Language/Lao/Grammar/Adverbs
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the "Complete 0 to A1 Lao Course"! In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of Lao adverbs. Adverbs play a crucial role in sentence construction as they provide information about the verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs in a sentence. Understanding how to use adverbs correctly will enhance your ability to express yourself fluently in Lao. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of Lao adverbs, their formation, and their usage in different contexts.
What are Adverbs?[edit | edit source]
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They can provide information about time, place, manner, frequency, degree, and more. Adverbs are an essential part of speech as they add depth and clarity to a sentence, allowing us to convey more precise meanings.
In Lao, adverbs can be single words or phrases. They usually come after the verb or adjective they modify, but they can also appear at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis. Let's take a look at some examples to better understand the role of adverbs in Lao sentences.
Adverbs Modifying Verbs[edit | edit source]
Adverbs can modify verbs to provide information about how an action is performed or to indicate the frequency of an action. Here are some examples:
- "ຂອບໃຈ" (khǭǭp chai) - "happily"
- "ລອດວັນນີ້" (lot wan ni) - "today"
- "ການບໍ່ໄດ້" (kan baw dai) - "cannot"
Let's see how these adverbs modify verbs in sentences:
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂອບໃຈໄວ້" (kā phājao khǭǭp chai wǎi) - "You sing happily."
- "ພວກເຮົາລອດວັນນີ້ເດີນໄປບ່ອນພື້ນ" (phūa hǭǭ lot wan ni den pai bǭǭng phǭn) - "We go to the park today."
- "ຂ້ອຍການບໍ່ໄດ້ເຮົາເລີ່ມຕົ້ນ" (khǭǭp chai baw dai hǭǭ lam ton) - "I cannot start now."
Adverbs Modifying Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Adverbs can also modify adjectives to provide more information about the intensity or degree of a quality. Let's look at some examples:
- "ແມ່ນ" (māi) - "very"
- "ບໍ່" (baw) - "not"
- "ກະຕ່າຍ" (kā taai) - "quite"
Here are some sentences to illustrate the use of adverbs with adjectives:
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເປັນຜູ້ໃດຍິ່ງແມ່ນສູງສຸດ" (kā phājao pen phǭǭi nǭǭng māi sǭǭng sǭǭt) - "You are the most beautiful person."
- "ໃຜບໍ່ຄວນໄດ້ຊື່ນຫຼາຍ" (pai baw khun dai sǭǭi lyā) - "They are not very tall."
- "ສະຫລວງນີ້ຫຼາຍກວ່າທີ່ກໍ່" (sǭǭng ni sǭǭi khūa tī kǭǭ) - "This city is larger than I expected."
Adverbs Modifying Other Adverbs[edit | edit source]
Adverbs can also modify other adverbs to provide more information about the intensity or manner of an action. Let's see some examples:
- "ກະຕ່າຍໄປ" (kā taai pai) - "quite far"
- "ໃດຍິ່ງສູງສຸດ" (dǭǭng sǭǭng sǭǭt) - "most beautifully"
- "ຮູ້ດີນຳ" (hū dī nǭǭng) - "very carefully"
Here are some sentences where one adverb modifies another adverb:
- "ພວກເຮົາຊ່ວຍກະຕ່າຍໄປຂອງເຈົ້າ" (phūa hǭǭ sǭǭi kā taai pai khǭǭng jāo) - "We walk quite far from you."
- "ເຈົ້າດີນຳຂອງຂ້ອຍສູງສຸດ" (jāo dī nǭǭng khǭǭng khǭǭp chai sǭǭng sǭǭt) - "You sing most beautifully."
- "ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ດີນຳຄວາມຍິ່ງສູງສຸດ" (khǭǭp chai hū dī nǭǭng khūa lyā sǭǭng sǭǭt) - "I study very carefully."
