Tok Pisin
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Contents |
[edit] About Tok Pisin
Wikipedia article about Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin Phrasebook (in progress) at Wikitravel
[edit] Phonology (sounds)
[edit] Basic vocabulary and its use
See also Dictionary
[edit] Verbs
There are basically two types of verbs in Tok Pisin: transitive and intransitive.
- In general, transitive verbs end in -im. Example: kisim (sampela samting), take, receive something
- In general, intransitive verbs do not end in -im. Example: slip (long nait), sleep (at night)
[edit] Nouns
Nouns are usually not marked for plural in Tok Pisin.
[edit] Adjectives
There are basically four types of adjectives in Tok Pisin:
- Class 1 adjectives have the suffix -pela in attributive position, and also when they follow the copula. Example: bikpela, big. Bikpela haus, A big building, Haus i bikpela, The building is big.
- Class 2 adjectives have the suffix -pela in attributive position, but they usually lose it when they follow the copula. Example: kolpela, cold. Kolpela wara, Cold water but Wara i kol, The water is cold.
- Class 3 adjectives do not have the suffix -pela. Example: liklik, small. Liklik haus, A small building, Haus i liklik, The building is small.
- Class 4 adjectives do not have the suffix -pela either. Unlike other adjectives, they stand after the noun in attributive position. Example: nogut, bad. Tok nogut, bad words, insults.
[edit] Prepositions
They are two basic prepositions in Tok Pisin: bilong and long.
- bilong is used for attribution. Examples: haus bilong mi, My home; Han bilong diwai, Arm of a tree; branch.
- long is used as an universal preposition for other meanings.
Nevertheless, there is one other self standing preposition: wantaim, with. There are also all kinds of compound preposition like ananit long, under; insait long, in; antap long, on, above, etc.
[edit] Adverbs
[edit] Others
[edit] Basic Grammar
[edit] Getting started
Lessons and exercises
