necessarily have to include “depi” or “ke”.  If you do include “depi” or “ke”, THEY will translate “SINCE”. You may ask a question:

a.

Depi konbyen tan li malad? (Since how long has he been sick? )

And the answer might be:

“Sa gen twa mwa.”  Or “Sa fè twa mwa”. (It’s been three months.)

 

3.     The terms “sa gen” or “sa fè” translate “It has been” in these types of sentences.  You can use different tenses with different H. Creole determiners if you’d like.  Such as:

b.

Sa pral gen dezan depi m isit.

It will be two years since I’m here.

 

c.

Si papa m pa’t mouri, sa ta fè l senkantan depi l marye ak manman m ane sa.

If my father didn’t die, he would have been married to my mom fifty years this year.

 

 

d.

Si w te ale nan konsè a tou, sa t’ap fè nou senk fwa nou wè  jodi a.

If you had gone to the concert too, it would have been five times we saw each other five today. (lit)

If you had gone to the concert too, we would have seen each other five times today.

e.

Sa ta pral fè vennkat èdtan depi nou kole sou do kay la si w pa’t vin sove nou.

It would have been 24 hours that we’re stuck on this roof if you didn’t come to rescue us.

 

Does that answer your question?

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