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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Exercise 7 - Where are you?

Before we continue on to Exercise 7, here are the answers to Exercise 6 (hope you did well with them).

Answers (Exercise 6)
1. Li pat ale lekòl.
2. Li prale nan teyat la.
3. Yale nan klas chak lendi.
4. Leyla tale nan magazen an.
5. Joujou pa prale nan fèt la.
______________________________________

AUDIO SECTION

This audio clip is downloadble from this link:http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/e3a17c7a-abe3-0f40-f54f-704f06a3d97b.mp3
Click on the play button, listen and follow along.



Let us ask questions with where.

Where - kote
Where - ki kote (or sometimes, Ki bò)
Where - ki bò

1. Where are you? - Ki kote ou ye?  or
2. Where are you? - Kote ou ye?

3. Where's the car? - Ki kote machin nan ye?  or
4.. Where is the car? - Kote machin nan?

5. Where did you go? - Ki kote ou te ale?   or
6. Where did you go? - Kote ou te ale?

7. Where will you stay? - Ki kote ou ap rete?  or
8. Where will you stay? - Kote ou ap rete?

9. Where are the trees? - Ki kote pye bwa yo ye?  or
10. Where are the trees? - Kote pye bwa yo?

Mèsi e orevwa :)

Track:  Nonm sa by Emeline Michel

___________________________________________
Let's Practice


Your turn... Please translate the following sentences.

1. Where is the house?

2. Where did you learn to speak Haitian Creole?

3. Where will you sleep tonight?

4. Where did you hear this song?

5. Where should I go?

Happy translating. I'll post the answers on the next blog. Thanks.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Exercise 6 - Verb to go

You will most often hear the contraction form of the verb to go in daily conversation.

To go - ale
To go - al (contracted form)

1. She went to the market.
Li te ale nan mache a.
Li tale nan mache a. (contracted form)
Li tal nan mache a. (contracted form)

2. We went to the concert yesterday.
Nou te ale nan konsè a yè.
Nou tale nan konsè a yè. (contracted form)
Nou tal nan konsè a yè, (contracted form)

3. We go to school every day.
Nou ale lekòl chak jou.
Nale lekòl chak jou. (contracted form)
Nal lekòl chak jou


4. She will go to the doctor with me.
Li pral ale kay doktè a avèk mwen.
Li prale kay doktè a avèk mwen. (contracted form)
Li pral kay doktè demen. (contracted form)

5. They will not go.
Yo pa pral ale.
Yo pa prale. (contracted form)

__________________________________________

Let's practice. Use contraction.

1. He did not go to school.

2. We will go to the theater.

3. They go to class every Monday.

4. Leyla went to the store.

5. Joujou will not go to the party.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Exercise 5

Here, you will find the answers to the problems in Exercise 4. So please, try to do Exercise 4 on your own and see how well you're doing. Then you may come back here and check your answers.

1. I passed the exam. -Mwen te pase egzamen an. or Mwen pase egzamen an.

2. Do not jump on this bed. -Pa sote sou kabann sa.

3. Are you going to eat these grapefruits? -Eske ou pral maje chadèk sa yo?

4. Did you see my bag? -Eske ou te wè valiz mwen an?

5. My country is in distress. -Peyi mwen an nan detrès.

6. That kid is going to fall off the table. -Ti pitit sa pral tonbe sot sou tab la.

7. The concert will play tonight. -Konsè a pral jwe aswè a.

8. The room is too small. I don't like it. - Chanm nan twò piti. Mwen pa renmen li.

9. Let's go people! Get ready! -An nou ale tout moun! Prepare nou!

10. This car drives too fast. Please slow down. -Machin sa kouri trò vit. Tanpri ralanti.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Exercise 4

Do not do exercise 4 unless you did exercise 3.

Let's translate the sentences from Exercise 3 ...

1. I went to a party yesterday. The music was too loud. The food was bad. And there was no dancing. I had an awful time.

Translation: Mwen te ale nan yon fèt yè. Mizik la te twò fò. Manje a pa te bon. E pa te gen danse. Mwen te pase yon move tan.


