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vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Possession"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Possession</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Possession-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" 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data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Grammar of the Lao language</div> <p><a href="/wiki/Lao_language" title="Lao language">Lao</a> is generally a <a href="/wiki/Subject%E2%80%93verb%E2%80%93object" class="mw-redirect" title="Subject–verb–object">subject–verb–object</a> language, but emphasis can move the object to the beginning of a sentence. The language lacks both agreement and case marking, but word order is very free, with predicate-argument relations determined largely through context. Lao is a <a href="/wiki/Right-branching_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Right-branching language">right-branching language</a>, much like other <a href="/wiki/Southeast_Asian_languages" class="mw-redirect" title="Southeast Asian languages">Southeast Asian languages</a> and, to a lesser extent, <a href="/wiki/Romance_languages" title="Romance languages">Romance languages</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Politeness">Politeness</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Politeness"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Since Lao culture is stratified based on the age, occupation, wealth or clout of the speaker, one must afford differing amounts of respect based on the discrepancy between one person and another. That affects language as well; to make language more polite, more formal language, including of pronouns (which can otherwise be dropped) and more formal versions of them, and sentence-ending particles can be used. Also, ending particles also serve to soften and make one's speech more polite. </p> <ul><li>ແດ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">dé</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dɛ̄ː]</span>)</li></ul> <p>In addition to ending most general statements and the softening of imperatives and requests, it is also used to intensify the meaning (especially of adjectives and adverbs) more politely, to make the use of demonstrative pronouns more polite, or to indicate a certain amount or some extent of something. </p> <ul><li>ເດີ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">deu</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dɤ̀ː]</span>) or ເດີ້ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">deu</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dɤ̂ː]</span>) or ເດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">dè</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dèː]</span>)</li></ul> <p>They are used as a more intensive version of ແດ່, thus giving requests and demands more urgency and are used for statements that tend to be more emphatic. They are, therefore, not as polite. ເດ also has the sense of <i>and what about</i> or to indicate an equivalent to <i>this</i> as a demonstrative pronoun. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Nouns">Nouns</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Nouns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Nouns are not marked for <a href="/wiki/Plural" title="Plural">plurality</a>, <a href="/wiki/Gender" title="Gender">gender</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Declension" title="Declension">declension</a> but may be single or plural. Unlike in English, nouns are not marked with articles. <a href="/wiki/Measure_word" title="Measure word">Measure words</a> or classifiers (ລັກສະໜະນາມ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">laksana naam</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[lāk<span class="wrap"> </span>sā.náʔ<span class="wrap"> </span>náːm]</span>) are often used to express plurals, as <a href="/wiki/Classifier_(linguistics)" title="Classifier (linguistics)">classifiers</a> must be used to count objects, but the noun itself remains unchanged. </p><p>Verbs of physical action are easily converted into nouns by adding ການ (kan <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kàːn]</span>) before the verb. Abstract actions and adjectives use ຄວາມ (khwam <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰúam]</span>) instead. </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1209690778">.mw-parser-output .interlinear .bold{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .interlinear .smallcaps{text-transform:uppercase;font-size:smaller}</style><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເດີນທາງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">deunthang</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dɤ̀ːn<span class="wrap"> </span>tʰáːŋ]</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;">to travel (v.)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">nominalised into</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ການ</u>ເດີນທາງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kan deunthang</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kàːn<span class="wrap"> </span>dɤ̀ːn<span class="wrap"> </span>tʰáːŋ]</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;">travel (n.)</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເດີນທາງ {} <u>ການ</u>ເດີນທາງ</p><p style="display: none;">deunthang {} {kan deunthang}</p><p style="display: none;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dɤ̀ːn<span class="wrap"> </span>tʰáːŋ]</span> {} <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kàːn<span class="wrap"> </span>dɤ̀ːn<span class="wrap"> </span>tʰáːŋ]</span></p><p style="display: none;">{to travel (v.)} {nominalised into} {travel (n.)}</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄຶດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khuet</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰɯ̄t]</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;">to think (v.)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">nominalised into</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຄວາມ</u>ຄຶດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khoam khuet</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰuám<span class="wrap"> </span>kʰɯ̄t]</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;">thought (n.)</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຄຶດ {} <u>ຄວາມ</u>ຄຶດ</p><p style="display: none;">khuet {} {khoam khuet}</p><p style="display: none;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰɯ̄t]</span> {} <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰuám<span class="wrap"> </span>kʰɯ̄t]</span></p><p style="display: none;">{to think (v.)} {nominalised into} {thought (n.)}</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ດີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/diː/</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;">good (adj.)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">nominalised into</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຄວາມ</u>ດີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khoam di</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰuám<span class="wrap"> </span>dìː]</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;">goodness (n.)</p></div><p style="display: none;">ດີ {} <u>ຄວາມ</u>ດີ</p><p style="display: none;">di {} {khoam di}</p><p style="display: none;"><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/diː/</span> {} <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰuám<span class="wrap"> </span>dìː]</span></p><p style="display: none;">{good (adj.)} {nominalised into} {goodness (n.)}</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Pronouns">Pronouns</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Pronouns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable IPA" style="text-align: center"> <tbody><tr> <th>Pronoun</th> <th>BGN/PCGN</th> <th><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA" title="Help:IPA">IPA</a></th> <th>Meaning </th></tr> <tr> <td>ຂ້ອຍ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khoy</i></span></td> <td>[kʰɔ̏j]</td> <td>I/me (general) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ຂ້ານ້ອຍ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khanoy</i></span></td> <td>[kʰȁː nɔ̂ːj]</td> <td>I/me (formal) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ຂ້າ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">kha</i></span></td> <td>[kʰȁː]</td> <td>I/me (informal) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ເຮົາ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">hao</i></span></td> <td>[háw]</td> <td>we/us </td></tr> <tr> <td>ເຈົ້າ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">chao</i></span></td> <td>[t͡ɕâw]</td> <td>you (general) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ທ່ານ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">than</i></span></td> <td>[tʰāːn]</td> <td>you (very formal) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ສູ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">sou</i></span></td> <td>[sǔː]</td> <td>you (informal) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ເຂົາ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khao</i></span></td> <td>[kʰǎw]</td> <td>he/him/she/her (formal, general) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ລາວ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">lao</i></span></td> <td>[láːw]</td> <td>he/him/she/her (very informal) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ເພິ່ນ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">pheun</i></span></td> <td>[pʰɤn]</td> <td>he/him/she/her (very formal) </td></tr> <tr> <td>ມັນ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">man</i></span></td> <td>[mán]</td> <td>it (very rude if used on a person) </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Pronouns (ສັບພະນາມ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">sap pha nam</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[sáp<span class="wrap"> </span>pʰā.náːm]</span>) are often dropped in informal contexts and replaced with nicknames or kinship terms, depending on the relation of the speaker spoken to (sometimes even spoken about). Pronouns can change based on register of speech, including the obsolete royal and the formal, informal and vulgar. In more formal language, pronouns are more often retained and more formal ones used. Pronouns can be pluralized by adding ພວກ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">phuak</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pʰûak]</span>) in front: ພວກເຈົ້າ (<span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pʰûak.t͡ɕâw]</span>) for "you plural". Age and status determine usage. Younger children's names are often prefixed with ບັກ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">bak</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[bāk]</span>) and ອີ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">i</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ʔìː]</span>), respectively. Slightly older children are addressed to or have their names prefixed with ອ້າຍ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">ai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ʔâːj]</span>) and ເອື້ອຍ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">èw-ai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ʔɯâj]</span>), respectively, but ພີ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">phi</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pʰīː]</span>) is also common. Much older people may be politely dressed as aunt, uncle, mother, father, or even grandmother or grandfather, depending on their age. In a company setting, one's title is often used. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Demonstrative_pronouns">Demonstrative pronouns</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Demonstrative pronouns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable IPA" style="text-align: center"> <tbody><tr> <th>Demonstrative Pronoun</th> <th>BGN/PCGN</th> <th><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA" title="Help:IPA">IPA</a></th> <th>Meaning </th></tr> <tr> <td>ນີ້</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">ni</i></span></td> <td>[nîː]</td> <td>this </td></tr> <tr> <td>ນັ້ນ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">nan</i></span></td> <td>[nân]</td> <td>that </td></tr> <tr> <td>ເຫຼົ່ານີ້</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">lao ni</i></span></td> <td>[lāw nīː]</td> <td>these </td></tr> <tr> <td>ເຫຼົ່ານັ້ນ</td> <td><span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">lao nan</i></span></td> <td>[lāw nân]</td> <td>those </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Verbs">Verbs</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Verbs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Lao <a href="/wiki/Verb" title="Verb">verbs</a> (ກະລິຍາ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">karigna</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kā.lī<span class="wrap"> </span>ɲáː]</span>) are not conjugated for <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_tense" title="Grammatical tense">tense</a>, <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_mood" title="Grammatical mood">mood</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_person" title="Grammatical person">person</a>. Tense is indicated by using time reference words, such as <i>yesterday</i>, <i>next year</i>, <i>just now</i> or by certain particles. Nouns that begin with ການ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">kan</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kàːn]</span>) or ຄວາມ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khwam</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰúam]</span>), often nominalised verbs, become verbs again when those particles are dropped. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Copula">Copula</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Copula"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Lao has two forms of the verb <i>to be</i>, ເປັນ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">pèn</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pèn]</span>) and ແມ່ນ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">maen</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[mɛ̄n]</span>) which are somewhat interchangeable. As a general rule, the latter is not used to describe people. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນົກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Nok</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Nok</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ເປັນ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pen</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>be</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໝໍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">doctor</p></div><p style="display: none;">ນົກ <u>ເປັນ</u> ໝໍ</p><p style="display: none;">Nok pen mo</p><p style="display: none;">Nok <u>be</u> doctor</p><p style="clear: left;">Nok <u>is</u> a doctor.