Indicates an action is taking place at present time. Placed before the verb 

Ka 

(mwen ka maché) - I’m walking.

Indicates that an action will take place at some point in the future. 

2. Ké

(Mon ké maché) I will walk

Indicates past tense. Action already happened. 

3. Té 

(Mwen té maché) I walked

Indicates a action was in process of taking place. Equivalent of “was” and “were” in English. 

I was walking. 

4. Té ka

(Mon té ka maché) I was walking. 

Indicates something that has already happened. Placed in front of the verb marker.

You already left.

You already know that.

5. Ja

(Ou ja pati) you already left.

(Ou ja sav sa) you already know that.

Indicates something you would do, or you would have done. Usually used when a certain condition isn’t met. 

I would have walked if the bus didn’t come.

6. Té ké 

(Mon té ké maché, si bòs-la pa té vini) I would have walked if the bus didn’t come.

Contracted form of “ka alé” means “going to” 

I’m going to go down by the bay/sea.

7. K’ay

(mon k’ay desann bodlanmè) I’m going to go down by the bay/sea.

Future tense indicator

Kay

Mwen kay manjé sé lédjim lan - I will eat the vegetables

Past tense indicator

Té

Mwen té manjé sé lédjim lan = I ate the vegetables

Present tense marker

ka

Mwen ka manjé sé lédjim lan = I am eating the vegetables.