Lesson 28 - Negatives [Part 3] NOT YET

In order to express that someone has NOT YET been done, the word pòkò is placed BEFORE THE VERB, adjective or another adverb. The Creole word Pòkò (po(r)/ko(r) - don't pronounce the "r", use the same vowel)) is derived from the French adverb [pas encore] which means not yet.

Example :

1. Mwen pòkò kouwan an Katalan. - I'm not yet fluent in Catalan.

2. Ou pòkò pwan dité. - You have not had breakfast yet.

3. Ti bébé-a pòkò dòmi. - The little baby is not sleeping yet.

4. Adrian pòkò wivé. - Adrian has not arrived yet.

5. Maman pòkò fòni vivanno-a. - Mother has not baked the red snapper yet.

6. Pòkò asiz. - Do not sit down yet.

7. Pòkò koumansé. - Do not start yet.

8. Pòkò fini sa. - Do not finish that yet.

9. Pòkò di li ayen. - Do not say anything to him / her yet.


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Here are some other examples:

10. És ou fini? - Are you finished?
Non mwen pòkò fini! - No, I'm not finished yet!

11. Zò ja palé ba' y? - Have you spoken to him already?
Non, nou pòkò palé ba 'y - No, we have not spoken to him yet.

12. Éskè'w ba yo liv-la? - Did you give them the book?
Pòkò - Not yet.

Lesson 27 - Negative Sentences [NEVER]

In the last lesson, we learned how to construct and use negative imperatives, we were also reminded that negative sentences are formed by placing "PA" before verbs, adjectives, adverbs and tense markers. In this lesson we will learn how to use the adverb NEVER in a sentence. The Creole equivalent of the negative adverb NEVER is formed by placing "PA" BEFORE the word janmen; the Creole word "janmen" is derived from the French word [jamais] which means "never". Tense markers usually maintain their position being placed after the negative determiner PA; tense markers may also be placed after the construction [pa+janmen] 1. Mwen pa konnèt ou - I don't know you. 2. Mwen pa té janmen konnèt ou - I never knew you. 3. Yo pa kozé. - They don't chat. 4. Yo pa janmen kozé. They never chat. 5. James pa ka bat tanbou.- James does not play drums. 6. James pa janmen ka bat tanbou. - James never plays drums. 7. Mwen pa ka palé konsa. - I don't speak like that. 8. Mwen pa janmen palé konsa. - I never speak like that. 9. Nou pa sòti. - We don't go out. 10. Nou pa janmen sòti. - We never go out. 11. Pa li sa. - Don't read that. 12. Pa janmen li sa. - Never read that. Here are some other examples : 13. i twò ta. - It's too late. 14. i pa janmen twò ta. - It's never too late. 15. Mwen ké kité'w. - I will leave you. 16. Mwen pa ké janmen kité'w. - I will never leave you. 17. Yo ké rayi'w. - They will hate you. 18. Yo pa ké janmen rayi'w. - They will never hate you. 19. Obliyé mwen! - Forget me! 20. Pa janmen obliyé mwen! - Don't ever forget me! 21. Janmen! - Never! 22. Pa janmen di janmen! - Never say never!

Lesson 26 - Negative Sentences [Part 2]

In Lesson 10, we learned that in Trinidadian French Creole a negative sentence is formed by placing "PA" BEFORE the verb, adjective or adverb; "pa" is also placed before any tense markers. In this short lesson we will have a short review before being introduced to other types of negative statements.

1. Mwen pa ka manjé lay. - I don't eat garlic.

2. Sésé Bernard pa ka palé. - Bernard's sister does not speak.

3. Nou pa vlé vizité'w. - We don't want to visit you.

4. Mwen pa ka tjwit vyann. - I don't cook meat.

5. Zòt pa kontan. You [all] are not happy.

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There isn't / There aren't.

6. Pa ni manjé lakay. - There isn't any food at home.

7. Pa ni klas Mékwédi. - There aren't any classes on Wednesday.

8. Pa ni twavay. - There are no jobs.

9. Pa ni pwòblèm. - There's no problem.

10. Pa ni plas pou mwen la. - There is no place for me here.

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Negative Imperatives.


11. Pa touché. - Don't touch.

12. Pa fouté yo. - Don't hit them.

13. Pa di sa. - Don't say that.

14. Pa pléwé. - Don't cry.

15. Pa wi. - Don't laugh.

16. Pa pè. - Don't be afraid.

17. Pa faché. - Don't be angry.

18. Pa asiz. - Don't sit.

19. Pa doubout. - Don't stand.

20. Pa kouché. - Don't lie down.

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.


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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.