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນັ້ນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Nan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">That</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບໍ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">not</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ແມ່ນ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mèn</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>be</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຮືອ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">heua</p><p style="margin: 0px;">boat.</p></div><p style="display: none;">ນັ້ນ ບໍ່ <u>ແມ່ນ</u> ເຮືອ</p><p style="display: none;">Nan bo mèn heua</p><p style="display: none;">That not <u>be</u> boat.</p><p style="clear: left;">That <u>is</u> not a boat.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tense">Tense</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Tense"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In a general, in a short Lao sentence, the verb is often not marked for tense and can be taken from context, with words such as <i>yesterday</i>, <i>tomorrow</i>, <i>later</i>, etc. If the subject of when the events occurred is already known, they can also be left out and inferred from dialogue. However, there are several ways to mark tense in Lao: </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Past">Past</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Past"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The most common way to indicate a completed action is to end a statement with ແລ້ວ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">lèw</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[lɛ̂ːw]</span>). That can also be used to indicate events that occurred in the recent past. One can also use the particle ໄດ້ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dâj]</span>) preceding the verb, alone or in conjunction with ແລ້ວ, although this is less common and often used in negative statements and never for a continuous action. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ແບ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bae</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[bɛ̂ː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ລົງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">long</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lóŋ</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ma</p><p style="margin: 0px;">máː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຈາກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">chak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">t͡ɕàːk</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພູ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phou</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰúː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ແລ້ວ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">laew</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lɛ̂ːw]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ແບ້ ລົງ ມາ ຈາກ ພູ <u>ແລ້ວ</u></p><p style="display: none;">bae long ma chak phou laew</p><p style="display: none;">[bɛ̂ː lóŋ máː t͡ɕàːk pʰúː lɛ̂ːw]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The goat (<u>just</u>) c<u>a</u>me down from the mountain.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ແບ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bae</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[bɛ̂ː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບໍ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bɔ̄ː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໄດ້</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dâj</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ລົງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">long</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lóŋ</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ma</p><p style="margin: 0px;">máː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຈາກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">chak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">t͡ɕàːk</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພູ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phou</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰúː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ແລ້ວ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">laew</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lɛ̂ːw]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ແບ້ ບໍ່ <u>ໄດ້</u> ລົງ ມາ ຈາກ ພູ <u>ແລ້ວ</u></p><p style="display: none;">bae bo dai long ma chak phou laew</p><p style="display: none;">[bɛ̂ː bɔ̄ː dâj lóŋ máː t͡ɕàːk pʰúː lɛ̂ːw]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The goat d<u>id</u> not come down from the mountain.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Future">Future</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Future"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There are two markers used to indicate actions to be completed in the future, ຊິ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">si</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[sī]</span>) and ຈະ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">cha</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[t͡ɕáʔ]</span>). Both of these always precede the verb. To indicate that something is just about to happen, one can say ກຳລັງຈະ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">kamlang cha</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kàm.láŋ<span class="wrap"> </span>t͡ɕá]</span>). </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄົນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khon</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰón</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">na</p><p style="margin: 0px;">náː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຈະ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">cha</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tɕáʔ</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກິນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kin</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kìn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຂົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰȁw</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໜຽວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nio</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nǐaw]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຄົນ ນາ <u>ຈະ</u> ກິນ ເຂົ້າ ໜຽວ</p><p style="display: none;">khon na cha kin khao nio</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰón náː tɕáʔ kìn kʰȁw nǐaw]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The farmer <u>will</u> eat sticky rice.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄົນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khon</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰón</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">na</p><p style="margin: 0px;">náː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຊິ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">si</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sī</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກິນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kin</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kìn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຂົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰȁw</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໜຽວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nio</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nǐaw]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຄົນ ນາ <u>ຊິ</u> ກິນ ເຂົ້າ ໜຽວ</p><p style="display: none;">khon na si kin khao nio</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰón náː sī kìn kʰȁw nǐaw]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The farmer <u>will</u> eat sticky rice.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄົນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khon</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰón</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">na</p><p style="margin: 0px;">náː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ກຳລັງຈະ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kamlang cha</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kàm.láŋ tɕáʔ</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກິນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kin</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kìn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຂົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰàw</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໜຽວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nio</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nǐaw]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຄົນ ນາ <u>ກຳລັງຈະ</u> ກິນ ເຂົ້າ ໜຽວ</p><p style="display: none;">khon na {kamlang cha} kin khao nio</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰón náː {kàm.láŋ tɕáʔ} kìn kʰàw nǐaw]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The farmer is <u>just about to eat sticky rice</u>.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Progressive">Progressive</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Progressive"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Although no particle is generally needed to mark a <a href="/wiki/Present_progressive" class="mw-redirect" title="Present progressive">present progressive</a> statement, Lao uses three, ພວມ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">phuam</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pʰuám]</span>) and ກຳລັງ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">kamlang</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kàm.láŋ]</span>) before the verb, ຢູ່ (yu <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[jūː]</span>) after it. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເດັກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dèk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[dék</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ພວມ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phouam</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰúam</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນອນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">non</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nɔ́ːn]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເດັກ <u>ພວມ</u> ນອນ</p><p style="display: none;">dèk phouam non</p><p style="display: none;">[dék pʰúam nɔ́ːn]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The baby is (<u>still/currently</u>) sleep<u>ing</u>.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເດັກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dèk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[dék</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ກຳລັງ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kamlang</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kam̀.láŋ</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນອນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">non</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nɔ́ːn]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເດັກ <u>ກຳລັງ</u> ນອນ</p><p style="display: none;">dèk kamlang non</p><p style="display: none;">[dék kam̀.láŋ nɔ́ːn]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The baby is (<u>still/currently</u>) sleep<u>ing</u>.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເດັກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dèk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[dék</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນອນ<u>ຢູ່</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">non-you</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nɔ́ːn jūː]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເດັກ ນອນ<u>ຢູ່</u></p><p style="display: none;">dèk non-you</p><p style="display: none;">[dék {nɔ́ːn jūː}]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The baby is (<u>still/currently</u>) sleep<u>ing</u>.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Modal_verbs">Modal verbs</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Modal verbs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Modal or <a href="/wiki/Auxiliary_verbs" class="mw-redirect" title="Auxiliary verbs">auxiliary verbs</a> (ວິກະຕິກະລິຍາ, vikatikaligna) are verbs that serve auxiliary function, such as want, obligation or need like English <i>ought to</i>, <i>should</i>, <i>must</i>, <i>can</i>, etc. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Obligation">Obligation</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Obligation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ຄວນ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khouan</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰuán]</span>) <i>Should, ought to</i> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຂະເຈົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khachao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">they.<span class="gloss-abbr" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">FORMAL</span></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຄວນ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khouan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">should</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເວົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">vao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">speak</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກັບ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gap</p><p style="margin: 0px;">with</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຈົ້າແຂວງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">chao khwaeng</p><p style="margin: 0px;">governor.</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຂະເຈົ້າ <u>ຄວນ</u> ເວົ້າ ກັບ ເຈົ້າແຂວງ</p><p style="display: none;">khachao khouan vao gap {chao khwaeng}</p><p style="display: none;">they.FORMAL should speak with governor.</p><p style="clear: left;">They <u>should</u> speak with the governor.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຈົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Chao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຄວນ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khouan</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>should</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນົບ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nop</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bow</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເມື່ອ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">meu</p><p style="margin: 0px;">when</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ທ່ານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">than</p><p style="margin: 0px;">mister</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສະມິຖ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">samit</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Smith</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຂົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">enter</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ma</p><p style="margin: 0px;">come.