- Also written
- En, Wen, Behn
What “Ben” means
Ben marks past tense, just like "did", leaving the verb unchanged: "im ben know di answer" means "he knew the answer". It is the older past marker and also appears as "en" or "wen". It stacks with "a" for a past progressive.
Examples
Im ben know di answer
He knew the answer
Shi ben live a Mobay long time
She lived in Montego Bay a long time ago
Wi ben a live a Portmore dem time deh
We were living in Portmore back then
How to use it
Heard more in rural speech, among older speakers and in deeper Patois. "Did" is the more common everyday choice in Kingston and among younger people.