Datapoint Belizean Creole/Uses of the habitual marker

The use of invariant verbs is also a common expression of habituality. The third sentence (Example 91) illustrates the combination of the bare stem and the use of the habitual particle.

Values

Habitual and progressive

Example 9-53:
Di leydi me de waʧ a wid wan sayd a i ayz.
Di
the
leydi
lady
me
ant
de
prog
waʧ
watch
a
him
wid
with
wan
one
sayd
side
a
of
i
her
ayz.
eyes
The lady was watching him sideways.

Source: Escure 1980-1989

Example 9-90:
Dodo de tro di krefiʃ in de i musa de tink dat.
Dodo
dodo
de
hab
tro
throw
di
the
krefiʃ
crayfish
in
in
de
there
i
he
musa
must
de
hab
tink
think
dat.
that
When Dodo throws the lobster in it (ice-box), he must think that. OR: When Dodo (fisherman) throws the lobster into his ice-box, that's what he must think (he calls his ice-box "Bugs' Graveyard").

Source: Escure 1985

Example 9-91:
A mek dat wen sizan de an en de wok krefiʃ.
A
1sg
mek
make
dat
that
wen
when
sizan
season
de
hab
an
on
en
and
de
hab
wok
work
krefiʃ.
crayfish
I make that when the season is on and I work lobster. OR: I earn (as much money) when during the lobster season.

Source: Escure 1985

Example 9-93:
Wi no de stodi dat.
Wi
we
no
neg
de
prog
stodi
study
dat.
that
We are not paying attention to that.

Source: Escure 1983: 42

Confidence:
Certain