</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເຈົ້າ <u>ຄວນ</u> ນົບ ເມື່ອ ທ່ານ ສະມິຖ ເຂົ້າ ມາ</p><p style="display: none;">Chao khouan nop meu than samit khao ma</p><p style="display: none;">you <u>should</u> bow when mister Smith enter come.</p><p style="clear: left;">You <u>ought to</u> <i>nop</i> (bow) when Mr. Smith comes inside.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Need">Need</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Need"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ຕ້ອງ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">tong</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[tɔ̂ŋ]</span>) <i>to need, must</i>.<br /> When the need is a noun, ຕ້ອງການ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">tong kan</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[tɔ̂ŋ<span class="wrap"> </span>kàːn]</span>) is used instead. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມື້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">meu</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[mɯ̂ː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">day</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນີ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ni</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nîː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">this</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຕ້ອງ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tong</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tɔ̂ŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>must</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄປ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pàj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">go (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຮັດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">het</p><p style="margin: 0px;">hēt</p><p style="margin: 0px;">do (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">na</p><p style="margin: 0px;">náː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">field</p></div><p style="display: none;">ມື້ ນີ້ <u>ຕ້ອງ</u> ໄປ ເຮັດ ນາ</p><p style="display: none;">meu ni tong bai het na</p><p style="display: none;">[mɯ̂ː nîː tɔ̂ŋ pàj hēt náː]</p><p style="display: none;">day this <u>must</u> {go (v)} {do (v)} field</p><p style="clear: left;">'Today, I must till the fields.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຊ່າງຄຳ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Sangkham</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[sāːŋ kʰám</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jeweller</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຕ້ອງການ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tong kan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tɔ̂ŋ kàːn</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>must+ການ</u> (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄຳ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kham</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰám]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">gold</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຊ່າງຄຳ <u>ຕ້ອງການ</u> ຄຳ</p><p style="display: none;">Sangkham {tong kan} kham</p><p style="display: none;">[{sāːŋ kʰám} {tɔ̂ŋ kàːn} kʰám]</p><p style="display: none;">jeweller {<u>must+ການ</u> (v)} gold</p><p style="clear: left;">'The jeweller needs gold.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Want">Want</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Want"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ຢາກ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">yak</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[jȁːk]</span>, <i>to want, to desire</i><br /> Used to express a want or desire. When this is a noun, then the form ຢາກໄດ້ (yak dai <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[jȁːk<span class="wrap"> </span>dâj]</span>) or the common verb ເອົາ (ao <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[àw]</span>) is used instead, but the latter is not as polite. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເອື້ອຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Euy</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[ʔɯ̂aj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">older sister</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຢາກ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">yak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jȁːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>want</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄປ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pàj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">go</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ວຽງຈັນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Vientiane</p><p style="margin: 0px;">wíaŋ.t͡ɕàn]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Vientiane</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເອື້ອຍ <u>ຢາກ</u> ໄປ ວຽງຈັນ</p><p style="display: none;">Euy yak pai Vientiane</p><p style="display: none;">[ʔɯ̂aj jȁːk pàj wíaŋ.t͡ɕàn]</p><p style="display: none;">{older sister} <u>want</u> go Vientiane</p><p style="clear: left;">'Older sister <u>wants</u> to go to Vientiane.'<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement" title="Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute"><span title="The material near this tag is possibly inaccurate or nonfactual. (September 2010)">dubious</span></a> – <a href="/wiki/Talk:Lao_grammar#Dubious" title="Talk:Lao grammar">discuss</a></i>]</sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Cleanup" title="Wikipedia:Cleanup"><span title="Wikipedia:Cleanup">check IPA for <i>euy</i></span></a></i>]</sup></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເອື້ອຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Euy</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[ɯ̂aj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">older sister</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຢາກ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">yak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jȁːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>want</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໄດ້</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dâj</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໄດ້</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຜົວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phoua</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰǔa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">husband</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ວຽງຈັນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Vientiane</p><p style="margin: 0px;">wiáŋ.t͡ɕàn]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Vientiane</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເອື້ອຍ <u>ຢາກ</u> <u>ໄດ້</u> ຜົວ ວຽງຈັນ</p><p style="display: none;">Euy yak dai phoua Vientiane</p><p style="display: none;">[ɯ̂aj jȁːk dâj pʰǔa wiáŋ.t͡ɕàn]</p><p style="display: none;">{older sister} <u>want</u> <u>ໄດ້</u> husband Vientiane</p><p style="clear: left;">'Older sister <u>wants</u> a husband from Vientiane.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ເອົາ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[àw</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>want</u> (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຕຳຫມາກຫຸ່ງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tammakhoung</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tàm.mȁːk.hūŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">papaya salad</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ທີ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">thi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tʰīː</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນຶ່ງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">neung</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nɯ̄ŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">one</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບໍ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bɔ̄ː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">no</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໃສ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sāj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">add (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ປາແດກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">padèk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pàː.dɛ̏ːk]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Lao fish sauce</p></div><p style="display: none;"><u>ເອົາ</u> ຕຳຫມາກຫຸ່ງ ທີ່ ນຶ່ງ ບໍ່ ໃສ່ ປາແດກ</p><p style="display: none;">ao tammakhoung thi neung bo sai padèk</p><p style="display: none;">[àw tàm.mȁːk.hūŋ tʰīː nɯ̄ŋ bɔ̄ː sāj pàː.dɛ̏ːk]</p><p style="display: none;">{<u>want</u> (v)} {papaya salad} CL one no {add (v)} {Lao fish sauce}</p><p style="clear: left;">I <u>want</u> one dish of papaya salad without <a href="/wiki/Padaek" title="Padaek">padaek</a>.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Can,_be_able_to"><span id="Can.2C_be_able_to"></span>Can, be able to</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Can, be able to"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ໄດ້ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dâj]</span>) <i>to get, to have, to be able to</i><br /> That is used to indicate the ability to do something. It is the closest Lao word for the English verb <i>can</i> and in requests when English speakers would use <i>may</i>. When used in that sense, it follows the verb; before the verb, the meaning changes to <i>to get</i> or <i>to have</i>. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phou thao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pʰȕː.tʰȁw</p><p style="margin: 0px;">old man</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຍ່າງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gnang</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ɲāːŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">walk (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສິບຫ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sip ha</p><p style="margin: 0px;">síp hȁː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">fifteen</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກິໂລເມ້ດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kilomet</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kī.lóː.mēt</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kilometer</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄດ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dâ]</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>can</u> (v)</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ ຍ່າງ ສິບຫ້າ ກິໂລເມ້ດ ໄດ້</p><p style="display: none;">{phou thao} gnang {sip ha} kilomet dai</p><p style="display: none;">[{pʰȕː.tʰȁw} ɲāːŋ {síp hȁː} kī.lóː.mēt dâ]</p><p style="display: none;">{old man} {walk (v)} fifteen kilometer {<u>can</u> (v)}</p><p style="clear: left;">'The old man <u>can</u> walk fifteen kilometres.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຂ້ານ້ອຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khanoy</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰȁː.nɔ̂ːj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຊ່ວຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">soi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sɔ̄ːj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">help (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ທ່ານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">than</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tʰāːn</p><p style="margin: 0px;">you (formal)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄດ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dâj</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>can</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບໍ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bɔ̄ː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">INTERR</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຂ້ານ້ອຍ ຊ່ວຍ ທ່ານ ໄດ້ ບໍ່</p><p style="display: none;">khanoy soi than dai bo</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰȁː.nɔ̂ːj sɔ̄ːj tʰāːn dâj bɔ̄ː]</p><p style="display: none;">I {help (v)} {you (formal)} <u>can</u> INTERR</p><p style="clear: left;">'<u>May</u> I help you?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>ເປັນ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">pèn</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pèn]</span>) <i>to be, to be able to</i><br /> In addition to being a verb for the copula, it can also be used to indicate that one can do something because of knowing how to do it. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄົນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Khon</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰón</p><p style="margin: 0px;">person</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຝະຫຼັ່ງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">farang</p><p style="margin: 0px;">fā.rāŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">French</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເສດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">sȅːt</p><p style="margin: 0px;">speak (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ປາກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pȁːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">language</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພາສາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phasa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰáː.sǎː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Lao</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ລາວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">láːw</p><p style="margin: 0px;">language</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ເປັນ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pen</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pen]</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>can</u></p></div><p style="display: none;">ຄົນ ຝະຫຼັ່ງ ເສດ ປາກ ພາສາ ລາວ <u>ເປັນ</u></p><p style="display: none;">Khon farang {} pak phasa lao pen</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰón fā.rāŋ sȅːt pȁːk pʰáː.sǎː láːw pen]</p><p style="display: none;">person French {speak (v)} language Lao language <u>can</u></p><p style="clear: left;">'The Frenchman (<u>can/knows how to</u>) speak the Lao language.'