Lesson 15 - Asking Questions with the "WH" words [Part 1]

Asking questions with the WH- words using the auxiliary verbs. In order to start a conversation in any language, you have to use some key question words. Asking questions with the WH-words is formulated with the help of auxiliary verbs (do, did, will, should, etc.) In Trinidadian French Creole, most WH- questioning words are formed using “KI” (kee).


What - Kisa? (kee-sa)


When - Kilè or Ki tan (kee-leh / kee-ta[n])


Where - Ki koté or Ki bò (kee-ko-tay / kee-boh)


Which - Ki or Kilès <--- [which one] (kee / kee-lehs)


Who - Ki moun, Kilès, Kilès ki (kee-moon / kee-lehs / kee-lehs-kee)


Why - Pouki, Poukisa <--- [for emphasis] (poo-kee / poo-kee-sa)


In Trinidadian French Creole, WH-words must be placed at the beginning of a questioning sentence, in the correct tense; there are no exceptions to this rule.


1. Kisa ou anvi?
What do you want?


2. Ki lè nou k'alé nan New York?
When are we going to New York?


3. Ki koté mwen té ka alé?
Where was I going?


4. Ki bò lékòl-li yé?
Where is his school?


5. Ki mwa ou vlé pati?
In which month do you want to leave?


6. Ki moun mwen yé?
Who am I?


7. Kilès ou vlé?
Which one you want?


8. Kilès ki volè lajan-yo?
Who stole their money?


9. Pouki ou bwizé vaz-la?
Why did you shatter the vase?


10. Poukisa ou té manti ba yo?
Why did you lie to them?