2. I read a book last month. It wasn't too bad. It was a good story.
Translation: Mwen te li yon liv mwa dènye. Li pa te mal. Se te yon bon istwa.

Tell me, tell me - I hope you did well here. (you get extra points for using contractions!)
___________________________________________________

More practice exercises for you. - Translate the following sentences. The answer will be placed in the next blog.

1. I passed the exam.

2. Do not jump on this bed.

3. Are you going to eat these grapefruits?

4. Did you see my bag?

5. My country is in distress.

6. That kid is going to fall off the table.

7. The concert will play tonight.

8. The room is too small. I don't like it.

9. Let's go people! Get ready!

10. This car drives too fast. Please slow down.

(we'll also be working with the verb to go next blog. Thanks)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Exercise 3

To answer your questions about VOAnews.com: When you go on that site, you must select "Creole" from the language prompt to hear the news in Creole. They have many different programs in Haitian Creole.

Your homework this week is to listen for these specific words when you listen to the News in Haitian Creole at VOAnews.com:

Listen for:

Yo - they

Pa - (negation)

gen or genyen - to have

te - indicating past. You will hear it after a pronoun (mwen, ou, li, nou, yo)

_______________________________________________________________________

Let's translate a couple of sentences. Do not neglect your article. Take notice of the verb tense. if you need to, go back and review the corresponding lessons. Here it goes. Happy translating!

1. I went to a party yesterday. The music was too loud. The food was bad. And there was no dancing. I had an awful time.

2. I read a book last month. It wasn't too bad. It was a good story.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

List of most frequently used prepositions

about - de

above - anlè


across - anfas


after - aprè


against - kont


along - avè

at - a (or sometimes silent)


because - paske


behind - dèyè


below - anba


beneath - anba


beside - bò kote






besides - antouka


between - nan mitan


down - anba


during - pandan

every, each - chak


except - eksepte


for - pou


from - de


in - nan, anndan

of - (about a subject) sou


on - sou






onto -sou


opposite - opose


out -deyò


outside - deyò


till - jiska


toward - bò zòn, bò kote, vè


under - anba


underneath - anba


until - jiskaske

with - a, ak, avèk





Friday, March 12, 2010

Exercise 2 - Tell me about you

Audio clip will be posted soon!

Conversations start here.
1. Kijan ou rele? - what's your name?
A. M rele Fanò - My name is Fanò


2. Ki kote ou fèt? - where where you born?
A. M te fèt Port-de-Paix, Haiti - I was born in Port-de-Paix, haiti

3. Nan ki mwa ou fèt?  - In what month where you born?
A. M te fèt nan mwa Me - I was born in the month of May.

4. Eske ou marye?  - Are you married?
A. Wi m marye. - yes I am.

5. Eske ou gen timoun?  - Do you have children?
A. Wi, m gen timoun - yes I do

6. Kijan ti moun ou yo rele?  -What are the names of your kids?
 A. Timoun yo rele Michaël ak Joanne - The kids are called Micahel and joanne.

7. Eske w ap travay? - Are you working?
A. Non, m pap travay. - Non, I am not working.

8. Ki sa ou renmen fè?  - What do you like to do?
A. M renmen kouri bisiklèt I like to ride bicycles.

9. Eske ou gen yon machin?  - Do you have a car?
A. Wi m gen yon machinyes I have a car

10. Eske ou renmen vwayaje?  - Do you like to travel?
Wi m renmen vwayaje - Yes, I like to travel.

11. Ki kote ou vizite deja?  - Where have you traveled?
 A. M vizite New York, Itali, Angletè ak Lajantine - I have visited New York, Italy, England and Argentina.

12. Eske ou renmen pale Kreyol?  - Do you like to speak Creole?
A. Wi m renmen pale Kreyol.  -Yes, I like speaking Creole.

