Language/Lao/Grammar/Prepositions

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◀️ Asking for Directions — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Conjunctions ▶️

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Lao → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Prepositions

Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Lao Course"! Today, we will dive into the fascinating world of prepositions in the Lao language. Prepositions are essential as they help us understand the relationship between different elements in a sentence, particularly regarding location, direction, and time. Mastering prepositions will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Lao, whether you're navigating the streets of Vientiane or chatting with locals.

In this lesson, we will cover:

  • An overview of prepositions in Lao
  • Common prepositions and their meanings
  • How to use prepositions in sentences
  • Examples to illustrate usage
  • Exercises to practice what you've learned

Before we embark on this journey, let's take a moment to understand why prepositions are so important in language learning. In any language, prepositions function as glue that holds sentences together. They provide context and clarity, allowing you to convey precise meanings and relationships.

What Are Prepositions?

Prepositions are words that indicate relationships between nouns, pronouns, or phrases in a sentence. They typically describe:

  • Location (where something is)
  • Direction (where something is going)
  • Time (when something happens)

In Lao, prepositions play a significant role in forming coherent sentences. Let’s explore some of the most commonly used prepositions in the language.

Common Prepositions in Lao

Here are some of the most frequently used prepositions in Lao, along with their meanings:

Lao Pronunciation English
ຢູ່ yuu at, in, on
ຕໍ່ tor to
ສໍາລັບ samlap for
ກັບ kap with, against
ລ່ວງ luang under
ໃນ nai in, inside
ຂໍ້ງ khoang between
ບ້ານ ban home, place
ສູ່ suu towards
ອອກ ok out, outside

Using Prepositions in Sentences

Now, let's learn how to incorporate these prepositions into sentences. Each preposition will be illustrated with examples to provide clarity on their usage.

1. ຢູ່ (yuu) - at, in, on

This preposition is used to indicate a specific location.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ສູນການຄໍາແນະນຳ khong yuu sun kan khamnaenam The book is at the library.
ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ບ້ານ khong yuu ban The cat is in the house.
ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ໃນສວນ khong yuu nai suan The flowers are in the garden.

2. ຕໍ່ (tor) - to

This preposition is used to indicate direction or movement towards a place.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ສູນການຄໍາແນະນຳ khong tor sun kan khamnaenam I am going to the library.
ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ບ້ານ khong tor ban He is walking to the house.
ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ເມືອງ khong tor mueang We are heading to town.

3. ສໍາລັບ (samlap) - for

This preposition indicates purpose or recipient.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງສໍາລັບ ຄົນອື່ນ khong samlap khon eun This gift is for you.
ຂໍ້ງສໍາລັບ ປິໄລມ khong samlap pilaim The book is for studying.
ຂໍ້ງສໍາລັບ ຄອບຄົວ khong samlap khobkhua This food is for the family.

4. ກັບ (kap) - with, against

This preposition is used to denote companionship or opposition.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງກັບ ເພື່ອນ khong kap phuen I am with my friend.
ຂໍ້ງກັບ ລູກນໍ້າ khong kap luknam She is against the idea.
ຂໍ້ງກັບ ຄົນອື່ນ khong kap khon eun They are fighting against others.

5. ລ່ວງ (luang) - under

This preposition indicates a position below something.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ ຕານ khong luang tan The dog is under the table.
ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ ບ້ານ khong luang ban The cat is under the house.
ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ ໃນສວນ khong luang nai suan The ball is under the tree.

6. ໃນ (nai) - in, inside

This preposition indicates being within something.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງໃນ ບ້ານ khong nai ban I am inside the house.
ຂໍ້ງໃນ ສວນ khong nai suan The children are in the garden.
ຂໍ້ງໃນ ລູກນໍ້າ khong nai luknam The fish are in the water.

7. ຂໍ້ງ (khoang) - between

This preposition indicates a position among two or more entities.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງຂໍ້ງ ສອງສິ້ນຄໍາ khong khoang song sinkham The ball is between the shoes.
ຂໍ້ງຂໍ້ງ ປໍ່ກັບ khong khoang paokap The park is between the school and the market.
ຂໍ້ງຂໍ້ງ ລູກນໍ້າ khong khoang luknam The fish is between the two rocks.

8. ບ້ານ (ban) - home, place

This preposition is used to describe a location or destination.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງບ້ານ khong ban I am at home.
ຂໍ້ງບ້ານ ຂໍ້ງລູກນໍ້າ khong ban khong luknam The house is by the river.
ຂໍ້ງບ້ານ ໃນສວນ khong ban nai suan The house is in the garden.

9. ສູ່ (suu) - towards

This preposition indicates direction towards something.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງສູ່ ສູນການຄໍາແນະນຳ khong suu sun kan khamnaenam I am walking towards the library.
ຂໍ້ງສູ່ ບ້ານ khong suu ban She is going towards home.
ຂໍ້ງສູ່ ເມືອງ khong suu mueang They are heading towards town.

10. ອອກ (ok) - out, outside

This preposition indicates movement from inside to outside.

