Language/Lao/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Lao learners! ๐
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "to be" in Lao. We use "to be" to describe and identify things or people. We'll cover three main concepts of "to be": identifying, describing, and location. At the end of the lesson, you'll have a good understanding of how to use "to be" in Lao.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Future Tense & Questions.
Identifying[edit | edit source]
We use "to be" to identify things or people. To do that in Lao, we use the word "เปเบกเปเบ" (mรขi nรฉeo) before the subject. "เปเบกเปเบ" means "to be" in Lao. It is equivalent to "is" in English.
For example, let's say you want to identify yourself:
Lao | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
เบเปเบญเบเปเบเบฑเบเบเบดเบ | khouy pen nying | I am a girl |
Here is a sample dialogue:
- Person 1: เบเปเบญเบเปเบเบฑเบเบเบดเบ (khouy pen nying)
- Person 2: เบเปเบฝเบเปเบกเปเบเปเบเบดเบเปเบเบเบตเบ (khวo mรขi nรฉo ngern nai king) You are money in the bank.
Describing[edit | edit source]
We also use "to be" in Lao to describe someone or something. To do that, we place the word "เปเบเบตเบ" (bao) after the subject. This word means "to exist" or "to be present". For example:
Lao | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
เบเปเบญเบเปเบเบตเบเบเบตเปเบขเบนเปเบกเบตเบเบญเบ | nวญi bao thรฎ yรน mii tวญng | I am here right now. |
Here is a sample dialogue:
- Person 1: เบเปเบญเบเปเบเบตเบเบเบตเปเบขเบนเปเบกเบตเบเบญเบ (nวญi bao thรฎ yรน mii tวญng)
- Person 2: เบเปเบฝเบเปเบกเปเบเบเบทเป เปเบเบงเบเบชเบฐเบซเบงเบฒเบ (khวo mรขi nรฉo sวua kวฃo'thฤซeng sวwฤt) You are called Savannakhet.
Location[edit | edit source]
In Lao, we use "เปเบเบตเบ" (bao) and "เปเบกเปเบ" (mรขi nรฉeo) to describe location. We place "เปเบกเปเบ" after the object and "เปเบเบตเบ" after the place.
Lao | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
เปเบเบปเปเบฒเปเบเปเบเบตเบเบเบตเปเบเบตเปเบเบปเบเปเบเป | sวr dao bao thรฎ nวญi pon dai | Sor Dao is here now. |
Here is a sample dialogue:
- Person 1: เบเบปเปเบเบเบตเปเบเบตเปเปเบเบตเบเบกเบตเบญเบฑเบเบเบฒเปเบฅเปเบงเปเบเป (sวญng thรฎ nวญi bao mi รฒt ta'lฤw ngaฤซ)
- Person 2: เบเปเบฝเบเปเบกเบทเปเบญเปเบเบตเบเบเบตเปเบกเบตเบเบณเบเบฒเบชเบฑเบเปเบเบเปเบเปเบ (khวo mฤlao bao thรฎ mii chaman pasวญk dวญ kฤng) I exist where there is a lotus pond.
Remember, grammar is only a part of language learning. To practice and reinforce these concepts, try speaking with native speakers. Use Polyglot Club to find native speakers and ask them any questions!
I hope that you found this lesson helpful in understanding how to use "to be" in Lao. For more grammar lessons, check out the Grammar section of the Lao language on Polyglot.
โก If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
โก Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. ๐
Videos[edit | edit source]
How to introduce yourself in Lao Language - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Questions
- Future Tense
- Pronouns
- Give your Opinion
- Adjectives
- Plurals
- How to Use Have
- Negation
- Demonstrative Pronouns
Sources[edit | edit source]