Exercise 1 - Answers to Lesson 28

Before we go on... Questions for you: Have you heard any spoken Haitian Creole recently?
Do check out the Haitian internet radio network. It'll be a big help to get your ears used to hearing the language. VOAnews.com is good place to start.

Moving on...

Did you answer the questions in Lesson 28?
Did you answer them in Haitian Creole?

Here are possible answers to those questions.

1. Mwen rele (your name here).

2. Wi, mwen gen yon machin. or Non, mwen pa gen machin.

3. Wi, m ap travay. or Non, m pap travay.

4. Mwen se yon (your profession here).

5. Wi, mwen gen ti moun. or Non, mwen pa gen ti moun.

6. Wi, mwen te manje yon zoranj jodi-a. or Non, mwen pat manje yon zoranj jodi-a.

7. Wi, mwen prale kay doktè demen. or Non, mwen pa prale kay doktè demen.

8. Wi, map chante konye-a. or Non, mwen pap chante kounye-a.

9. Wi m Kanada kounye-a. or Non, m pa Kanada kounye-a.

10. Wi m te gen maldan yè. or Non, m pat gen maldan yè.

11. M pale (your language here).


How did you do?

Did you notice the contractions? ie: mwen = m; mwen pa te = m pat or mwen pat.

...Until next time.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Lesson 28 - Some questions for you

Answer the following questions as they apply to you.

Answer the following questions in Creole.

You may go ahead and write them on a piece of paper.

In the next blog - I'll give you possible answers, and you can check your answers against mine.

The next blogs will be mostly exercises, so we may practice everything we've studied from lesson 1 - 27. Hope you're down for it.



1. Kijan ou rele?


2. Eske ou gen yon machin?


3. Eske w ap travay?


4. Ki metye ou?


5. Eske ou gen ti moun?

6. Eske ou te manje yon zoranj jodi a?



7. Eske ou prale kay doktè demen?

8. Eske w ap chante kounye a?

9.  Eske ou Kanada kounye a?

10. Eske ou te gen maldan yè?

11. Ki lang ou pale?

Lesson 27 - Asking "Wh" questions with the verb To Be

Asking who, what, where, when and how questions with the verb To Be:

What - Ki sa + Subject + ye

Who - Ki moun + Subject + ye

Who - Kilès + Subject + ye

Where - Ki kote + Subject + ye

When - Ki lè + Subject + ye

How - Kòman + Subject + ye

How much - Kombyen + subject + ye

*How many - Kombyen + subject + ki + inquiring sentence

*How come - Kòman fè + inquiring sentence

*Why - Pouki sa + inquiring sentence

*Why - Pouki + inquiring sentence


Example:

1. Who are you? Ki lès ou ye? Or Ki moun ou ye?

2. What is this? Ki sa sa-a ye?

3. When is the party? Ki lè fèt la ye?

4. How is the food? Kòman manje a ye?

5. Where is the river? Kote rivyè - a ye? or Ki kote rivyè-a ye?

6. Why is she angry? Pouki sa li fache?

7. How come you are happy? Kòman fè ou kontan?

8. How come she is still here? Kòman fè li la toujou?

9. How much are these apples? Kombyen pòm sa yo ye?

10. How many people are there? Kombyen moun ki la?
_________________________________________

Let’s review. Translate the following sentences.

1. Who is this lady?

2. What is this thing?

3. When is the flight?

4. Where is the ball?

5. How are you?

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



 1.kilès madanm sa ye?    2.Kisa bagay sa ye?    3.Kilè vòl la ye?    4.Ki kote boul la ye?    5.Kòman ou ye? or Kijan ou ye?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Lesson 26 - Asking "wh" Questions with other verbs

Asking who, what, where, when and how questions with other verbs.

