There are 2 types of articles in Kreyol: The definite article (The) is La for singular and Yo for plural and the indefinite article (A or An) is Yon while the plural (Some) is Kék
Actually Capoix, the definite article "the" can have more than one form in Creole. It all depends on the final sound of the noun the article has a relationship with. Consider the following:
The car=machin nan
The father= papa-a
The mother= manman-an
Actually Capoix, the definite article "the" can have more than one form in Creole. It all depends on the final sound of the noun the article has a relationship with. Consider the following:
The car=machin nan
The father= papa-a
The mother= manman-an
Thanks , I was just about to write down the rest.
Another note: Words that end with m, ng, and nm the article (THE) changes from "La" to "Nan".
For example (Manm nan = the member) ends with "Nan" instead of "La". The way to understand what to use is based on the letter that precedes it.
The rest of the consonants (not including vowels) uses "La".
If the word ends with N then the article (THE) changes from "La" to "AN"-------for example, (Manman an= the mother)
There is also "A" that replaces "La" but is used only after a vowel letter. For example, Ganito wrote "Papa-a" for The Father....notice how "La" is not used because of the vowel "A" and the end of Papa.
So in conclusions:
If a word ends in m, ng, nn and nm the article (THE) changes from "La" to "Nan".
Machin nan = the Car
Chamn nan = the room
If the word end in a vowel (a,e,è, i, o, ò ou) the article (THE) changes from "La" to "a"
Papa-a = The father
Lari a = the street
If the word end with "N" the article (THE) changes from "La" to "AN"
Chen an = the dog.
Maman-an = the mother
Ganito, shouldn't Machin nan be "Machin an" since it ends with "N"? Are is machin written with 2 Ns as in Machinn?
No words in Creole ends in "inn". You don't need the second "n". It's a misconception out there that if you don't have the second "n", it'd be an "hein" sound like in French (Matin). But, not in Creole. "In" is pronounced "inn". if your intent was the "hein" sound, you'd used "en".
In: Desalin, machin, latrin, madivin...
En: Maten ("matin" is not correct. that's French), lanmen, mennen, pwen...
No words in Creole ends in "nn". You don't need the second "n". It's a misconception out there that if you don't have the second "n", it'd be an "hein" sound like in French (Matin). But, not in Creole. "In" is pronounced "inn". if your intent was the "hein" sound, you'd used "en".
In: Desalin, machin, latrin, madivin...
En: Maten ("matin" is not correct. that's French), lanmen, mennen, pwen...
Thanks Queen...but now I'm confused.
I thought "nan" was used only with words ending with M, NG, and NM, But Tibobo used Machin nan......Shouldn't it be written ""Machin an"?
Well, I don't know the rules by heart, but "machin nan" is what's used. Few even say "Machin lan".
Machin an doesn't sound right at all. At least it sounds foreign to me when i say it that way. When it comes to these things, people usually say what sounds right to them. I can't explain it. You grow up hearing them, and you automatically know "Bagay a" is not right, but bagay la, or bagay lan. Just as in the English and French languages there are exceptions, I suppose there exist exceptions as well in Creole concerning some things.
Good lessons guys and gals, I usually write creole as I would say it or hear it, without regards to any grammar rules. I have to stay tuned to this thread.
Actually Capoix, the definite article "the" can have more than one form in Creole. It all depends on the final sound of the noun the article has a relationship with. Consider the following:
The car=machin nan
The father= papa-a
The mother= manman-an
Thanks , I was just about to write down the rest.
Another note: Words that end with m, ng, and nm the article (THE) changes from "La" to "Nan".
For example (Manm nan = the member) ends with "Nan" instead of "La". The way to understand what to use is based on the letter that precedes it.
The rest of the consonants (not including vowels) uses "La".
If the word ends with N then the article (THE) changes from "La" to "AN"-------for example, (Manman an= the mother)
There is also "A" that replaces "La" but is used only after a vowel letter. For example, Ganito wrote "Papa-a" for The Father....notice how "La" is not used because of the vowel "A" and the end of Papa.
So in conclusions:
If a word ends in m, ng, nn and nm the article (THE) changes from "La" to "Nan".
Manm nan = the Car
Chamn nan = the room
If the word end in a vowel (a,e,è, i, o, ò ou) the article (THE) changes from "La" to "a"
Papa-a = The father
Ri a = the street
If the word end with "N" the article (THE) changes from "La" to "AN"
Chen an = the dog.
Maman-an = the mother
Ganito, shouldn't Machin nan be "Machin an" since it ends with "N"? Are is machin written with 2 Ns as in Machinn?
The street is Lari a
She's standing in the street= Li kanpe nan lari a.
No words in Creole ends in "nn". You don't need the second "n". It's a misconception out there that if you don't have the second "n", it'd be an "hein" sound like in French (Matin). But, not in Creole. "In" is pronounced "inn". if your intent was the "hein" sound, you'd used "en".
In: Desalin, machin, latrin, madivin...
En: Maten ("matin" is not correct. that's French), lanmen, mennen, pwen...
Queen, I just want to say this: "in" in Creole gives the sound we have in words like "latrin", pwatrin", etc... and there is no need to double the "n" because there could be no confusion with the "en" sound in "maten". Your observation about the word "maten" is correct. If it's written "matin", it will be pronounced like somebody calling a girl whose name in French is "Martine" with a mute "r" of course.
We do have words in Creole that end with "nn" though. Read this: "Fann nan kann nan pase nan bannann nan!" Sispann fè'm tann sou kabann nan non. Ou genlè konprann m'pa gen bann! (Fraz ak mo yon manm te bay) Could be! I am 60 years old!
No words in Creole ends in "nn". You don't need the second "n". It's a misconception out there that if you don't have the second "n", it'd be an "hein" sound like in French (Matin). But, not in Creole. "In" is pronounced "inn". if your intent was the "hein" sound, you'd used "en".
In: Desalin, machin, latrin, madivin...
En: Maten ("matin" is not correct. that's French), lanmen, mennen, pwen...
Hold on a second. How about the word "Machann" which I guess would become "Machann-nan." Don't you need the extra "n" for the "hein" sound?
Other examples: Kabann, Konprann, Sispann, Tann, etc... Without the second "n" these words are pronounced completely differently and don't mean the same thing. Or are you just talking about words that end in "in or "en"?
No words in Creole ends in "nn". You don't need the second "n". It's a misconception out there that if you don't have the second "n", it'd be an "hein" sound like in French (Matin). But, not in Creole. "In" is pronounced "inn". if your intent was the "hein" sound, you'd used "en".
In: Desalin, machin, latrin, madivin...
En: Maten ("matin" is not correct. that's French), lanmen, mennen, pwen...
Hold on a second. How about the word "Machann" which I guess would become "Machann-nan." Don't you need the extra "n" for the "hein" sound?
Other examples: Kabann, Konprann, Sispann, Tann, etc... Without the second "n" these words are pronounced completely differently and don't mean the same thing. Or are you just talking about words that end in "in or "en"?
you are right...... but then again there's always some exceptions
words that used just one "n": Ban, moman, kontantman.
