Language/Lao/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have

Lao Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Lao learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to use "have" in Lao language. Understanding how to use "have" is important if you want to improve your Lao skills. We will start from the basics and then move on to more advanced topics. We will use cultural information and interesting facts to illustrate the lesson. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
Don't forget to check out Lao native speakers and ask them any Grammar questions you may have! 🙌
Let's get started!

What is "Have" in Lao?

"Have" in Lao is "ເປັນ" (pen) which is used to indicate possession.

Here's an example:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ຂ້າມັນມັນເປັນເຈົ້າ	khaman man pen jao	He has you

In this example, "ເປັນ" (pen) is used to indicate possession. ຂ້າມັນ (khaman) means "he", ມັນ (man) means "has", and ເຈົ້າ (jao) means "you".

Using "Have" to indicate possession

To indicate possession in Lao, you can use "ເປັນ" (pen) or simply the verb "ມີ" (mi).

Here are some examples:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ຂ້າມັນມັນເຈົ້າ	khaman man pen jao	He has you
ຂ້າມັນມີເຈົ້າ	khaman man mi jao	He has you

In the first example, "ເປັນ" (pen) is used to indicate possession. In the second example, the verb "ມີ" (mi) is used instead.

Using "Have" in the past tense

To indicate that something was possessed in the past, Lao uses the word "ແມ່ນ" (maen) with "ເປັນ" (pen).

Here's an example:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ຂ້າມັນແມ່ນພໍ່ເປັນສາມາດເຂົ້າມາໃນສະຖານທີ່ຂອງເຈົ້າແລ້ວ	khaman maen pong pen samat khao ma nau nai sapathit khong jao laew	He had a key to your apartment

In this example, "ແມ່ນ" (maen) is used with "ເປັນ" (pen) to indicate that possession occurred in the past. "ພໍ່" (pong) means "key", "ສາມາດ" (samat) means "can enter", and "ສະຖານທີ່" (sapathit) means "apartment".

Using "Have" in questions

To ask a question in Lao using "have," simply reverse the subject and the verb. For example, to ask "Do you have a pet?", you would say "ເຈົ້າມີສັນຍາລະໜ້າຂອງທ່ານບໍ່" (jao mi san ya lanao khong than bork).

Here's another example:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ທ່ານມີເງິນໃຫຍ່ບໍ?	than mi ngoi bork?	Do you have a lot of money?

In this example, "ເງິນ" (ngoin) means "money", and "ໃຫຍ່" (nong) means "a lot".

Practice dialogue

Here is a practice dialogue to help you understand how to use "have" in Lao:

• Person 1: ທ່ານເປັນມັນໃນການໄດ້ເກີນມາແລ້ວບໍ? (Than pen man nai kan dai kheo ma laew bork? / Do you have it with you now?)
• Person 2: ແມ່ນມັນສາມາດໄດ້ພວກຄົນຕາມເຈົ້າໃນໂຮງຮຽນໃນອາການສອນແລ້ວທີ່ມັກລົງໄປ (Maen man samat pwak khon ta ma jao nai honghong hian sai naw sone laew / Yes, I can leave it with you in the classroom after the lesson.)

Summary

In this lesson, you learned how to use "have" in Lao language to indicate possession, including in the past tense, questions, and how to use the verb "ມີ" (mi) to avoid "ເປັນ" (pen). Remember that practicing with native speakers is always the best way to improve your skills! 💪

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