Lao Pronunciation English
ຂໍ້ງອອກ ບ້ານ khong ok ban I am going out of the house.
ຂໍ້ງອອກ ສວນ khong ok suan The children are playing outside.
ຂໍ້ງອອກ ລູກນໍ້າ khong ok luknam The cat went out of the water.

Practice Exercises

Now that you've familiarized yourself with these prepositions and how they fit into sentences, it's time to practice! Below are ten exercises designed to reinforce your understanding.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct preposition from the list: ຢູ່, ຕໍ່, ສໍາລັບ, ກັບ.

1. ຂໍ້ງສອງສິ້ນຄໍາຢູ່ __________.

2. ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ສູນການຄໍາແນະນຳ __________.

3. ຂໍ້ງສໍາລັບ ຄົນອື່ນ __________.

4. ຂໍ້ງກັບ ເພື່ອນ __________.

Solutions for Exercise 1

1. ຢູ່

2. ຕໍ່

3. ສໍາລັບ

4. ກັບ

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences from English to Lao.

1. The dog is under the table.

2. I am going to the market.

3. This gift is for my friend.

4. They are playing outside.

Solutions for Exercise 2

1. ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ ຕານ.

2. ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ຕະລາງ.

3. ຂໍ້ງສໍາລັັບ ເພື່ອນ.

4. ຂໍ້ງອອກ.

Exercise 3: Create Sentences

Using the prepositions provided, create your own sentences.

1. ຢູ່ (at)

2. ລ່ວງ (under)

3. ສູ່ (towards)

4. ອອກ (out)

Solutions for Exercise 3

1. Example: ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ບ້ານ. (I am at home.)

2. Example: ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ ຕານ. (The dog is under the table.)

3. Example: ຂໍ້ງສູ່ ສູນ. (I am walking towards the library.)

4. Example: ຂໍ້ງອອກ ບ້ານ. (I am going out of the house.)

Exercise 4: Match the Prepositions

Match the Lao sentences with their English translations.

1. ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ສູນການຄໍາແນະນຳ

2. ຂໍ້ງອອກ ລູກນໍ້າ

3. ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ບ້ານ

4. ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ ບ້ານ

| Lao Sentence | English Translation |

|--------------|---------------------|

| 1 | a |

| 2 | b |

| 3 | c |

| 4 | d |

| a. The dog is outside. | b. I am going to the house. |

|------------------------|-------------------------------|

| c. I am at the library. | d. I am under the house. |

Solutions for Exercise 4

1 - c

2 - a

3 - b

4 - d

Exercise 5: Identify the Preposition

Read the sentences and identify the preposition used.

1. ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ສູນການຄໍາແນະນຳ.

2. ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ໃນສວນ.

3. ຂໍ້ງສໍາລັັບ ຄົນອື່ນ.

4. ຂໍ້ງອອກ ບ້ານ.

Solutions for Exercise 5

1. ຕໍ່

2. ຢູ່

3. ສໍາລັັບ

4. ອອກ

Exercise 6: Fill in the Correct Preposition

Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentences.

1. ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ __________ ຕານ.

2. ຂໍ້ງສູ່ __________.

3. ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ __________ ບ້ານ.

4. ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ __________ ເມືອງ.

Solutions for Exercise 6

1. ອອກ

2. ສູນ

3. ສູນ

4. ບ້ານ

Exercise 7: Create Your Own Sentences

Write three sentences using any three of the prepositions learned today.

Solutions for Exercise 7

Students' responses will vary. Encourage creativity!

Exercise 8: Correct the Sentences

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

1. ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ໃນບ້ານ.

2. ຂໍ້ງອອກ ສູນ.

3. ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ບ້ານ.

Solutions for Exercise 8

1. Correct as is. (The sentence is correct.)

2. Correct to: ຂໍ້ງອອກ ບ້ານ. (I am going out of the house.)

3. Correct to: ຂໍ້ງຕໍ່ ເມືອງ. (I am going to the town.)

Exercise 9: Translate to Lao

Translate the following sentences to Lao.

1. The children are playing in the garden.

2. I am walking with my friend.

3. The book is on the table.

Solutions for Exercise 9

1. ຂໍ້ງໃນ ສວນ.

2. ຂໍ້ງກັບ ເພື່ອນ.

3. ຂໍ້ງຢູ່ ຕານ.

Exercise 10: Fill in the Gaps

Complete the sentences with appropriate prepositions.

1. ຂໍ້ງລ່ວງ __________.

2. ຂໍ້ງສູ່ __________.

3. ຂໍ້ງອອກ __________.

Solutions for Exercise 10

1. ຕານ

2. ສູນ

3. ບ້ານ

As you can see, prepositions are a vital part of the Lao language, helping you describe relationships and actions more clearly. By practicing these exercises, you will become more confident in your usage of prepositions, making your Lao language skills even stronger. Keep practicing, and soon you will be able to navigate conversations with ease!

Table of Contents - Lao Course - 0 to A1


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


Other Lessons




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