Di verb “to be” for Naija Pidgin

As e dey 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 dèy use “dey” to show haw persin or something be. For example:

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

To describe state or condition

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

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

To indicate location

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

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

As linking verb

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

I dey busy tonight.
My phone dey expensive.

As tense marker

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

Past Tense

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

Present Tense

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

Future Tense

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

For commands and instructions

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

Make una dey quiet!
Dey yor lane abeg.

Be

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

As identity marker

For Naija Pidgin, “be” na identity marker. We dèy use am define persin 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 dèy 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 dèy 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” dèy work, we dèy 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 dèy sell food.

To form cleft sentence

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

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