local_library What You Will Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to use the definite article to add more meaning to prepositions of place and direction.
Now, you don't have to use definite articles in this way when you are speaking Creole. But, doing so adds flow and richness to what you are saying.
Remember, Creole has five definite articles. They are a, la, an, lan and nan.
To have a better understanding of this , you should first check our lesson on using definite articles in Creole. This is because the same rules regarding nasal and non-nasal vowels still apply.
In this lesson, you will learn how to use the definite article to add more meaning to prepositions of place and direction.
Now, you don't have to use definite articles in this way when you are speaking Creole. But, doing so adds flow and richness to what you are saying.
Remember, Creole has five definite articles. They are a, la, an, lan and nan.
To have a better understanding of this , you should first check our lesson on using definite articles in Creole. This is because the same rules regarding nasal and non-nasal vowels still apply.
Emphasizing Prepositions of Place and Direction
Use a definite article after a preposition of place to stress where you are referring to.
Common prepositions of place in Creole are anndan (inside), deyò (outside), anba (down), etc.
As an example, suppose that you want to say The chair is inside in Creole. The standard way of saying that is simply as Chèz la anndan.
But you can use a definite article after the preposition anndan (inside) to stress that the chair really is inside. In that case, it would be Chèz la anndan an.
Consider These Examples
1. The box is inside
• Bwat la anndan
• Bwat la anndan an
2. The dog is outside
• Chen an deyò
• Chen an deyò a
3. It is going down
• Li pral anba
• Li pral anba a
When You Need to Be Careful
You can mainly use the definite article this way when the preposition is the last word in the sentence
Consider These Examples
1. The box is inside the house
Right: Bwat la anndan kay la
Wrong: Bwat la anndan an kay la
2. The dog is out of the cage
Right: Chen an deyò kaj la
Wrong: Chen an deyò a kaj la
3. It is going under the table
Right: Li pral anba tab la
Wrong: Li pral anba a tab la