How-To Creole

How to Contract Possessive Pronouns

Advanced Lesson

What You Will Learn

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• You will learn how to contract the Creole possessive pronouns mwen, nou, ou, li, and yo.
• You will learn how contract Creole possessive pronouns along with the word pa for emphasis.
• It is important to remember that you don't have to contract possessive pronouns. This is optional.

How to Contract Possessive Pronouns

Key Point

• Only contract possessive pronouns after a word that ends with a vowel.

• This applies two both types of Creole vowels: nasal and non-nasal vowels.
• The nasal vowels are an, en and on and the non-nasal vowels are a, e, è, i, o, ou and oun.

• You can contract possessive pronouns after a word that ends with any of those vowels except for oun.
• The Creole possessive pronouns are mwen (my), nou (our), ou (your), li (his or her), and yo (their).

Consider These Examples

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>< Contraction < > No contraction

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• 1. My beautiful gift.
• >< Bèl kado m.
• < > Bèl kad mwen.
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• 2. His dog.
• >< Chen l.
• < > Chen li.

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Contracting 'Pa' with Possessive Pronouns

Key Points

• 1. You can use the word pa before a possessive pronoun to stress who or what something belongs to.
• 2. Using pa along with possessive pronouns to stress ownership is completely up to you. It is optional.

Consider These Examples

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>< Contraction < > No contraction

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• 1. My beautiful gift.
• >< Bèl kado pa m.
• < > Bèl kad pa mwen.
•  
• 2. His dog.
• >< Chen pa l.
• < > Chen pa li.

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