<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Cleanup" title="Wikipedia:Cleanup"><span title="Wikipedia:Cleanup">check romanization and IPA for <i>falang</i></span></a></i>]</sup></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄັນທັບ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Khanthap</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰán.tʰāp</p><p style="margin: 0px;">court dancer</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ປະໂຄມ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pakhom</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pā.kʰóːm</p><p style="margin: 0px;">play (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພິນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phin</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰín</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lute</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເປັນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pen</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pèn</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>can</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ດ້ວຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">duay</p><p style="margin: 0px;">duâj]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">also</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຄັນທັບ ປະໂຄມ ພິນ ເປັນ ດ້ວຍ</p><p style="display: none;">Khanthap pakhom phin pen duay</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰán.tʰāp pā.kʰóːm pʰín pèn duâj]</p><p style="display: none;">{court dancer} {play (v)} lute <u>can</u> also</p><p style="clear: left;">The court dancer (<u>can/knows how to</u>) play the lute.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>ສາມາດ...ໄດ້ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">samat...dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[sǎː<span class="wrap"> </span>mâːt<span class="wrap"> </span>...<span class="wrap"> </span>dâj]</span>) <i>to be able to, to be possible</i><br /> It functions much like <i>can</i> but with the sense of being physically possible to do. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເດັກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dek</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[dék</p><p style="margin: 0px;">child</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຜູ້ຊາຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phousai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰȕː.sáːj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">boy</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບໍ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bɔ̄ː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">not</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສາມາດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">samat</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sǎː.mâːt</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>can</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຍົກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gnok</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ɲōk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lift (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໂຕ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">to</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tòː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">CL</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄວາຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khwai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰuáj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">water buffalo</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຂຶ້ນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kun</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰɯ̏n</p><p style="margin: 0px;">upward</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄດ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dâj]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ໄດ້.</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເດັກ ຜູ້ຊາຍ ບໍ່ ສາມາດ ຍົກ ໂຕ ຄວາຍ ຂຶ້ນ ໄດ້</p><p style="display: none;">dek phousai bo samat gnok to khwai kun dai</p><p style="display: none;">[dék pʰȕː.sáːj bɔ̄ː sǎː.mâːt ɲōk tòː kʰuáj kʰɯ̏n dâj]</p><p style="display: none;">child boy not <u>can</u> {lift (v)} CL {water buffalo} upward ໄດ້.</p><p style="clear: left;">'The boy cannot lift a water buffalo.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Enter,_join"><span id="Enter.2C_join"></span>Enter, join</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Enter, join"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ເຂົ້າ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khao</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰȁw]</span>, <i>to enter, to join, to participate</i><br /> Used to indicate movement from one place to another inside, such as a house or building. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຮົາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[háw</p><p style="margin: 0px;">We</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ເຂົ້າ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰàw</p><p style="margin: 0px;">enter</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄປ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">paj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">go</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຮືອນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">heuan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">hɯán]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">house</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເຮົາ <u>ເຂົ້າ</u> ໄປ ເຮືອນ</p><p style="display: none;">hao khao bai heuan</p><p style="display: none;">[háw kʰàw paj hɯán]</p><p style="display: none;">We enter go house</p><p style="clear: left;">'We go <u>into</u> the house.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Recipiency">Recipiency</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Recipiency"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>ໃຫ້, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">hai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[hȁj]</span> <i>to give, to permit, to let</i><br /> Used to indicate that the verb is intended for someone or something else or to express a desire, a wish, or a command. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຂໍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Kho</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰɔ̌ː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">request</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໃຫ້</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">hȁj</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>give</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">míː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">have</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໂຊກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sok</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sôːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">luck</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ດີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dìː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">good</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຂໍ <u>ໃຫ້</u> ມີ ໂຊກ ດີ</p><p style="display: none;">Kho hai mi sok di</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰɔ̌ː hȁj míː sôːk dìː]</p><p style="display: none;">request <u>give</u> have luck good</p><p style="clear: left;">'I wish (<u>to/for</u>) you good luck.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ດອກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Dok</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[dɔ̏ːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">flower</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກຸຫຼາບ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kulap</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kū.lȁːp</p><p style="margin: 0px;">rose</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນີ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ni</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nîː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">this</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຢາກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">yak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jȁːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">want</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໃຫ້</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">hàj</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>give</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">nîː</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຈົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">t͡ɕâw</p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">míː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">have</p></div><p style="display: none;">ດອກ ກຸຫຼາບ ນີ້ ຢາກ <u>ໃຫ້</u> {} ເຈົ້າ ມີ</p><p style="display: none;">Dok kulap ni yak hai {} jao mi</p><p style="display: none;">[dɔ̏ːk kū.lȁːp nîː jȁːk hàj nîː t͡ɕâw míː]</p><p style="display: none;">flower rose this want <u>give</u> {} you have</p><p style="clear: left;">'This flower I want (<u>to/for</u>) you to have it.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Affirmation_and_negation">Affirmation and negation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Affirmation and negation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>To say <i>no</i> is as simple as saying ບໍ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">bo</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[bɔ̄ː]</span>), and negation simply involves placing that word in front of the verb, adjective, adverb, or noun to be negated. To say yes, especially to indicate that one is listening, one uses ໂດຍ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">doi</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dòːj]</span>), especially in formal situations, or ເຈົ້າ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">chao</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[t͡ɕâw]</span>). To answer a question, one often repeats the verb of action that was used in the question to indicate that that action was or will be completed. One can also use ແມ່ນ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">mén</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[mɛ̄n]</span>), especially if the question had ແມ່ນ, as an element of the interrogative particle. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Adverbs_and_adjectives">Adverbs and adjectives</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Adverbs and adjectives"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Little distinction can be made between adjectives and adverbs, as any adjective that could logically be used to modify a verb can also be used as an adverb. They are often duplicated to indicate a superlative and can even be modified like verbs, mainly by the lack of a <a href="/wiki/Copula_(linguistics)" title="Copula (linguistics)">copula</a> to link the object and adjective/adverb. Adjectives come after the noun. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຊ້າງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Sang</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[sâːŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">elephant</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຊ້າ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sâː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">slow</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຊ້າງ <u>ຊ້າ</u></p><p style="display: none;">Sang sa</p><p style="display: none;">[sâːŋ sâː]</p><p style="display: none;">elephant slow</p><p style="clear: left;">'A slow elephant.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄປ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Bai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[baj</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບ້ານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ban</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bâːn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຊ້າ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sâː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໆ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">saa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sâː]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ໄປ ບ້ານ <u>ຊ້າ</u> ໆ</p><p style="display: none;">Bai ban sa saa</p><p style="display: none;">[baj bâːn sâː sâː]</p><p style="clear: left;">'Go to the village slowly.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສາວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Sao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[sǎːw</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ງາມ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngam</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ŋáːm</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ທີ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">thi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tʰīː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">wai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">wáj]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ສາວ <u>ງາມ</u> ທີ່ ໄວ</p><p style="display: none;">Sao ngam thi wai</p><p style="display: none;">[sǎːw ŋáːm tʰīː wáj]</p><p style="clear: left;">'A lady who becomes pretty quickly.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບ່າວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Bao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[bāːw</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ທີ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">thi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tʰīː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຊິ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">si</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sī</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໂກ້</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ko</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kôː]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ບ່າວ ທີ່ ຊິ <u>ໂກ້</u></p><p style="display: none;">Bao thi si ko</p><p style="display: none;">[bāːw tʰīː sī kôː]</p><p style="clear: left;">'A boy who will be handsome.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Equivalence,_comparatives,_and_superlatives"><span id="Equivalence.2C_comparatives.2C_and_superlatives"></span>Equivalence, comparatives, and superlatives</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Equivalence, comparatives, and superlatives"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>To indicate that something is the same, one uses ຄືກັນ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khu kan</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰɯ́ː<span class="wrap"> </span>kàn]</span>). To indicate that one is similar to something else, one uses ຄືກັບ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khu kap</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kʰɯ́ː<span class="wrap"> </span>káp]</span>). </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພາສາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Phasa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pʰáː.sǎː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ລາວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">láːw</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ແລະ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lae</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lɛ̄ʔ</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພາສາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phasa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pʰáː.sǎː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ອີສານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">isan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ìː.sǎːn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phasa</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຄື</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khu</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰɯ́ː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ກັນ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kàn]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ພາສາ ລາວ ແລະ ພາສາ ອີສານ {} <u>ຄື</u> <u>ກັນ</u></p><p style="display: none;">Phasa lao lae phasa isan phasa khu kan</p><p style="display: none;">[pʰáː.sǎː láːw lɛ̄ʔ pʰáː.sǎː ìː.sǎːn {} kʰɯ́ː kàn]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The Lao language and the Isan language are the same.'