Chapter 3: Grammar
You can get with çila or you can with çála.
Demonstrative adjectives are used to specify the noun or the pronoun. In English, you may recognize these such as: ‘This, That, Those, and These.’ In English, these are placed in front of the noun that it is specifying. In Creole, on the other hand, these are placed behind the noun, like the definite article. The demonstrative adjectives are -çila, -çála, -çilayé, and -çálayé.
-çila is used when one thing or one person is close in relative distance. This is equivalent to English’s ‘This.’ -çála is used when one thing or one person is far in relative distance. This is equivalent to English’s ‘That.’
Nonm-çila This man
Shyin-çála That dog
These demonstrative adjectives also have plural forms that specify a noun that consists of two or more things or people. To form the plural forms of the demonstratives, you have to add the plural marker -yé to the ending of the demonstrative adjective. This produces the result -çilayé and -çálayé. -çilayé is used when a group of things or people is relatively close. -çálayé is used when a group of things or people is relatively far.
fenm-çilayé These women
Garçon-çálayé Those boys
Just like in English, these demonstrative adjectives can serve as demonstrative pronouns. A demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun that is either known or deduced through context. Usually used to not repeat the same information. There is one demonstrative pronoun that you have already seen which is ça.
Çila ki konné One who knows
Mo linm ça I like that
| Creole | English |
|---|---|
| -çila | this + noun |
| -çála | that + noun |
| -çilayé | These + noun |
| -çálayé | Those + noun |