nan

nan → Haitian Creole adverb and preposition

Nan → in, inside

It's in the box.

Li nan bwat la.

She's in the room

Li nan chanm nan.

The car is in the garage.

Machin nan nan garaj la.

Nan → among, of

One of them

One among them

youn nan yo

Two of them

Two among them

de nan yo

A lot of them

many among them

anpil nan yo

Many of the girls did not come back.

Anpil nan fi yo pat tounen.

Nan → at

She's at work.

Li nan travay.

Come pick us up. We're at the airport.

Vin chache nou. Nou nan aewopò a.

She's at a better place now.

Li nan yon pi bon plas kounye a.

I'll see you at the library.

Ma wè ou nan bibliyotèk la.

We were at the park when this happenned.

Nou te nan pak la lè sa te pase.

Nan → in amount of time

In two hours, we will see the results.

Nan dezèdtan, na wè rezilta yo.

We'll get married in six months.

N'ap marye nan six mwa.

Meet me in one hour.

Vin rankontre m nan inèdtan.


Nan → to

She went to the market.
Li ale nan mache a.

We're going to the soccer game.
Nou prale nan match  foutbòl la.

We're going to the movies tonight.
Nou prale nan sinema aswè a.

She went to the party.
L'ale nan fèt la.

When we die, we'll all go to heaven.
Lè nou mouri, nou tout prale nan syèl.

Ask me anything

Prepositions: AT, TO, ON, IN

AT
Use the Haitian Creole words "nan" or "kay/lakay" in places where you used "at" for directions and locations.
Example:
1. I am at school. - Mwen nan lekòl la.

2. I am at the party. - Mwen nan fèt la.

3. We are at the concert. - Nou nan konsè a.

4. I am at a crossroad. - Mwen nan yon kafou.

5. I'm at the doctor's - Mwen kay Doktè.

6. I'm at my mom's - Mwen kay manman m.

7. They are at the inauguration . - Yo nan inogirasyon an.

8. Turn at the curb and go through the gates.
    Vire nan koub la, e antre nan baryè a.

9.  I saw her at the funeral. - Mwen te wè li nan antèman an.

10. It happened at the worst time. - Sa rive nan pi move moman an.


Use the Haitian Creole "a" when telling time and asking questions with "at". 
Examples
1. At what time are you coming? - A kilè wap vini?

2. At five.  - A senkè.

3. At what temperature? - A ki tanperati?

4. At what age? - A ki laj?

To
The preposition "to" is dropped in sentences that involve directions and locations, and infinitive clauses.
1. I will go to mexico - M prale Meksik.

2. I'm going to church - M prale legliz.

3. I hope to see you . - M espere wè w.

4. I tried to talk. - M eseye pale.

You may also use Haitian Creole word "nan"  to translate preposition "to" in places where you could also use "at".
1. I'm going to church - M prale nan legliz la.

2. She went to the party. - Li ale nan fèt la.

3. I am going to my Mom's. - M prale kay manman m


Use Haitian Creole word "a",  when using phrases such as: "from... to..."
1. From my dad to my mom. - De papa m a manman m.

2. From me to you. - De mwen menm a ou menm.

3. From John to Stacy. - De John a Stacy.

ON
The Haitian Creole word "sou"  usually translates the preposition "on".
Examples;
1. The letter is on the table. - Lèt la sou tab la.

2. Sit on this chair. - Chita sou chèz sa.

3. Put this dress on. - Mete rad sa sou ou.

In
The Haitian Creole word "nan", or "anndan" usually translates the proposition "in"
Examples:
1. She lives in a box. - Li rete nan yon bwat.

2. Put the books in your bag. - Mete liv yo nan valiz ou a.

3. In what year where you born? - Nan ki ane ou te fèt?

4.  In what month? - Nan ki mwa?

5.  You're in trouble. - Ou nan problèm.

Also see other preposition exercises at the following links:
Preposition to
prepositions at, in, from

Exercise 31 - Going Places - Part 1

Did you know that Ki bò and ki kote mean the same thing?

ki bò? - where?
ki kote? - where?

Ki kote ou rete? - Where do you live?
Ki bò ou te fèt? - Where were you born?

Ki kote ou soti? - Where do you come from?
Ki bò ou soti? - Where do you come from?

Ki kote ou te fèt? - Where are you from?
Ki bò ou moun? - Where are you from?

Ki kote ou prale? - Where are you going?
Ki kote Joe prale? - Where is Joe going?
Ki bò nou prale? - Where are we going?

Nan ki vil ou soti? Which/what city are you from?
Nan ki eta ou soti? Which/what state are you from?
Nan ki peyi ou soti? Which/what country are you from?
________________________________________________________
Check out these sentences. See how the prepositions in, from, at are omitted.

I live in Florida - Mwen rete Florida

I come from Haiti - Mwen soti Ayiti

I was born in Port-Au-Prince - Mwen te fèt Port-Au-Prince

My mom was born at Arcahaie - Manman-m te fèt Arcahaie
._________________________________________________________

To do a review on asking questions check out lessons 26 and 27 of the May 2010 blog.

Now that you know how to ask and answer to the question "Where", let's do some exercises!

And..., in order to have answers that you can check against mine, we'll use the following infomation:
Here it goes.

President Bill Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas.
His daughter, Chelsea Clinton, was married in Rhinebeck, New York.
President George H. W. Bush was born on June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachussets.
His son, president George W. Bush, was born in New Haven, Connecticut.
The Obamas are staying at the white house in Washington, D.C. at this time.
President John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachussetts and he was shot in Dallas, Texas.
Sadly his son was killed in a plane crash on his way to Massachussets.

Now, using the above information, answer the following questions (in Haitian Creole) with a complete sentence.

1. Ki kote Chelsea Clinton te marye?

2. Nan ki vil prezidan Clinton te fèt?

3. Ki bò prezidan George H. W. Bush te fèt?

4. Nan ki peyi George W. Bush te fèt?

5. Ki bò prezidan Bill Clinton moun?

6. Nan ki eta yo te tire prezidan John F. Kennedy?

7. Nan ki vil prezidan John F. Kennedy te fèt?

8. Ki kote Obama yo rete?

9. Ki bò JFK Jr ta prale lè li te mouri?

10. Nan ki eta New Haven ye?

ALSO,
Questions to you: Please answer the next five questions pertaining to you.

1. Nan ki vil ou te fèt?

2. Ki kote ou moun?

3. Ki bò papa ou moun?

4. Nan ki eta ou rete?

5. Ki kote ou ta renmen rete?