Di verb “to be” for Naija Pidgin

As e be with most languages, di verb “to be” na one of di most common and flexible verbs for Naija Pidgin. Dis article go break down di different forms and functions of “to be”, and e go give yu examples wey go make yu sabi am well-well.

Forms of di verb “to be”

For Naija Pidgin, di verb “to be” get three different forms:

Dey

Di “dey” form of di verb “to be” get several functions:

To describe identity or characteristics

We dey use “dey” to show haw person or something be. For example:

Di food déy hot and spicy.
Yu déy very happy today.

To describe state or condition

“Dey” fit describe di state or condition of persin or something.

My phone déy bad.
I no go work becos I déy sick.
My papa déy sleepy.

To indicate location

“Dey” dey answer di question “wer?” E dey show wer person or something déy for particular time.

I déy Lagos right now.
Yor food déy kitchen.
Oga déy office. E no fit talk.

As linking verb

We dey use “dey” connect di subject of sentence to di subject complement.

I déy busy tonight.
My phone déy expensive.

As tense marker

“Dey” na tense marker or auxiliary verb wey we dey use form some tenses for Naija Pidgin.

Past Tense

Tense	Example
Past Continuous	We bin dey work dat time.
Past Perfect Continuous	I bin don dey find work before I get dis job.

Present Tense

Tense	Example
Simple Present	I dey watch news.
Present Continuous	I dey chop eba. Yu go chop?
Present Perfect Continuous	I don dey try reach yu since morning.

Future Tense

Tense	Example
Future Continuous	Di company go dey start operations next quarter.
Future Perfect Continuous	I go don dey work for three hours before break time.

For commands and instructions

We dey use “dey” wen we dey give command or instruction. Example:

Make una déy quiet!
Déy yor lane abeg.

Be

Di “be” form of “to be” get couple of functions wey e dey serve.

As identity marker

For Naija Pidgin, “be” na identity marker. We dey use am define person or something.

She be teacher.
Jason be my brother and Lucia be my sister.
I be di owner of di car.

To ask question

We dey use “be” ask question with di question words “hu”, “wetin” and “wich”. For example:

Abeg wetin be yor name?
Hu be dat for my door?
Wich of una be lawyer?

For di subjunctive mood

We dey use “be” take express hypothetical situations, or to express wish or desire.

If I be yu, I go tell am di truth.
If na me be yor papa, I for don disown yu.

Na

Di “na” form of “to be” still get im own functions:

As identity marker

Just like haw “be” dey work, we dey use “na” too as identity marker to show hu persin be, or to take define something. Examples:

Dis na my bag.
John na awa family doctor.
My mama na my role model.
Buka na place wey dem dey sell food.

To form cleft sentence

We dey use “na” to form cleft sentences. Dese be di kind sentences wey dey put emphasis for one particular element. Examples:

Na today di song go drop.
Na my pikin dey dance.
Na December wey we marry.