Formation of Adverbs[edit | edit source]
Adverbs in Lao can be formed in several ways. Let's explore the different methods of forming adverbs:
Using the Word "ຄວາມ" (khūa)[edit | edit source]
One common way to form adverbs in Lao is by adding the word "ຄວາມ" (khūa) after an adjective. This creates an adverb that describes the manner or degree of an action. Here are some examples:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ຮ້ອນ (hǭǭn) ຄວາມ (khūa) | hǭǭn khūa | slowly |
| ຂຽນ (khiǎo) ຄວາມ (khūa) | khiǎo khūa | quickly |
| ນໍ້າ (nǭǭ) ຄວາມ (khūa) | nǭǭ khūa | very |
| ປະສົມ (pasǭǭm) ຄວາມ (khūa) | pasǭǭm khūa | a lot |
Using the Word "ເລືອກ" (lǭǭk)[edit | edit source]
Another way to form adverbs in Lao is by adding the word "ເລືອກ" (lǭǭk) before an adjective. This structure indicates the manner or degree of an action. Here are some examples:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ເລືອກ (lǭǭk) ຂ້າງກັບ (khāng kab) | lǭǭk khāng kab | together |
| ເລືອກ (lǭǭk) ຮູ້ (hū) | lǭǭk hū | carefully |
| ເລືອກ (lǭǭk) ຂຽນ (khiǎo) | lǭǭk khiǎo | quickly |
| ເລືອກ (lǭǭk) ຂ້າງ (khāng) | lǭǭk khāng | together |
Using the Word "ເພາະ" (pǎǎ)[edit | edit source]
The word "ເພາະ" (pǎǎ) can be used to form adverbs in Lao. It is placed before an adjective to indicate the manner or degree of an action. Here are some examples:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ເພາະ (pǎǎ) ຄວາມສູງ (khūa sǭǭng) | pǎǎ khūa sǭǭng | extremely |
| ເພາະ (pǎǎ) ຮູ້ (hū) | pǎǎ hū | carefully |
| ເພາະ (pǎǎ) ຍິ່ງສູງ (lyā sǭǭng) | pǎǎ lyā sǭǭng | very much |
| ເພາະ (pǎǎ) ລ້ຽງ (liǎng) | pǎǎ liǎng | just |
Using the Word "ຢູ່ຂອງ" (yū khǭǭng)[edit | edit source]
The phrase "ຢູ່ຂອງ" (yū khǭǭng) can be added after an adjective to form an adverb that indicates the degree or manner of an action. Here are some examples:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ສຸດ (sǭǭt) ຢູ່ຂອງ (yū khǭǭng) | sǭǭt yū khǭǭng | completely |
| ນໍ້າ (nǭǭ) ຢູ່ຂອງ (yū khǭǭng) | nǭǭ yū khǭǭng | very |
| ປະສົມ (pasǭǭm) ຢູ່ຂອງ (yū khǭǭng) | pasǭǭm yū khǭǭng | a lot |
| ຮ້ອນ (hǭǭn) ຢູ່ຂອງ (yū khǭǭng) | hǭǭn yū khǭǭng | slowly |
Usage of Adverbs[edit | edit source]
Now that we have learned how to form adverbs in Lao, let's explore their usage in different contexts.
Adverbs of Time[edit | edit source]
Adverbs of time provide information about when an action takes place. Here are some commonly used adverbs of time in Lao:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ດາວນາງ (dāwanāng) | dāwanāng | yesterday |
| ມື້ກ່ອນ (mǭi kǭǭn) | mǭi kǭǭn | before |
| ມື້ນີ້ (mǭi ni) | mǭi ni | today |
| ມື້ຮຽນ (mǭi hīan) | mǭi hīan | tomorrow |
Let's see how these adverbs are used in sentences:
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄວ້ດາວນາງ" (kā phājao wǎi dāwanāng) - "You came yesterday."
- "ເຮົາຈະມື້ກ່ອນກັບຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ" (hǭǭ lam mǭi kǭǭn kab kā phājao) - "We will go before you."
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະມື້ນີ້ເຂົ້າກັບຮ້ອນ" (kā phājao jāo mǭi ni khǭǭp chai hǭǭn) - "You will come today with me."
- "ເຮົາຈະມື້ຮຽນເຂົ້າກັບຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ" (hǭǭ lam mǭi hīan khǭǭp chai kā phājao) - "We will come tomorrow with you."
Adverbs of Place[edit | edit source]
Adverbs of place provide information about where an action takes place. Here are some commonly used adverbs of place in Lao:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ທີ່ເວລາ (tī wēlā) | tī wēlā | here |
| ທີ່ນີ້ (tī ni) | tī ni | there |
| ໃນຕອນປະກອບ (nai tōn pakǭǭp) | nai tōn pakǭǭp | inside |
| ພວກເຮົາ (phūa hǭǭ) | phūa hǭǭ | we |
Let's see how these adverbs are used in sentences:
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີໃສ່ທີ່ເວລາ" (kā phājao mī sai tī wēlā) - "You are here."
- "ເຮົາກໍ່ໄດ້ມີໃສ່ທີ່ນີ້" (hǭǭ khun dai mī sai tī ni) - "We have been there."
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີໃສ່ໃນຕອນປະກອບ" (kā phājao mī sai nai tōn pakǭǭp) - "You are inside."
- "ເຮົາມີໃສ່ພວກເຮົາ" (hǭǭ mī sai phūa hǭǭ) - "We are here."
Adverbs of Manner[edit | edit source]
Adverbs of manner provide information about how an action is performed. Here are some commonly used adverbs of manner in Lao:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ກັບໄປ (kǭǭn pai) | kǭǭn pai | together |
| ຂຽນການຂອງ (khiǎo kan khǭǭng) | khiǎo kan khǭǭng | quickly |
| ຈະໄດ້ຮູ້ (jāo dai hū) | jāo dai hū | carefully |
| ປະເພຊິຕິ (pasǭǭ seetī) | pasǭǭ seetī | politely |
Let's see how these adverbs are used in sentences:
- "ເຈົ້າມີຄວາມສາດຈະກັບໄປ" (jāo mī khūa sāt jāo kǭǭn pai) - "You can come together."