What - Ki sa + Inquiring sentence

Who - Ki moun ki + Inquiring sentence

Who - Kilès ki + Inquiring sentence

Where - Ki kote + Inquiring sentence

Where - Kote + Inquiring sentence

When - Ki lè + Inquiring sentence

How - Kòman / Ki jan + Inquiring sentence

Why - Poukisa + inquiring sentence

Why - Pouki + inquiring sentence

How - Ki jan + inquiring sentence

How come - Kòman fè + inquiring sentence

How much - Kombyen + noun + inquiring sentence

How many - Kombyen + noun + inquiring sentence



Example:

1. What will we eat tonight? - Ki sa nou pral manje aswè-a?

2. What do you want? - Ki sa ou vle?

3. What can we do? - Ki sa nou kab fè?

4. Who wrote the letter? - Kilès ki ekri lèt la?

5. Why do you sing? - Poukisa ou chante?

6. How do open a coconut? -  Kijan ou ouvè yon kokoye?

7. where do live? -  kote ou abite?

8. Who gave you that book? - Kilès ki ba ou liv sa?

__________________________________________________

1. Let’s go to the theater. What do you say?

2. Who ate my oranges?

3. What did you do in class today?

4. How did you make that dress?

5. Where did you see her?

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



1.An nou ale nan teyat la, kisa ou di?    2. Kilès ki te manje zoranj mwen yo?    3.Kisa ou te fè nan klas jodi-a?    4.Kòman ou te fè rad sa-a? or Kijan ou te fè rad sa-a?    5.Ki kote ou te wè li?


Monday, March 8, 2010

Lesson 25 - Asking Yes and No Questions

To ask a Yes or No question, we write "Eske" in front of the sentence.

I am happy. Mwen kontan.
Am I happy? Eske mwen kontan?

She is a student. Li se yon elèv.
Is she a student? Eske li se yon elèv?

You eat quickly - ou manje vit
Do you eat quickly? - Eske ou manje vit?

________________________________________________
Let’s review. Translate the following sentences.

1. The babies were crying.

2. Were the babies crying?

3. He gave me a ring.

4. Did he give me a ring?

5. They speak Creole.

6. Do they speak Creole?

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



1. Ti bebe yo tap kriye    2.Eske ti bebe yo tap kriye?    3.Li te ban m yon bag   4.Eske li te ban m yon bag?    5.Yo pale Kreyòl    6.Eske yo pale Kreyòl











Sunday, March 7, 2010

Lessons 24 - Future Tense and other Verbs

Future Tense and Other Verbs

Future Tense = Subject + Pral + Verb

Or…Future Tense = Subject + Ap + Verb

Contraction: = Subject + P + Verb

(Study the different ways to say something in the future tense)

Examples:

(To go - ale)
1. She will go tomorrow.
(non contracted) - li pral ale demen
(contracted) - li prale demen
(Contracted) - li pral demen


(To see - wè)
2. I will see Joan tomorrow.
(non contracted) Mwen pral wè Joan demen
(contracted)  Mwen ap wè Joan demen
(contracted) M ap wè Joan demen = Map wè Joan demen

(To bring - pote)
3. He will bring the plate.
li pral pote plat la
li ap pote plat la
l ap pote plat la = lap pote plat la

(To be)
4. They will be there.
yo pral la
yo ap la
 yap la

(To sit - chita)
5. We will sit in front.
nou pral chita devan
nou ap chita devan
nap chita devan

____________________________________________
Let’s review. Translate the following sentences.

1. The book will fall.

2. She will tell the story.

3. They will fight.

4. We will have more money.

5. Carline will sit here.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.



1.liv la pral tonbe    2.li pral rakonte istwa a    3.yo pral batay or yo pral goumen    4.nou pral gen plis lajan    5.Carline pral chita la











Saturday, March 6, 2010

Lesson 23 - Future Tense - Verb To Be

The Verb To Be - Future Tense

The future tense of the verb to be is formed by adding pral, ap, or ape after the subject.

I will be late. - M pral anreta.

We will be surprised. - Nou pral sezi.

This will be a great day. Sa pral yon gran jou.

She will be a great painter. Li pral yon gran pent.

Those will be ripe. Sa yo pral mi.

That car will be yours. Machin sa pral pa w.