<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Cleanup" title="Wikipedia:Cleanup"><span title="Wikipedia:Cleanup">check romanization and IPA</span></a></i>]</sup></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ອາຫານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Ahan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[ʔàː.hǎːn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຈີນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">chin</p><p style="margin: 0px;">t͡ɕìːn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບໍ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bɔ̄ː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຄື</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khu</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰɯ́ː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ກັບ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kap</p><p style="margin: 0px;">káp</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ອາຫານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ahan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ʔàː.hǎːn</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ລາວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">láːw]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ອາຫານ ຈີນ ບໍ່ <u>ຄື</u> <u>ກັບ</u> ອາຫານ ລາວ</p><p style="display: none;">Ahan chin bo khu kap ahan lao</p><p style="display: none;">[ʔàː.hǎːn t͡ɕìːn bɔ̄ː kʰɯ́ː káp ʔàː.hǎːn láːw]</p><p style="clear: left;">'Chinese cuisine is not the same as Lao cuisine.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Comparatives take the form "A ກວ່າ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">kwa</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[kuā]</span>) B", or A <i>is more than</i> B. The superlative is expressed by "A ທີ່ສຸດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">thisut</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[tʰīː<span class="wrap"> </span>sút]</span>)", or A <i>is the best</i>. All adjectives can be altered in this way: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຜອງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pong</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pʰɔ̌ːŋ]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tall</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">+</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">+</p><p style="margin: 0px;">+</p><p style="margin: 0px;">+</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກວ່າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kwa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/kuāː/</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="comparative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">COMP</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">=</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">=</p><p style="margin: 0px;">=</p><p style="margin: 0px;">=</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຜອງ<u>ກວ່າ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pong kwa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pʰɔ̌ːŋ kūa]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tall<u>er</u></p></div><p style="display: none;">ຜອງ + ກວ່າ = ຜອງ<u>ກວ່າ</u></p><p style="display: none;">pong + kwa = {pong kwa}</p><p style="display: none;">[pʰɔ̌ːŋ] + /kuāː/ = {[pʰɔ̌ːŋ kūa]}</p><p style="display: none;">tall + COMP = tall<u>er</u></p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນ້ອຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">noy</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/nɔ̂ːj/</p><p style="margin: 0px;">small</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">+</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">+</p><p style="margin: 0px;">+</p><p style="margin: 0px;">+</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກວ່າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kwa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/kuāː/</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="comparative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">COMP</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">=</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">=</p><p style="margin: 0px;">=</p><p style="margin: 0px;">=</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນ້ອຍ<u>ກວ່າ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">noy kwa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[nɔ̂ːj kūa]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">small<u>er</u></p></div><p style="display: none;">ນ້ອຍ + ກວ່າ = ນ້ອຍ<u>ກວ່າ</u></p><p style="display: none;">noy + kwa = {noy kwa}</p><p style="display: none;">/nɔ̂ːj/ + /kuāː/ = {[nɔ̂ːj kūa]}</p><p style="display: none;">small + COMP = small<u>er</u></p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄູ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Khou</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[kʰúː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ປ່ອ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pong</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pɔ̄ːŋ</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ງ<u>ກວ່າ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kwa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kūa</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນັກຮຽນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nak hian</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nāk.hían]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ຄູ ປ່ອ ງ<u>ກວ່າ</u> ນັກຮຽນ</p><p style="display: none;">Khou pong kwa {nak hian}</p><p style="display: none;">[kʰúː pɔ̄ːŋ kūa nāk.hían]</p><p style="clear: left;">'The teacher is smarter than the student.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສາວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Sao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[sǎːw</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນັ້ນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nân</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ງາມ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngam</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ŋáːm</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ທີ່ສຸດ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">thisut</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tʰīː.sút]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ສາວ ນັ້ນ ງາມ <u>ທີ່ສຸດ</u></p><p style="display: none;">Sao nan ngam thisut</p><p style="display: none;">[sǎːw nân ŋáːm tʰīː.sút]</p><p style="clear: left;">'That lady is the pretti<u>est</u>.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Questions">Questions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Questions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Lao uses special tag words at the beginning or the end of the sentence to indicate a question, so the modern use of the question mark (?) is redundant. </p><p>Yes–no questions end in ບໍ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">bo</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[bɔ̄ː]</span>), but Lao also has other sentence interrogative finals that indicate whether or not the speaker expects an answer, knows the answer to be expected, will be surprised, or is rhetorically asking a question, but they are generally used only in conversational settings. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສະບາຽ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sabai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[sā.bàːj</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ດີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dìː</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ບໍ່</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bɔ̄ː]</p></div><p style="display: none;">ສະບາຽ ດີ <u>ບໍ່</u></p><p style="display: none;">sabai di bo</p><p style="display: none;">[sā.bàːj dìː bɔ̄ː]</p><p style="clear: left;">'Are you well?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Other common interrogatives<br /> Who? ຜູ້ໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">phoudai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pʰȕː<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>) and its common short form ໃຜ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">phai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pʰǎj]</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຜູ້ໃດ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phoudai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pʰȕː dàj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">who.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຂາຽ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰǎːj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sell (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄຂ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰāj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">egg</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄກ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kāj]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">chicken</p></div><p style="display: none;"><u>ຜູ້ໃດ</u> ຂາຽ ໄຂ່ ໄກ່</p><p style="display: none;">phoudai khai khai kai</p><p style="display: none;">[{pʰȕː dàj} kʰǎːj kʰāj kāj]</p><p style="display: none;">who.INTERR {sell (v)} egg chicken</p><p style="clear: left;">'Who sells chicken eggs?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໃຜ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">phai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pʰǎj</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>who</u>.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກັບໄປ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kap pai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">káp pàj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">leave for (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຈຳປາສັກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Champassak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">t͡ɕàm.pàː.sák]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Champassak</p></div><p style="display: none;"><u>ໃຜ</u> ກັບໄປ ຈຳປາສັກ</p><p style="display: none;">phai {kap pai} Champassak</p><p style="display: none;">[pʰǎj {káp pàj} t͡ɕàm.pàː.sák]</p><p style="display: none;"><u>who</u>.INTERR {leave for (v)} Champassak</p><p style="clear: left;">'<u>Who</u> left for Champassak?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>What? ຈັ່ງໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">changdai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[t͡ɕāŋ.dàj]</span>) and its common short form ຫຽັງ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">gnang</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ɲǎŋ]</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ອາວ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Ao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[ʔàːw</p><p style="margin: 0px;">uncle</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຢາກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">yak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jȁːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">want (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເບິ່ງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">beung</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bɤ̄ŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">watch (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຫຽັງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gnang</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ɲăŋ]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">what.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ອາວ ຢາກ ເບິ່ງ ຫຽັງ</p><p style="display: none;">Ao yak beung gnang</p><p style="display: none;">[ʔàːw jȁːk bɤ̄ŋ ɲăŋ]</p><p style="display: none;">uncle {want (v)} {watch (v)} what.INTERR</p><p style="clear: left;">'What does Uncle want to watch?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຮັດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">het</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[hēt</p><p style="margin: 0px;">do (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຈັ່ງໃດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">changdai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">t͡ɕāŋ.dàj]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">what.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ເຮັດ ຈັ່ງໃດ</p><p style="display: none;">het changdai</p><p style="display: none;">[hēt t͡ɕāŋ.dàj]</p><p style="display: none;">{do (v)} what.INTERR</p><p style="clear: left;">'What are you doing?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Where? ໃສ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">sai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[săj]</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">louang Phabang</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[luǎːŋ pʰā.bàːŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="/wiki/Luang_Phrabang" class="mw-redirect" title="Luang Phrabang">Luang Phrabang</a></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຢູ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">you</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jūː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">to be at (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໃສ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sǎj]</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>where</u>.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ ຢູ່ ໃສ</p><p style="display: none;">{louang Phabang} you sai</p><p style="display: none;">[{luǎːŋ pʰā.bàːŋ} jūː sǎj]</p><p style="display: none;">{<a href="/wiki/Luang_Phrabang" class="mw-redirect" title="Luang Phrabang">Luang Phrabang</a>} {to be at (v)} <u>where</u>.INTERR</p><p style="clear: left;">'<u>Where</u> is Luang Phrabang?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>When? ເມື່ອໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">mua dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[mɯ̄a<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>), and many others.