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂໍ່ໄດ້ຂຽນການຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ" (kā phājao baw dai khiǎo kan khǭǭng khāng kā phājao) - "You cannot do it quickly."
- "ເຮົາຈະໄດ້ຮູ້ຂຽນການຂອງເຮົາ" (hǭǭ jāo dai khiǎo kan khǭǭng hǭǭ) - "We will study carefully."
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເປັນປະເພຊິຕິວ່າຈະຂຽນຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້" (kā phājao pen pasǭǭ seetī wǎi jāo khiǎo kan khǭǭng khāng kā phājao dai) - "You should speak politely when talking to others."
Adverbs of Frequency[edit | edit source]
Adverbs of frequency provide information about how often an action takes place. Here are some commonly used adverbs of frequency in Lao:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ສະບາຍດີ (sǭǭp dai) | sǭǭp dai | often |
| ຕົກຕາຍ (tok tāi) | tok tāi | rarely |
| ເກີນມາດນີ້ (kēun māi ni) | kēun māi ni | sometimes |
| ບໍ່ເກີນມາ (baw kēun māi) | baw kēun māi | never |
Let's see how these adverbs are used in sentences:
- "ເຈົ້າຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີໄດ້" (jāo khǭǭng kā phājao sǭǭp dai dai) - "You often sing."
- "ເຮົາຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຕົກຕາຍໄດ້" (hǭǭ khǭǭng kā phājao tok tāi dai) - "We rarely go."
- "ເຈົ້າຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເກີນມາດນີ້ໄດ້" (jāo khǭǭng kā phājao kēun māi ni dai) - "You sometimes come."
- "ເຈົ້າຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ເກີນມາໄດ້" (jāo khǭǭng kā phājao baw kēun māi dai) - "You never go."
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Lao culture is deeply rooted in Theravada Buddhism, which greatly influences the daily lives of the Lao people. The Lao language reflects this cultural influence, and adverbs are no exception. Adverbs in Lao can often express values and attitudes that are important in Lao society.
One example of this is the adverb "ກະລຸນາ" (kālouna), which means "please" or "kindly." Lao people value politeness and respect, and this adverb is frequently used to show courtesy when making requests or asking for help. It is considered polite to use this adverb in various social interactions, such as ordering food at a restaurant or asking for directions.
Another interesting cultural aspect related to adverbs in Lao is the use of adverbs to express humility. Lao people tend to be modest and avoid boasting or bragging. Adverbs such as "ກ່ອນກັບ" (kǭǭn kab) meaning "together" or "in unison" are often used to emphasize the collective effort rather than individual achievements. This reflects the Lao cultural value of harmony and cooperation within the community.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it's time to practice what you have learned! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of Lao adverbs.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate adverbs:
- "ເຈົ້າຂອບໃຈໄວ້" (khǭǭp chai wǎi) - "You sing ____________."
- "ເຮົາຈະໄດ້ຮູ້____________" (hǭǭ jāo dai hū) - "We will study ____________."
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີໃສ່____________" (kā phājao mī sai tī wēlā) - "You are ____________."
- "ເຈົ້າຂໍ່ໄດ້ຂຽນການຂອງ____________" (jāo baw dai khiǎo kan khǭǭng khāng) - "You cannot do it ____________."
Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]
Translate the following sentences from English to Lao:
- "She walks slowly."
- "They will come tomorrow."
- "We rarely go to the park."
- "He speaks politely."
Solutions[edit | edit source]
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate adverbs:
- "ເຈົ້າຂອບໃຈໄວ້" (khǭǭp chai wǎi) - "You sing __happily__."
- "ເຮົາຈະໄດ້ຮູ້__ລອດ__" (hǭǭ jāo dai hū) - "We will study __carefully__."
- "ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມີໃສ່__ທີ່ເວລາ__" (kā phājao mī sai tī wēlā) - "You are __here__."
- "ເຈົ້າຂໍ່ໄດ້ຂຽນການຂອງ__ເຈົ້າ__" (jāo baw dai khiǎo kan khǭǭng khāng) - "You cannot do it __quickly__."
Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]
Translate the following sentences from English to Lao:
- "She walks slowly." - "ລາວກໍ່ປະກອບໄດ້ຮູ້ເຫລືອດ" (lāo khǭǭ pasǭǭp dai hū lǭǭt)
- "They will come tomorrow." - "ພວກເຮົາຈະມື້ຮຽນເຂົ້າກັບ" (phūa hǭǭ jāo mǭi hīan khǭǭp chai)
- "We rarely go to the park." - "ເຮົາຕົກຕາຍໄດ້ໄປບ່ອນພື້ນ" (hǭǭ tok tāi dai pai bǭǭng phǭn)
- "He speaks politely." - "ລາວເປັນປະເພຊິຕິວ່າກ່ອນກັບ" (lāo pen pasǭǭ seetī wǎi kǭǭn kab)
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Comparatives
- Question Words
- Negations
- How to Use Have
- Personal Pronouns
- Prepositions
- Superlatives
- Questions
- Personal pronouns
| ◀️ Adjectives — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Common Foods ▶️ |