These shoes will be hers. Soulye sa yo pral pa li.
_____________________________________

Let’s review. Translate the following sentences.

1. The oranges will be ripe.

2. That house will be mine.
______________________________________

Negative and Future Tense of the verb To Be = Subject + Pa + Pral

or

Contracted form = Subject + Pap

Example:

Regular formM pa pral la. (I will not be here.)
Contracted: M p'ap l.a (Iwill not be here.)

Regular form: M pa pral nan machin nan. (I will not be in the car.)
Contracted: M p'ap nan machin nan. (I will not be in the car)

Regular form:  Chantal pa pral chante. (Chantal will not sing)
Contracted: Chantal p'ap chante. (Chantal will not sing)

Regular form: Zoranj yo pa pral mi. (The oranges will not be ripe)
Contracted: Zoranj yo p'ap mi.  (The oranges will not be ripe.)

Regular form: Ti Bebe a pa pral la. (The little baby won't be there)
Contracted: Ti Bebe a p'ap  la. (The little baby won't be there)

Regular form: Li pa pral nan bato a. (She will not be on the boat)
Contracted form: Li p'ap nan bato a. (She will not be on the boat.)


Thanks! Shane :)

Regular form: Tika p'ap kontan. (Tika will not be happy)
Contracted: Tika p'ap pral kontan. (Tika will not be happy)
____________________________________________
Let’s practice what we have learned about the verb TO BE so far. Translate the following sentences.

1. I am hungry.

2. I am not hungry.

3. I was hungry.

4. I was not hungry.

5. I will be hungry.

6. I wil not be hungry

7. She is in the crowd

8. She is not in the crowd

9. She was in the crowd

10. She was not in the crowd

11. She will be in the crowd

12. She will not be in the crowd.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page.

1.m grangou    2.m pa grangou    3.m te grangou    4.m pa te grangou    5.m pral grangou    6.m pa pral grangou    7.Li nan foul la    8.li pa nan foul la    9.li te nan foul la    10.li pa te nan foul la    11.li pral nan foul la    12.li pa pral nan foul la


Friday, March 5, 2010

Lesson 22 - Past Tense

Past tense of the verb  TO BE

The past tense of the verb To Be is formed by adding te after the subject.

She was a nurse.  - Li te yon enfimyè.

Jonas was my friend.  - Jonas te zanmi m.

This was a bird.
  - Sa te yon zwazo.

It was a book - se te yon liv

It was a sad day - se te yon jou tris

Those were Journalists.  - Sa yo te jounalis.

Jo was a great singer.  - Jo te yon gran chantè.
____________________________________

Part I - Here is a little practice. Translate the following sentences.

1. This food was good.

2. Cedò was a friend.

3. That was an airplane.

4. It was a big day.

5. I was happy.

Find your answer key at the bottom of this page.

_____________________________________

Past tense of OTHER VERBS


Past tense = Subject + Te + Verb

*Sometimes people will omit the “te” and just use the present tense when talking of the past.
Examples:
She fell. - Li te tonbe. (or sometimes, 'li tonbe')

We went - nou te ale

I did it - m te fè li

Monète ran fast - Monète te kouri vit

he knocked at the door - li te frape pòt la
___________________________________________

Part II - Let’s review: Please translate the following.

1. I understood

2. we loved it

3. she spoke well

4. we sat together

5. they ate it

6. She went to Haiti this morning.

7. We gave her a big kiss.

8. They cried.

9. She called us when she arrived.

10. She saw a lot of trees.

Find answer key at the bottom of this page

Part I -1.manje sa te bon    2.Cedò se te yon zanmi    3.sa se te yon avyon     4.se te yon gwo jou    5.m te kontan


Part II - 1.m te konprann    2.nou te renmen l    3.li te pale byen    4.nou te chita ansanm    5.li te manje l    6.Li te ale Ayiti maten an    7.Nou te ba li yon gwo bobo    8.Yo te kriye    9.Li te rele nou lè li te rive    10.Li te wè anpil pye bwa