Datapoint Nigerian Pidgin/Uses of the habitual marker

There is no special habitual marker. The incompletive auxiliary marker dè is used to signal progressive, continuous, and/or habitual meanings.

Values

Habitual and progressive

Example 17-69:
Dì pìkín we̱ ìm dè sìdó̱n fò̱r dyar dè rid.
Dì
art.def
pìkín
child
we̱
rel
ìm
3sg.sbj
dè
ncompl
sìdó̱n
sit
fò̱r
loc
dyar
there
dè
ncompl
rid.
read
The child who is sitting / usually sits there is reading / usually reads.
Example 17-71:
À dè wo̱sh plet.
À
1sg.sbj
dè
ncompl
wo̱sh
wash
plet.
plate
I wash dishes (every day). OR: While I am washing dishes... OR: I am washing dishes.

Source: Faraclas 1996: 202-205

Confidence:
Certain