/bin/ [Atlantic; form derived from Brit. dial. South been and marking past EDD, but its semantic and syntactic source probably African preverbal anterior markers, e.g. Yoruba ti, Efik ma, etc.] preverbal marker 1. anterior time: 1895 You' siste' bin married a year ago (Edwards 94). 1918 Never been seen de sun (Parsons 34). 1966 I been want somebody to eat B' Booky long time (Crowley 56). 1977 I bin like school, and I like church till now (Shilling 71). cf. MEI (Black)

2. hypothetical actions contrary to fact: 1966 If I been listening to my brother Rabby, I been going home a long time (Crowley 51). 1977 He woulda bin vex with me for life if I bin ever catch him (Shilling 72). When them stinging ants bite you, you wish you bin dead (Nassau). (Black)