local_library What You Will Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to contract the word ki in Haitian Creole.
What you need to focus on is how to contract ki before the words al or ap.
In this lesson, you will learn how to contract the word ki in Haitian Creole.
What you need to focus on is how to contract ki before the words al or ap.
The contraction of the word ki is simply written as /k/.
There are two ways you can contract ki.
You can do so before the word al or before the word ap.
The word ki is basically a "filler pronoun" that gives more explanation.
Ki can mean "that" or "who" (e.g. Bwat ki la → Box that is here; Moun ki la → People who are here).
Contracting Ki - Two Rules You Need to Know
1. You can contract ki before al as k al.
2. You can contract ki before ap as k ap.
How to Contract "Ki" before "Al"
The contraction of ki and al is written as k al.
The word al is basically a short version of ale, and it means "to go."
Since ki is a filler pronoun that means "that" or "who," and the word al means "to go, " the words ki and al put together mean "that goes" or "who goes."
Consider These Examples
»•« Contraction «•» No Contraction
1. People who go outside
»•« Moun k al deyò
«•» Moun ki al deyò
2. The man who goes inside
»•« Gason an k al anndan
«•» Gason an ki al anndan
3. The car that goes straight
«•» Moun ki al deyò
2. The man who goes inside
»•« Gason an k al anndan
«•» Gason an ki al anndan
3. The car that goes straight
»•« Machin k al dwat
«•» Machin ki al dwat
As you have seen from earlier lessons in this series, the word ap is used in front of a verb to show a continuous or ongoing action.
As a result, when ki comes before ap, it means "that is," "that are," "who is," etc.
»•« Contraction «•» No Contraction
1. People who are trembling
»•« Moun k ap tranble
«•» Moun ki ap tranble
2. A phone that is working
»•« Yon telefòn k ap travay
«•» Yon telefòn ki ap travay
3. A man who is running
»•« Yon gason k ap kouri
«•» Yon gason ki ap kouri
Even if you choose not to use them, other people who are speaking Creole to you will use them. If you don't know how contractions work, you might have some difficulty understanding what they are saying. Hence, do not neglect learning contractions in Creole.
«•» Machin ki al dwat
How to Contract "Ki" Before "Ap"
The contraction of ki and ap is k ap.
As you have seen from earlier lessons in this series, the word ap is used in front of a verb to show a continuous or ongoing action.
As a result, when ki comes before ap, it means "that is," "that are," "who is," etc.
Consider These Examples
»•« Contraction «•» No Contraction
1. People who are trembling
»•« Moun k ap tranble
«•» Moun ki ap tranble
2. A phone that is working
»•« Yon telefòn k ap travay
«•» Yon telefòn ki ap travay
3. A man who is running
»•« Yon gason k ap kouri
«•» Yon gason ki ap kouri
To Contract or Not to Contract?
The choice is yours! You don't have to contract words in Haitian Creole if you don't want to do so. However, you would sound much more natural if you were to do so. Furthermore, knowing the contractions is still important.Even if you choose not to use them, other people who are speaking Creole to you will use them. If you don't know how contractions work, you might have some difficulty understanding what they are saying. Hence, do not neglect learning contractions in Creole.