Language/Lao/Grammar/Comparatives
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on comparatives in the Lao language! In this lesson, we will learn how to form and use comparatives to compare two items or ideas. Comparatives are essential for expressing degrees of comparison, such as "bigger," "smaller," "faster," and "slower." Understanding comparatives will allow you to describe and compare things more accurately in Lao. So, let's dive into the world of comparatives in Lao grammar!
Formation of Comparatives[edit | edit source]
To form comparatives in Lao, we use the word "ໃນ" (nai) or "ຂອງ" (khong) before the adjective or adverb we want to compare. We then follow it with the comparative marker "ກະຊວງ" (kasuang) or "ສິ່ງນີ້ເປັນເກີດ" (sing ni pen ket). Let's take a look at some examples to understand this better:
Adjective Comparatives[edit | edit source]
Here are a few examples of how to form comparative sentences using adjectives:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ໃນຮູ້ ! nai hū̂ | smarter | |
| ຂອງຮູ້ ! khong hū̂ | smarter | |
| ໃນນໍ້ ! nai nŏm | taller | |
| ຂອງນໍ້ ! khong nŏm | taller | |
| ໃນບູຮານ ! nai búhān | richer | |
| ຂອງບູຮານ ! khong búhān | richer |
Adverb Comparatives[edit | edit source]
Now, let's look at the formation of comparatives using adverbs:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ໃນການຕິດຕັ້ງ ! nai kan tìdtang | faster | |
| ຂອງການຕິດຕັ້ງ ! khong kan tìdtang | faster | |
| ໃນເສື້ອງການ ! nai sǔang kan | slower | |
| ຂອງເສື້ອງການ ! khong sǔang kan | slower |
Usage of Comparatives[edit | edit source]
Comparatives are commonly used in Lao to express differences between two items or ideas. They allow us to compare qualities, quantities, actions, and more. Here are some common ways in which comparatives are used in Lao sentences:
Comparing Adjectives[edit | edit source]
When comparing adjectives, we use the following structure:
Subject + "ໃນ" (nai) or "ຂອງ" (khong) + Adjective + "ກະຊວງ" (kasuang) or "ສິ່ງນີ້ເປັນເກີດ" (sing ni pen ket) + Object
For example:
- ສຸດໃນຄວາມຍາກອອກສູງສຸດກັບຄວາມຍາກຫຼາຍ. (sut nai kwǎam yǎak ŏng sut kăb kwǎam yǎak lăo) - "The book is bigger than the pen."
Comparing Adverbs[edit | edit source]
When comparing adverbs, we use the following structure:
Subject + "ໃນ" (nai) or "ຂອງ" (khong) + Adverb + "ກະຊວງ" (kasuang) or "ສິ່ງນີ້ເປັນເກີດ" (sing ni pen ket) + Object
For example:
- ການດຽວນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງການດຽວກາຍ. (kan dyǔa ni pen ket khong kan dyǔa kăi) - "This car drives faster than that car."
Comparing Actions[edit | edit source]
When comparing actions, we use the following structure:
Subject + "ໃນການ" (nai kan) or "ຂອງການ" (khong kan) + Verb + "ກະຊວງ" (kasuang) or "ສິ່ງນີ້ເປັນເກີດ" (sing ni pen ket) + Object
For example:
- ສູນໃນການປັດແກ້ເງິນນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງສະມາຄົມນີ້. (sun nai kan păt kǎe ngern ni pen ket khong sămăkhŏm ni) - "He earns more money than this student."
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Understanding the cultural context of using comparatives in Lao is essential for effective communication. In Lao culture, modesty and humility are highly valued. Therefore, it is common for Lao people to downplay their achievements or qualities when comparing themselves to others. This cultural nuance should be considered when using comparatives in Lao conversations. Lao people often use indirect or subtle ways to express comparison without appearing boastful or arrogant.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Use the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of comparatives in Lao.
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the correct comparative form of the adjectives or adverbs given in parentheses.
1. ສຸດໃນການປັດແກ້ເງິນນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງສະມາຄົມນີ້. (ເຮັດສຸດ - much) 2. ຄວາມຍາກອອກຂອງນໍ້ນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງນໍ້ນີ້. (ສູ້ນີ້ - tall) 3. ເສື້ອງການຂອງຂອງນັກສຶກສານນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງນັກສຶກສານນີ້. (ປັດສຸດ - well) 4. ຄວາມສາມາດຂອງເຈົ້າໃນການປັດແກ້ນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງເຈົ້າໃນການປັດແກ້ນນີ້. (ສູ້ນີ້ - good)
Solution: 1. ສຸດໃນການປັດແກ້ເງິນນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງສະມາຄົມນີ້. (ປັດສຸດ - much) 2. ຄວາມຍາກອອກຂອງນໍ້ນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງນໍ້ນີ້. (ສູ້ນີ້ - tall) 3. ເສື້ອງການຂອງຂອງນັກສຶກສານນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງນັກສຶກສານນີ້. (ປັດສຸດ - well) 4. ຄວາມສາມາດຂອງເຈົ້າໃນການປັດແກ້ນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງເຈົ້າໃນການປັດແກ້ນນີ້. (ສູ້ນີ້ - good)
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Lao using comparatives.
1. The red dress is more expensive than the blue dress. 2. My house is bigger than your house. 3. She sings better than her sister. 4. This restaurant is cheaper than that restaurant.
Solution: 1. ຊີ້ນສີສົ່ງສູ່ມາຄຸນໃນລີຄີນສີຟ້າສູ່ມາ. (sĭn sĭng sĭŭng sĭm khŭn nai lĭkhĭn sĭng sĭŭng) 2. ບ້ານຂອງຂ້ອຍໃນຂອງເຈົ້າເປັນເກີດຂອງບ້ານຂອງເຈົ້າ. (bǎan khong khoy nai khong jăo pen ket khong bǎan khong jăo) 3. ເອົາສີສຽງຂອງຕູ້ກິນເປັນເກີດຂອງຄອນຊໍ່ຂອງສີສຽງ. (ao sĭ sĭang khong tûn kĭn pen ket khong kŏng sŏng) 4. ຮ້ານອາຫານນີ້ເປັນຊື່ນຸມມສີສົ່ງນີ້ເປັນເກີດຂອງຮ້ານນີ້. (hǎan ăhăn nai sŭm mii sĭng nai pen ket khong hǎan nai)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to form and use comparatives in Lao. Remember to pay attention to the cultural nuances when using comparatives in conversations. Practice using comparatives in different contexts to improve your Lao language skills. Keep up the good work, and soon you'll be able to compare anything in Lao with ease!
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Lao grammar - Wikipedia
- (PDF) An Analysis on the Comparison of Thai and Lao Language ...
- Lao Language - Why does it get confused with Thai? - Bilingua
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to Use Have
- Questions
- Adjectives
- Negations
- Future Tense
- Superlatives
- Demonstrative Pronouns
- Adverbs
- Personal pronouns
- Question Words
| ◀️ Seasons — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Superlatives ▶️ |