Language/Lao/Grammar/Conjunctions

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◀️ Prepositions — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Shopping Vocabulary ▶️

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LaoGrammar0 to A1 Course → Prepositions and Conjunctions → Conjunctions

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we will explore the topic of Lao conjunctions. Conjunctions are important in any language as they help us connect words, phrases, and clauses to form cohesive and meaningful sentences. Understanding how to use conjunctions correctly is essential for effective communication in Lao. This lesson will provide a comprehensive guide to Lao conjunctions, including their types, usage, and placement within sentences.

Types of Conjunctions[edit | edit source]

Lao conjunctions can be categorized into three main types: coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions.

Coordinating Conjunctions[edit | edit source]

Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. They create a balance between the connected elements. In Lao, there are seven coordinating conjunctions:

Lao Pronunciation English
ແລະ lae and
ຫຼື hu or
ແລະນີ້ lae ni and also
ຫຼືນີ້ hu ni or also
ແລະຄືນ lae kun and then
ຫຼືຄືນ hu kun or then
ເທື່ອ thue but

Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions in sentences:

  • ຂ້ອຍຍັງກໍເພີ່ມຫຼືບໍ່. (khoy nyang kaw pheu lae baw) - I don't know whether to add it or not.
  • ແລະນີ້ ຂ້ອຍຈະອອກຕໍ່ລາວ. (lae ni khoy ja ok taw lao) - And also, I will go to Laos.

Subordinating Conjunctions[edit | edit source]

Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect dependent clauses to independent clauses. They indicate the relationship between the two clauses, such as cause and effect, time, condition, and purpose. In Lao, there are several subordinating conjunctions:

Lao Pronunciation English
ເພື່ອ peu in order to
ເຮັດວຽກ het wak because
ຖ້າມການ tha makkan if
ທີ່ thi where
ຢ່າງນີ້ yang ni after
ຢ່າຍນີ້ yai ni before
ຢ່າກວ່າ ya kwa although

Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions in sentences:

  • ເພື່ອຂ້ອຍຍັງສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປດ້ວຍມືແດນຄວາມສະເລ່ຍ. (peu khoy nyang samat khap dai muedaen khwam saloey) - In order for me to enter, I need permission.
  • ເຮັດວຽກຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້ວ່າເວົ້າມີພົບຄວາມນີ້. (het wak khoy baw houai wai phou kwam ni) - Because I don't know whether there will be problems.

Correlative Conjunctions[edit | edit source]

Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs to connect words, phrases, or clauses. They show a relationship between two or more elements within a sentence. In Lao, there are several correlative conjunctions:

Lao Pronunciation English
ເກົ່າ...ກວ່າ koa...kwa either...or
ບໍ່ເກົ່າ...ບໍ່ກວ່າ baw koa...baw kwa neither...nor
ກວ່າ...ກການ kwa...kkhan as...as

Here are some examples of correlative conjunctions in sentences:

  • ເກົ່າເຮືອນໂລກການນີ້ນຳກໍດ້ວຍມືແດນປັດ. (koa huen lokkkhan ni nam kaw dai muedaen pat) - Either swim or dive with a snorkel.
  • ບໍ່ເກົ່າຫາກການຕາມທີ່ຂ້ອຍມັ້ນກໍຕ້ອງເຮົາຕິດຕາມ. (baw koa harkkhan tam thi khoy man kaw tong houa tim tam) - Neither laugh nor cry when I tell a joke.

Usage of Conjunctions[edit | edit source]

Now that we have explored the different types of conjunctions in Lao, let's dive into their usage within sentences. Conjunctions are used to establish relationships between words, phrases, or clauses and to create logical connections within a sentence.

Connecting Words and Phrases[edit | edit source]

Coordinating conjunctions are commonly used to connect words and phrases of equal importance. They create a balance and flow within a sentence. Let's look at some examples:

  • ແລະ (lae) - and
    • ເວົ້າແລະນ້ຳ (wao lae nam) - water and food
  • ຫຼື (hu) - or
    • ການດຳນ້ອຍຫຼືການປົກກະຕິ (kam manoy hu kam phokkathit) - singing or dancing
  • ແລະນີ້ (lae ni) - and also
    • ຂ້ອຍສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປສະຫລາດນີ້ (khoy samat khap sai lat ni) - I can enter the room and also leave.