<br /> There are numerous ways to ask when something will occur, many of which are formed by adding ໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/dàj/</span>) <i>which</i> after a noun marking time, e.g., ເວລາໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">vela dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[wéː<span class="wrap"> </span>láː<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>), ຍາມໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">gnam dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ɲáːm<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>), and ປານໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">pan dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pàːn<span class="wrap"> </span>dài]</span>). </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ເມື່ອໃດ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mua dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[mɯ̄a dàj</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>When</u>.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຊິ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">si</p><p style="margin: 0px;">si</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="future tense" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">FUT</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄປ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">paj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">go (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ປາກເຊ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Pakxe</p><p style="margin: 0px;">pȁːk séː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="/wiki/Pakxe" class="mw-redirect" title="Pakxe">Pakxe</a></p></div><p style="display: none;"><u>ເມື່ອໃດ</u> ຊິ ໄປ ປາກເຊ</p><p style="display: none;">{mua dai} si pai Pakxe</p><p style="display: none;">[{mɯ̄a dàj} si paj {pȁːk séː}]</p><p style="display: none;"><u>When</u>.INTERR FUT {go (v)} <a href="/wiki/Pakxe" class="mw-redirect" title="Pakxe">Pakxe</a></p><p style="clear: left;">'<u>When</u> will you go to Pakxe?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Why? ເປັນຈັ່ງໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">pen changdai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[pèn<span class="wrap"> </span>t͡ɕāŋ.dàj]</span>)<br /> The phrase by itself can also mean <i>What's wrong?</i>, but can also ask why or for what reason a condition is occurring. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ເປັນຈັ່ງໃດ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pen changdai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pèn t͡ɕāŋ.dàj</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>why</u>.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄົນຫາປາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khon ha pa</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰón hǎː pàː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">fisherman</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pen</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຊົບເຊົາອີ່ຫຼີ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sop sao ili</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sōp sáw ʔīː.lǐː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sad really</p></div><p style="display: none;"><u>ເປັນຈັ່ງໃດ</u> ຄົນຫາປາ {} ຊົບເຊົາອີ່ຫຼີ່</p><p style="display: none;">{pen changdai} {khon ha pa} pen {sop sao ili}</p><p style="display: none;">{[pèn t͡ɕāŋ.dàj} {kʰón hǎː pàː} {} {sōp sáw ʔīː.lǐː]}</p><p style="display: none;"><u>why</u>.INTERR fisherman {} {sad really}</p><p style="clear: left;">'Why is the fisherman really sad?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>How?<br /> ແນວໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">nèw dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[nɛ́ːw<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>)<br /> There are numerous ways to ask <i>how?</i>, some interchangeable with Lao equivalents for <i>what?</i> and <i>why?</i> but in the sense of how something is accomplished or done, one can also use ເຊັ່ນໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">sen dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[sēn.dàj]</span>), ຢ່າງໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">yang dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[jāːŋ<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>) or ດັ່ງໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">dang dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[dāŋ.dàj]</span>). </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຮັດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">het</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[hēt</p><p style="margin: 0px;">do (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ແນວໃດ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nèw dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nɛ́ːw dàj]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">how.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ເຮັດ <u>ແນວໃດ</u></p><p style="display: none;">het {nèw dai}</p><p style="display: none;">[hēt {nɛ́ːw dàj}]</p><p style="display: none;">{do (v)} how.INTERR</p><p style="clear: left;"><u>How</u> does one do it?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>How Much/Many? (General Things) ຈັກ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">chak</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[t͡ɕák]</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບາດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bat</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/bȁːt</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Now</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນີ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ni</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nīː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">here [right now]</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຈັກ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">chak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tʃák</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>how many</u></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຄົນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khon</p><p style="margin: 0px;">khón</p><p style="margin: 0px;">people</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄປ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">pai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">paj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">go (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສູ່ຂວັນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sukhwan</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sūːkʰwǎːn/</p><p style="margin: 0px;">baisi ceremony</p></div><p style="display: none;">ບາດ ນີ້ <u>ຈັກ</u> ຄົນ ໄປ ສູ່ຂວັນ</p><p style="display: none;">bat ni chak khon pai sukhwan</p><p style="display: none;">/bȁːt nīː tʃák khón paj sūːkʰwǎːn/</p><p style="display: none;">Now {here [right now]} {<u>how many</u>} people {go (v)} {baisi ceremony}</p><p style="clear: left;">'<u>How many</u> people attend the baisi ceremony?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>How Much? (Price) ເທົ່າໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">thao dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[tʰāw<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>) or its variant ທໍ່ໃດ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">tho dai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[tʰɔ̄ː<span class="wrap"> </span>dàj]</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສິ້ນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sin</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[sȉn</p><p style="margin: 0px;">skirt</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">si</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sǐː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">colour</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ແດງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dèng</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dɛ̀ːŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">red</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນີ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ni</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nī</p><p style="margin: 0px;">this</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເທົ່າໃດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">thao dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tʰāw.dàj]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">how much.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ສິ້ນ ສີ ແດງ ນີ້ ເທົ່າໃດ</p><p style="display: none;">sin si dèng ni {thao dai}</p><p style="display: none;">[sȉn sǐː dɛ̀ːŋ nī {tʰāw.dàj]}</p><p style="display: none;">skirt colour red this {how much.INTERR}</p><p style="clear: left;">'How much is this red skirt?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Right? Correct? ແມ່ນບໍ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">mèn bo</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[mɛ̄n<span class="wrap"> </span>bɔ̄ː]</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພຣະຍານາກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Phagna Nak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[pʰā.ɲáː nâːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Dragon</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ພັກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ອາໄສ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">you</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jūː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">inhabit</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ນ້ຳຂອງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nam khong</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nâːm kʰɔ̌ːŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">river <a href="/wiki/Mekong" title="Mekong">Mekong</a></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ແມ່ນບໍ່</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mèn bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">mɛ̄n bɔ̄ː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>correct</u>.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ພຣະຍານາກ ພັກ ອາໄສ ນ້ຳຂອງ <u>ແມ່ນບໍ່</u></p><p style="display: none;">{Phagna Nak} {} you {nam khong} {mèn bo}</p><p style="display: none;">{[pʰā.ɲáː nâːk} {} jūː {nâːm kʰɔ̌ːŋ} {mɛ̄n bɔ̄ː]}</p><p style="display: none;">Dragon {} inhabit {river <a href="/wiki/Mekong" title="Mekong">Mekong</a>} <u>correct</u>.INTERR</p><p style="clear: left;">'The Dragon is in the Mekong, <u>right</u>?'<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Cleanup" title="Wikipedia:Cleanup"><span title="Wikipedia:Cleanup">check romanization and IPA</span></a></i>]</sup></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Already? Yet? ແລ້ວບໍ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">lèw bo</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/lɛ̂ːw<span class="wrap"> </span>bɔ̄ː/</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ທານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">than</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[tʰáːn</p><p style="margin: 0px;">eat</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເຂົ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khao</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰȁw</p><p style="margin: 0px;">rice</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ແລ້ວບໍ່</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lèw bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lɛ̂ːw bɔ̄ː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><u>yet</u> <abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ທານ ເຂົ້າ <u>ແລ້ວບໍ່</u></p><p style="display: none;">than khao {lèw bo}</p><p style="display: none;">[tʰáːn kʰȁw {lɛ̂ːw bɔ̄ː]}</p><p style="display: none;">eat rice {<u>yet</u> INTERR}</p><p style="clear: left;">'Have you eaten <u>yet</u>?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Or not? ຫຼືບໍ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">lu bo</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/lɯ̀<span class="wrap"> </span>bɔ̄ː/</span>) </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ອ້າຽ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[ʔâːj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">older brother</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຢາກ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">yak</p><p style="margin: 0px;">jȁːk</p><p style="margin: 0px;">want</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໄດ້</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dâj</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ໄດ້</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເມັຽ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mia</p><p style="margin: 0px;">mía</p><p style="margin: 0px;">wife</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ດີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dìː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">good</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ຫຼືບໍ່</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lu bo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lɯ̀ː bɔ̄ː]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">or not.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ອ້າຽ ຢາກ ໄດ້ ເມັຽ ດີ ຫຼືບໍ່</p><p style="display: none;">ai yak dai mia di {lu bo}</p><p style="display: none;">[ʔâːj jȁːk dâj mía dìː {lɯ̀ː bɔ̄ː]}</p><p style="display: none;">{older brother} want ໄດ້ wife good {or not.INTERR}</p><p style="clear: left;">'Does older brother want a good wife or not?'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Eh? ຫຼື (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">lu</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/lɯ̀/</span>)<br /> This is a rather informal interrogative particle equivalent to English <i>eh?</i> or <i>hmm?</i> or <i>huh?</i>. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສະບາຍດີ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sabai di</p><p style="margin: 0px;">[sā.bàːj dìː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">be well (v)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຫຼື</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lu</p><p style="margin: 0px;">lɯ̀]</p><p style="margin: 0px;">huh.<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="interrogative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INTERR</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ສະບາຍດີ <u>ຫຼື</u></p><p style="display: none;">{sabai di} lu</p><p style="display: none;">{[sā.bàːj dìː} lɯ̀]</p><p style="display: none;">{be well (v)} huh.INTERR</p><p style="clear: left;">'You okay, <u>huh</u>?</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Answers to questions usually just involve repetition of the verb and any nouns for clarification. </p> <ul><li>Question: ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">sabai di bo</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[sā.bàːj<span class="wrap"> </span>dìː<span class="wrap"> </span>bɔ̄ː]</span>) <i>Are you well?</i></li> <li>Response: ສະບາຍດີ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">sabai di</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[sā.bàːj<span class="wrap"> </span>dìː]</span>) <i>I am well</i> or ບໍ່ສະບາຍ (bo sabai <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[bɔ̄ː<span class="wrap"> </span>sā.bàːj]</span>) <i>I am not well</i>.