Lesson 10 - The Negative Present Tense

In Trinidadian French Creole, pa is used to make a sentence negative; the negative present tense is formed by placing pa BEFORE the verb or adjective or adverb in the sentence.


1. Yo vlé yon liv wouj - They want a red book.
2. Yo pa vlé yon liv wouj - They don't want a red book.


3. Mwen enmen lavé chyen-an - I like to wash the dog.
4. Mwen pa enmen lavé chyen-an - I don't like to wash the dog.


5. Nou swèf - We are thirsty.
6. Nou pa swèf - We are not thirsty.


7. Mamay-la jòlòt - The child is cute.
8. Mamay-la pa jòlòt - The child is not cute.


Note: Remember that when we speak in the Simple Present Tense, no verbal markers are used.


------------------------------
Let's practise. Please translate the following


1. We don't have money.

2. Annette is not beautiful.

3. They do not see us.

4. The priest is not married.

5. The apples are not green.

6. You don't want that?

7. I don't need glasses.

8. Do not speak like that.

9. Don't touch that.

10. John is not short.

You'll find find the answers directly below:


1. Nou pa tini lajan 2. Annette pa bèl. 3. Yo pa wè nou. 4. Pwèt-la pa mayé. 5. ponm-fwans-la pa vèt.


6. Ou pa vlé sa? 7. Mwen pa bizwen linnèt. 8. Pa palé kon sa. 9. pa touché sa. 10. John pa kout.