Creole Basics
Creole is divided into two main dialects - Badiu in the southern islands (Brava, Fogo, Santiago, Maio) and Sanpajud' in the nothern islands (Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista). Still, every individual island has its differences, and you can even hear different accents between towns on the same island. For instance, Santo Antão Creole, while nominally Sanpajud', is very different from São Vicente, and actually probably deserves its own section.
The way things are written here largely reflect the writing style of the authors. There is no standardized way to write anything in Creole, so everyone will write a little differently. The government developed a standardized alphabet and spelling system called ALUPEC, but it's not widely used outside Santiago.
You may find out more information about Cape Verdean creole at this site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verdean_Creole. It is a great starter for learning crioulu it contains everything from CV crioulu´s origins, to its writing system [ALUPEC], vocabularly, grammar, to examples of Cape Verdean crioulu, and more.
Badiu
Basic Badiu grammar here, please.
Sanpajud'
Basic grammar
Note: Pronunciation is more or less like continental Portuguese - final s and x are pronounced sh, final syllables are clipped, etc.
Pronouns
Subject
I - um or mi
You - bô
You (formal) - bocê
He/She/It - el
We - nos or nô
You (pl) -bsot or bucês
They - es
Object
me - m
you - b
Him/Her/It - l
We - nos
You (pl) - bsot
They - s
Note: These are tacked on at the end of the verb. Sometimes the pronunciation changes minorly. Ex: He told me - El flam; We saw you - Nos oiob; I ate it - Um c'mel
Verbs
Most verbs can be formed from the Portuguese by dropping the r from the infinitive and stressing the final syllable. The final syllable is always stressed in northern Creole. Sometimes other syllables become clipped because of this, and other minor changes about. Example: fazer becomes fazé, comer becomes c'mé, chegar becomes ch'gá. Of course, there are other verbs that are purely Creole invention.
There are no conjugations. Verbs are the same no matter what the pronouns are. Stand up and cheer!
Present simple (habitual)
Simply add 'ta' before the verb.
ex: I run every day - Tud dia um ta corré
Present continuous
Add 'ti ta' before the verb
ex: Wait a minute, I'm eating right now - Sperá um minute, um ti ta c'mé grinhasin
Past simple
Use the verb in its simple form. The past is implied with helping words like before, yesterday, last week, etc
ex: I saw a really ugly dog in the street yesterday - Um oiá um cachorre muite feie na rua ont
Imperfect
Add 'tava ta' before the verb
ex: She was dancing a lot last night - El tava ta dançá tcheu ont de noite
Future
Add 'ta' before the verb. It looks like the present simple, so contextual words must be used.
ex: We'll come eat dinner with you tomorrow - Nô ta bem jantá ma bô manhã