Connecting Clauses[edit | edit source]

Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect dependent clauses to independent clauses. They establish relationships such as cause and effect, time, condition, and purpose. Let's explore some examples:

  • ເພື່ອ (peu) - in order to
    • ເຂົ້າໄປຕາມທີ່ຈະສົ່ງອອກ. (khap tama thi ja song ok) - Go to receive the package.
  • ເຮັດວຽກ (het wak) - because
    • ເຂົ້າໄປບໍ່ເຮັດວຽກພົບຄວາມເສຍຫຼາຍ. (khap baw het wak phou kwam set loya) - I won't go because I feel tired.
  • ຖ້າມການ (tha makkan) - if
    • ຖ້າມການປາກົດກະທຸນນັ້ນກໍໄດ້. (tha makkan pakhot kathun nan kaw dai) - If it rains tomorrow, we cannot go.
  • ທີ່ (thi) - where
    • ຈາກເວລາທີ່ຂ້ອຍຍັງໄດ້ສົ່ງອອກ. (chak welat thi khoy nyang dai song ok) - Since the time I received it.

Creating Emphasis[edit | edit source]

Correlative conjunctions are used to create emphasis by connecting words, phrases, or clauses that share a similar relationship. Let's see some examples:

  • ເກົ່າ...ກວ່າ (koa...kwa) - either...or
    • ເກົ່າຊົງເຂົ້າໄປຄວາມຈິງຫຼືບໍ່ເຂົ້າໄປຄວາມຮ້ອນ. (koa song khap khwam ching hu baw khap khwam hong) - Either go to the cinema or don't go at all.
  • ກວ່າ...ກການ (kwa...kkhan) - as...as
    • ຂ້ອຍກົດກະທຸນແລ່ນຂ້ອຍກົດກັບຄວາມເສຍຫຼາຍ. (khoy kot kathun lai khoy kot kab kwam set loya) - I run as fast as I can.
  • ບໍ່ເກົ່າ...ບໍ່ກວ່າ (baw koa...baw kwa) - neither...nor
    • ບໍ່ເກົ່າຊົງເຂົ້າຊົນຊາດນັ້ນບໍ່ເຂົ້າໄປຊົນຊາດທັງໝົດ. (baw koa song khap son sad nan baw khap son sad tang mot) - Neither go to the beach nor stay at home all day.

Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]

In Lao culture, the use of conjunctions reflects the importance of maintaining harmony and balance in communication. Lao people often use coordinating conjunctions to create a sense of unity and agreement within conversations. The use of subordinating conjunctions helps to provide clarity and context to ideas, ensuring effective communication. Lao language also places emphasis on politeness and respect, which is evident in the use of correlative conjunctions to create balanced and harmonious sentences.

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now, let's practice using Lao conjunctions in different contexts. Choose the appropriate conjunction to complete each sentence.

1. ໂມກ...ເຮັດວຽກ (mok...het wak) - laugh...because 2. ຂ້ອຍຈະໄດ້ຫຼືເບີ່ງຮູ້ຈັກນັ້ນ...ຂ້ອຍຈະໄດ້ຫຼືສິດ. (khoy ja dai hu baw eng khoy ja dai hu baw sid) - I will either read this book...or sleep. 3. ຖ້າມການປະມານ...ຂ້ອຍໄດ້ຈະສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປນ້ຳກໍ. (tha makkan phaman khoy dai ja samat khap nam kaw) - If there's rain...I won't be able to go swimming.

Solution:

1. ໂມກເຮັດວຽກ (mok het wak) - laugh because 2. ຂ້ອຍຈະໄດ້ຫຼືເບີ່ງຮູ້ຈັກນັ້ນແລະຂ້ອຍຈະໄດ້ຫຼືສິດ. (khoy ja dai lae eng khoy ja dai lae sid) - I will either read this book and also sleep. 3. ຖ້າມການປະມານຂ້ອຍໄດ້ຈະສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປນ້ຳກໍ. (tha makkan phaman khoy dai ja samat khap nam kaw) - If there's rain, I won't be able to go swimming.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we have learned about Lao conjunctions and how to use them to connect words, phrases, and clauses. We explored the different types of conjunctions, their usage, and placement within sentences. Understanding conjunctions is crucial for effective communication in Lao. Keep practicing and applying what you have learned to enhance your language skills.

Table of Contents - Lao Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Greetings and Introductions


Pronouns and Verb to be


Numbers and Time


Nouns and Plurals


Family and Relationships


Adjectives and Adverbs


Food and Drinks


Lao Customs and Etiquette


Questions and Negations


Travel and Transportation


Prepositions and Conjunctions


Shopping and Money


Lao Food and Dining


Tenses and Verb Conjugation


Weather and Seasons


Comparatives and Superlatives


Hobbies and Interests


Lao Music and Arts


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]




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