Lesson 21 - Simple Present and PastTense.

The Simple present and The Simple Past Tense is indicated by the absence of any verbal particles (or the “zero marker”). The simple present is used to express general truths. The tense is learned from context. When the verb appears alone, it indicates an action that will not be repeated.


1. Simple Present Tense: Mwen twavay wèd. (I work hard.)
    Simple past tense: Mwen twavay wèd yè oswè-a. (I worked hard last night)




2. Simple Present Tense: Nou wè Pierre. (We see Pierre.)
   Simple Past Tense: Nou wè Pierre simenn pasé-a. (We saw Pierre last week.)




3. Simple Present Tense: Ou konpwann mwen. (You understand me.)
 Simple Past Tense: Ou konpwann mwen avan. (You understood me before.)


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Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future.

Example:

1. Chat pa tété wat.- (Cats do not suckle rats.)

2. Kochon pa volé. - (Pigs do not fly.)

3. Bondyé pa manti. - (God does not lie.)

The Simple Present Tense can be used to express that an action is happening or not happening now. This can only be done with non-continuous verbs such as the verbs to be, to want, to cost, to need, etc.

Example:

1. Mwen bizwen lanmou'w atwèlman. - (I need your love now.)

2. Mwen pa bizwen lanmou'w atwèlman. - (I don't need your love now.)

3. Nou tini twa tablo Cazabon. - (We have three of Cazabon's paintings.)

4. Nou pa tini twa tablo Cazabon. - (We don't have three Cazabon paintings.)



Note: atwèlman, is one variant of the adverb atjwèlman meaning now.


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The Simple Past Tense.

The Simple Past Tense is used to express an idea that an action was started and completed sometime in the past; occasionally, the speaker may not specify when the action took place, but there is a specific time in mind.

1. Nou dansé oswè-a. - We danced tonight.

2. Manzèl-la bouwi sé fèy-la. - The woman boiled the leaves.

3. Ou kwiyé minis-la? - Did you call the minister?

4. Gangan-mwen pati. - My grandmother left.