</li></ul> <p>Words asked with a negative can be confusing and should be avoided. The response, even without the negation, will still be negated by the nature of the question. </p> <ul><li>ບໍ່ສະບາຍບໍ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">bo sabai di bo</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/bɔː<span class="wrap"> </span>sa.baj<span class="wrap"> </span>diː<span class="wrap"> </span>bɔː/</span>) <i>Are you not well?</i></li> <li>Response: ບໍ່ສະບາຍ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">bo sabai di</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/bɔː<span class="wrap"> </span>sa.baj<span class="wrap"> </span>diː/</span>) <i>I am well.</i></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Classifiers">Classifiers</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Classifiers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Classifier_(linguistics)" title="Classifier (linguistics)">Classifiers</a> (ລັກສະນະນາມ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">laksananam</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/lāk<span class="wrap"> </span>sā.nāʔ.náːm/</span>) are used for when referring to a number of things, either a group or a finite amount. Classifiers can be used in place of the counted noun when context makes it sufficient. There are many classifiers, which is daunting, and it is better to double the noun or the more common ones such as ທີ່ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">thi</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/tʰīː/</span>) or ໂຕ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">to</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/toː/</span>). For single items, the classifier comes before the number; for more, the classifier comes after it. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເບັຽ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bia</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/biaː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">beer</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຂວດ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khuat</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰùaːt</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໜຶ່ງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nueng</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nɯ̄ŋ/</p><p style="margin: 0px;">one</p></div><p style="display: none;">ເບັຽ <u>ຂວດ</u> ໜຶ່ງ</p><p style="display: none;">bia khuat nueng</p><p style="display: none;">/biaː kʰùaːt nɯ̄ŋ/</p><p style="display: none;">beer CL one</p><p style="clear: left;">'One bottle of beer.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ເບັຽ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bia</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/biaː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">beer</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສອງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">song</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sɔ̌ːŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">two</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຂວດ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">khuat</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kʰuàːt/</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">ເບັຽ ສອງ <u>ຂວດ</u></p><p style="display: none;">bia song khuat</p><p style="display: none;">/biaː sɔ̌ːŋ kʰuàːt/</p><p style="display: none;">beer two CL</p><p style="clear: left;">'Two bottles of beer.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>The classifiers can sometimes be used in place of the nouns they group in context. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມີຫ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/míː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">have</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໝາ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ma</p><p style="margin: 0px;">mǎː</p><p style="margin: 0px;">dog</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ສອງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">song</p><p style="margin: 0px;">sɔ̌ːŋ</p><p style="margin: 0px;">two</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໂຕ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">to</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ɗoː</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ໃນ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">nái</p><p style="margin: 0px;">in</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ບ້ານ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ban</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bâːn</p><p style="margin: 0px;">village.</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ໂຕ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">to</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ɗoː</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ກັດ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kat</p><p style="margin: 0px;">kát</p><p style="margin: 0px;">bite</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ອ້າຍ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ai</p><p style="margin: 0px;">ʔâːj/</p><p style="margin: 0px;">older brother</p></div><p style="display: none;">ມີຫ ໝາ ສອງ <u>ໂຕ</u> ໃນ ບ້ານ <u>ໂຕ</u> ກັດ ອ້າຍ</p><p style="display: none;">mi ma song to nai ban to kat ai</p><p style="display: none;">/míː mǎː sɔ̌ːŋ ɗoː nái bâːn ɗoː kát ʔâːj/</p><p style="display: none;">have dog two CL in village. CL bite {older brother}</p><p style="clear: left;">'There were two dogs in the village. The dogs bit older brother.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <table class="wikitable"> <caption>Lao Classifiers </caption> <tbody><tr> <th>Lao </th> <th>Category </th></tr> <tr> <td>ຄົນ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khon</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/kʰón/</span> </td> <td>People in general, except clergy and royalty. </td></tr> <tr> <td>ຄັນ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khan</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/kʰán/</span> </td> <td>Vehicles, bicycles, umbrellas, kitchen utensils. </td></tr> <tr> <td>ຄູ່, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khu</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/kʰūː/</span> </td> <td>Pairs of people, animals, socks, earrings, etc. </td></tr> <tr> <td>ສະບັບ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">sabap</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/sáʔbáp/</span> </td> <td>Papers with texts, books, documents, manuscripts, etc. </td></tr> <tr> <td>ໂຕ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">to</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/ɗoː/</span> </td> <td>Animals, insects, birds, shirts, letters, playing cards, furniture, chairs, things with legs. </td></tr> <tr> <td>ກົກ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">kok</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/kók/</span> </td> <td>Trees. </td></tr> <tr> <td>ຫນ່ວຽ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">nuay</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/nuāj/</span> </td> <td>Oval objects, fruits, eggs, eyes, pillows/cushions, drums, furniture, mountains, watches/clocks, and headgear. </td></tr> <tr> <td>ໃບ, <span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">bai</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/baj/</span> </td> <td>round and flat objects such as a leaf, a tray, etc.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Possession">Possession</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Possession"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>To indicate that object X belongs to object Y, Lao uses the construction <i>X ຂອງ Y.</i> ຂອງ (<span title="Lao-language text"><i lang="lo-Latn">khong</i></span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/kʰɔ̌ːŋ/</span>) can also be omitted without changing the meaning. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ແຜງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;">Mane</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><u>ຂອງ</u></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="possessive marker" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">POSS</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;">horse</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"><b>or</b></p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;"><b>or</b></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ແຜງ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;">mane</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="lo" style="margin: 0px;">ມ້າ</p><p lang="lo-Latn" style="margin: 0px;">horse</p></div><p style="display: none;">ແຜງ <u>ຂອງ</u> ມ້າ {} <b>or</b> {} ແຜງ ມ້າ</p><p style="display: none;">Mane POSS horse {} <b>or</b> {} mane horse</p><p style="clear: left;">A horse<u>'s</u> mane.'</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Classifiers in Lao: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin" style=""> <ul><li>Enfield, N. J. (2007). <i>A grammar of Lao.</i> Berlin, Germany: Mouton de Gruyter.</li> <li>Cummings, J. (2002). <i>Lao phrasebook.</i> Footscray, Australia: Lonely Planet Publishers.</li> <li>(in Thai) ภาษาและวรรณกรรมท้องถิ่นล้านนา : ฉบับสำนวนภาษากำเมือง [Northern Thai dialect and folk literature of Lanna]. Bangkok: Faculty of Humanities, MCU. 2009. <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-974-11-1078-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-974-11-1078-0">978-974-11-1078-0</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4697444">http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4697444</a>.</li> <li>Mollerup, A. (2001). <i>Thai- isan- lao phrasebook</i>. Bangkok, Thailand: White Lotus.</li> <li>SEAlang Library Lao Lexicography. (2010, 13 February). Retrieved from <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://sealang.net/lao/dictionary.htm">[1]</a>.</li></ul> </div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": 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class="mw-redirect" title="Template:Language prepositions">Prepositions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Language_pronouns" title="Template:Language pronouns">Pronouns</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Language_verbs" title="Template:Language verbs">Verbs</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Indo-European_languages" title="Indo-European languages">Indo-European</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Germanic_languages" title="Germanic languages">Germanic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Afrikaans_grammar" title="Afrikaans grammar">Afrikaans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Danish_grammar" title="Danish grammar">Danish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dutch_grammar" title="Dutch grammar">Dutch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/English_grammar" title="English grammar">English</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Old_English_grammar" title="Old English grammar">Old</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Faroese_grammar" title="Faroese grammar">Faroese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/German_grammar" title="German grammar">German</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Icelandic_grammar" title="Icelandic grammar">Icelandic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Norwegian_language#Grammar" title="Norwegian language">Norwegian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_Norse_morphology" title="Old Norse morphology">Old Norse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Colognian_grammar" title="Colognian grammar">Ripuarian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swedish_grammar" title="Swedish grammar">Swedish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/West_Frisian_grammar" title="West Frisian grammar">West Frisian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yiddish_grammar" title="Yiddish grammar">Yiddish</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Celtic_languages" title="Celtic languages">Celtic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Breton_grammar" title="Breton grammar">Breton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cornish_grammar" title="Cornish grammar">Cornish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Irish_grammar" title="Irish grammar">Irish</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Old_Irish_grammar" title="Old Irish grammar">Old</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manx_grammar" title="Manx grammar">Manx</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_grammar" title="Scottish Gaelic grammar">Scottish Gaelic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Welsh_grammar" title="Welsh grammar">Welsh</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Colloquial_Welsh_morphology" title="Colloquial Welsh morphology">colloquial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_Welsh_morphology" title="Literary Welsh morphology">literary</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Italic_languages" title="Italic languages">Italic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Catalan_grammar" title="Catalan grammar">Catalan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dalmatian_grammar" title="Dalmatian grammar">Dalmatian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/French_grammar" title="French grammar">French</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Istro-Romanian_grammar" title="Istro-Romanian grammar">Istro-Romanian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Italian_grammar" title="Italian grammar">Italian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latin_grammar" title="Latin grammar">Latin</a></li> <li>Lombard <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Lombard_grammar" title="Eastern Lombard grammar">Eastern</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Western_Lombard_grammar" title="Western Lombard grammar">Western</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portuguese_grammar" title="Portuguese grammar">Portuguese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romanian_grammar" title="Romanian grammar">Romanian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spanish_grammar" title="Spanish grammar">Spanish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venetian_grammar" title="Venetian grammar">Venetian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Baltic_languages" title="Baltic languages">Baltic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Latvian_grammar" title="Latvian grammar">Latvian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lithuanian_grammar" title="Lithuanian grammar">Lithuanian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Slavic_languages" title="Slavic languages">Slavic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Belarusian_grammar" title="Belarusian grammar">Belarusian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bulgarian_grammar" title="Bulgarian grammar">Bulgarian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Czech_language#Grammar" title="Czech language">Czech</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Macedonian_grammar" title="Macedonian grammar">Macedonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_Church_Slavonic_grammar" title="Old Church Slavonic grammar">Old Church Slavonic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Polish_grammar" title="Polish grammar">Polish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russian_grammar" title="Russian grammar">Russian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Silesian_grammar" title="Silesian grammar">Silesian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Serbo-Croatian_grammar" title="Serbo-Croatian grammar">Serbo-Croatian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slovak_language#Morphology" title="Slovak language">Slovak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slovene_grammar" title="Slovene grammar">Slovene</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slovincian_grammar" title="Slovincian grammar">Slovincian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ukrainian_grammar" title="Ukrainian grammar">Ukrainian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Iranian_languages" title="Iranian languages">Iranian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kurdish_grammar" title="Kurdish grammar">Kurdish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pashto_grammar" title="Pashto grammar">Pashto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Persian_grammar" title="Persian grammar">Persian</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tajik_grammar" title="Tajik grammar">Tajik</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Indo-Aryan_languages" title="Indo-Aryan languages">Indo-Aryan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bengali_grammar" title="Bengali grammar">Bengali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bhojpuri_grammar" title="Bhojpuri grammar">Bhojpuri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gujarati_grammar" title="Gujarati grammar">Gujarati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hindustani_grammar" title="Hindustani grammar">Hindustani</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maithili_grammar" title="Maithili grammar">Maithili</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marathi_grammar" title="Marathi grammar">Marathi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nepali_grammar" title="Nepali grammar">Nepali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Odia_grammar" title="Odia grammar">Odia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Punjabi_grammar" title="Punjabi grammar">Punjabi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sanskrit_grammar" title="Sanskrit grammar">Sanskrit</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vedic_Sanskrit_grammar" title="Vedic Sanskrit grammar">Vedic</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Albanian_language#Grammar" title="Albanian language">Albanian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modern_Greek_grammar" title="Modern Greek grammar">Greek</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ancient_Greek_grammar" title="Ancient Greek grammar">Ancient</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Koine_Greek_grammar" title="Koine Greek grammar">Koine</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hittite_grammar" title="Hittite grammar">Hittite</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Uralic_languages" title="Uralic languages">Uralic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Estonian_grammar" title="Estonian grammar">Estonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Finnish_grammar" title="Finnish grammar">Finnish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hungarian_grammar" title="Hungarian grammar">Hungarian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ingrian_grammar" title="Ingrian grammar">Ingrian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Komi_grammar" title="Komi grammar">Komi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Livonian_grammar" title="Livonian grammar">Livonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Udmurt_grammar" title="Udmurt grammar">Udmurt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Me%C3%A4nkieli_grammar" title="Meänkieli grammar">Meänkieli</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Turkic_languages" title="Turkic languages">Turkic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kazakh_language#Morphology_and_syntax" title="Kazakh language">Kazakh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kyrgyz_language#Morphology_and_syntax" title="Kyrgyz language">Kyrgyz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tatar_language#Grammar" title="Tatar language">Tatar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Turkish_grammar" title="Turkish grammar">Turkish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Turkmen_grammar" title="Turkmen grammar">Turkmen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uyghur_grammar" title="Uyghur grammar">Uyghur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uzbek_language#Grammar" title="Uzbek language">Uzbek</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yakut_language#Grammar" title="Yakut language">Yakut</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/Languages_of_Europe" title="Languages of Europe">European</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Abkhaz_language#Grammar" title="Abkhaz language">Abkhaz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Adyghe_grammar" title="Adyghe grammar">Adyghe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Basque_grammar" title="Basque grammar">Basque</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Georgian_grammar" title="Georgian grammar">Georgian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kabardian_grammar" title="Kabardian grammar">Kabardian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Laz_grammar" title="Laz grammar">Laz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mingrelian_grammar" title="Mingrelian grammar">Mingrelian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ubykh_grammar" title="Ubykh grammar">Ubykh</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Afroasiatic_languages" title="Afroasiatic languages">Afroasiatic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arabic_grammar" title="Arabic grammar">Arabic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Central_Atlas_Tamazight_grammar" title="Central Atlas Tamazight grammar">Central Atlas Tamazight</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modern_Hebrew_grammar" title="Modern Hebrew grammar">Hebrew</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_Hebrew_grammar" title="History of Hebrew grammar">Historical</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kabyle_grammar" title="Kabyle grammar">Kabyle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Levantine_Arabic_grammar" title="Levantine Arabic grammar">Levantine Arabic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Somali_grammar" title="Somali grammar">Somali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tigrinya_grammar" title="Tigrinya grammar">Tigrinya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ugaritic_grammar" title="Ugaritic grammar">Ugaritic</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Niger%E2%80%93Congo_languages" title="Niger–Congo languages">Niger–Congo</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fula_language#Morphology" title="Fula language">Fula</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pular_grammar" title="Pular grammar">Pular</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Otjiherero_grammar" title="Otjiherero grammar">Herero</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sesotho_grammar" title="Sesotho grammar">Sotho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swahili_grammar" title="Swahili grammar">Swahili</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zulu_grammar" title="Zulu grammar">Zulu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Dravidian_languages" title="Dravidian languages">Dravidian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kannada_grammar" title="Kannada grammar">Kannada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malayalam_grammar" title="Malayalam grammar">Malayalam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tamil_grammar" title="Tamil grammar">Tamil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Telugu_grammar" title="Telugu grammar">Telugu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Japonic_languages" title="Japonic languages">Japonic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Japanese_grammar" title="Japanese grammar">Japanese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Classical_Japanese_grammar" class="mw-redirect" title="Classical Japanese grammar">Classical Japanese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Okinawan_language#Grammar" title="Okinawan language">Okinawan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hachij%C5%8D_grammar" title="Hachijō grammar">Hachijō</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Sino-Tibetan_languages" title="Sino-Tibetan languages">Sino-Tibetan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Burmese_grammar" title="Burmese grammar">Burmese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cantonese_grammar" title="Cantonese grammar">Cantonese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Classical_Chinese_grammar" title="Classical Chinese grammar">Classical Chinese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dzongkha_grammar" title="Dzongkha grammar">Dzongkha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kokborok_grammar" title="Kokborok grammar">Kokborok</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_grammar" title="Chinese grammar">Mandarin Chinese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mizo_grammar" title="Mizo grammar">Mizo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modern_Standard_Tibetan_grammar" class="mw-redirect" title="Modern Standard Tibetan grammar">Tibetan</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Austroasiatic_languages" title="Austroasiatic languages">Austroasiatic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Khmer_grammar" title="Khmer grammar">Khmer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vietnamese_grammar" title="Vietnamese grammar">Vietnamese</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Kra%E2%80%93Dai_languages" title="Kra–Dai languages">Kra–Dai</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Has_Hlai_grammar" title="Has Hlai grammar">Has Hlai</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lao</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thai_language#Grammar" title="Thai language">Thai</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/East_Asia" title="East Asia">East Asian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evenki_grammar" title="Evenki grammar">Evenki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Korean_grammar" title="Korean grammar">Korean</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mongolian_language#Grammar" title="Mongolian language">Mongolian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Austronesian_languages" title="Austronesian languages">Austronesian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cebuano_grammar" title="Cebuano grammar">Cebuano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hawaiian_grammar" title="Hawaiian grammar">Hawaiian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ilocano_grammar" title="Ilocano grammar">Ilocano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malay_grammar" title="Malay grammar">Malay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tagalog_grammar" title="Tagalog grammar">Tagalog</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Algic_languages" title="Algic languages">Algic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Massachusett_grammar" title="Massachusett grammar">Massachusett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Munsee_grammar" title="Munsee grammar">Munsee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ojibwe_grammar" title="Ojibwe grammar">Ojibwe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Uto-Aztecan_languages" title="Uto-Aztecan languages">Uto-Aztecan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Nahuatl#Morphology_and_syntax" title="Nahuatl">Nahuatl</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Classical_Nahuatl_grammar" title="Classical Nahuatl grammar">Classical</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nawat_grammar" title="Nawat grammar">Nawat</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/Indigenous_languages_of_the_Americas" title="Indigenous languages of the Americas">Native American</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cherokee_language#Grammar" title="Cherokee language">Cherokee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inuit_grammar" title="Inuit grammar">Inuit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Miskito_grammar" title="Miskito grammar">Miskito</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Navajo_grammar" title="Navajo grammar">Navajo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Otomi_grammar" title="Otomi grammar">Otomi</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Sign_language" title="Sign language">sign</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/American_Sign_Language_grammar" title="American Sign Language grammar">American</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Artistic_language" title="Artistic language">artistic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Klingon_grammar" title="Klingon grammar">Klingon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Na%CA%BCvi_grammar" title="Naʼvi grammar">Naʼvi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quenya_grammar" class="mw-redirect" title="Quenya grammar">Quenya</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/International_auxiliary_language" title="International auxiliary language">auxiliary</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Esperanto_grammar" title="Esperanto grammar">Esperanto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interlingua_grammar" title="Interlingua grammar">Interlingua</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interlingue_grammar" title="Interlingue grammar">Interlingue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lingua_Franca_Nova_grammar" title="Lingua Franca Nova grammar">Lingua Franca Nova</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/Constructed_languages" class="mw-redirect" title="Constructed languages">constructed</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lojban_grammar" title="Lojban grammar">Lojban</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&oldid=1245174933">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lao_grammar&oldid=1245174933</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Lao_language" title="Category:Lao language">Lao language</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Kra%E2%80%93Dai_grammars" title="Category:Kra–Dai grammars">Kra–Dai grammars</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li><li><a 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