Language/Lao/Grammar/Comparatives

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◀️ Seasons — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Superlatives ▶️

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LaoGrammar0 to A1 Course → Comparatives

Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Lao Course"! Today, we are diving into the fascinating world of comparatives in the Lao language. Understanding how to express comparisons is essential for effective communication, allowing you to describe differences between people, objects, and ideas. Whether you're talking about the size of a fruit, the beauty of a landscape, or the speed of a vehicle, mastering comparatives will enhance your conversations in Lao.

In this lesson, we’ll break down the structure of comparatives, provide numerous examples, and offer exercises to solidify your understanding. By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped to make comparisons in Lao with confidence!

What are Comparatives?[edit | edit source]

Comparatives are used to compare two nouns and indicate how one is different from the other. In English, we often use the suffix “-er” or the word "more" to form comparatives (e.g., "taller," "more beautiful"). In Lao, however, the structure is a bit different, and we will explore how to navigate this system.

How to Form Comparatives in Lao[edit | edit source]

In Lao, comparatives are formed using the adjective along with the word “ກວ່າ” (kuā) which means "more" or "than." The structure generally follows this pattern:

  • Adjective + ກວ່າ + Noun

For example:

  • ສູງກວ່າ (sǔng kuā) means "taller than."
  • ສວຍກວ່າ (sǔay kuā) means "more beautiful than."

Let's look at some examples to illustrate this structure.

Examples of Comparatives in Lao[edit | edit source]

Lao Pronunciation English
ບໍ່ສູງກວ່າຂໍ້ຕົ້ນ bɔ̄ sǔng kuā khɔ̄ tn The tree is taller than the bush.
ສູງກວ່າບໍ່ sǔng kuā bɔ̄ He is taller than her.
ສວຍກວ່າ sǔay kuā This dress is more beautiful than that one.
ເລັດກວ່າ lɛ́t kuā This meal is tastier than the last.
ລະດັບສູງກວ່າ ladhap sǔng kuā This level is higher than the previous one.
ແຕ່ງງານສົດກວ່າ tɛ̄ng ŋān sǒt kuā Today's flowers are fresher than yesterday's.
ເລັດແກ່ມວນກວ່າ lɛ́t kɛ̀ mūn kuā The soup is hotter than the curry.
ເພີມທັງຄົນຄວາມດຽວກວ່າ pʰə̄m tʰāng khon khwām diāw kuā This team is more united than that one.
ສິດທິສໍ້ຫວານກວ່າ sǐt thí sǒ̄ hūā n kuā The right is more important than the left.
ກິລາສະດຸກກວ່າ kīlā sā dʊk kuā This sport is more exciting than that one.

Special Cases[edit | edit source]

While most adjectives follow the basic structure, some adjectives can also be modified by using the word “ບໍ່” (bɔ̄), which means “not.” This allows you to express that one noun does not have a certain quality compared to another.

For example:

  • ບໍ່ສູງກວ່າ (bɔ̄ sǔng kuā) means "not taller than."

Making Comparisons with Nouns[edit | edit source]

You can also create comparative sentences by comparing nouns directly without needing to specify the adjective every time. Here’s how:

  • Noun 1 + ກວ່າ + Noun 2

Example:

  • ລົດກວ່າເຮືອ (lót kuā hǐa) means "the car is faster than the boat."

Examples of Noun Comparisons[edit | edit source]

Lao Pronunciation English
ລົດກວ່າເຮືອ lót kuā hǐa The car is faster than the boat.
ເຂົ້າກວ່າສູບ kʰāo kuā sūp Rice is more important than soup.
ຄົນກວ່າແບບ khon kuā bɛ̄p The person is better than the model.
ເມືອງກວ່າບ່ານ mɯ̄ang kuā bān The city is larger than the village.
ເຮືອກວ່າລົດ hǐa kuā lót The boat is bigger than the car.
ຄົນກວ່າສັດ khon kuā sàt The man is taller than the animal.
ສີຂອງລົດກວ່າສີຂອງເຮືອ sǐ khɔ̄ng lót kuā sǐ khɔ̄ng hǐa The color of the car is more beautiful than the color of the boat.
ຂອງສະດຸກກວ່າຂອງບັນດ kɔ̄ng sādʊk kuā kɔ̄ng bān d The soup is better than the salad.
ຕົ້ນສູງກວ່າບໍ່ tn sǔng kuā bɔ̄ The tree is taller than the bush.
ປ່າສົດກວ່າປ່າຕ່ຳ The forest is denser than the jungle.

Exercises and Practice Scenarios[edit | edit source]

Now that we have learned how to form comparatives, let’s put our knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises for you to practice.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the following sentences using the correct comparative form.

1. ນັກສຶກສາສູງກວ່າ ____________ (ນັກກິລາ).

2. ຂົນສູງກວ່າ ____________ (ແມ່).

3. ປາດກວ່າ ____________ (ແບບ).

4. ເພັດກວ່າ ____________ (ຂ່າວ).

Exercise 2: Translate the Following Sentences[edit | edit source]

Translate the following English sentences into Lao using comparatives.

1. This apple is sweeter than that orange.

2. My house is bigger than your house.

3. This movie is more interesting than that one.

4. The weather today is hotter than yesterday.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences[edit | edit source]

Write five comparative sentences in Lao using the structure we learned in this lesson.

Solutions[edit | edit source]

Exercise 1 Solutions[edit | edit source]

1. ນັກສຶກສາສູງກວ່າ ນັກກິລາ (The student is taller than the athlete.)

2. ຂົນສູງກວ່າ ແມ່ (The car is faster than the mother.)

3. ປາດກວ່າ ແບບ (The fish is bigger than the model.)

4. ເພັດກວ່າ ຂ່າວ (The dish is tastier than the news.)

Exercise 2 Solutions[edit | edit source]

1. ເສອງສຽງນີ້ສູງກວ່າລົດແມ່ນທີ່ໃຊ້ໃນສູງກວ່າ (This apple is sweeter than that orange.)

2. ເຮືອສູງກວ່າບໍ່ແຫ່ນຂອງເຮືອກວ່າເຮືອແຕ່ຈິບດິນ (My house is bigger than your house.)

3. ຟິມນີ້ສູງກວ່າຟິມອື່ນ (This movie is more interesting than that one.)

4. ອາກາດວັນນີ້ສູງກວ່າວັນທີ່ແລກບັນດິນ (The weather today is hotter than yesterday.)

Exercise 3 Solutions[edit | edit source]

1. ນັກສຶກສາທັນເວລາກວ່າຂໍ້ຕົ້ນ (The student is taller than the bush.)

2. ບັນດຕ່ຳກວ່າສົດ (The salad is fresher than the one.)

3. ຂົນສູງກວ່າແມ່ (The car is faster than the mother.)

4. ຄົນກວ່າສັດ (The man is taller than the animal.)

5. ເຮືອກວ່າລົດ (The boat is bigger than the car.)

As we conclude this lesson, remember that practice makes perfect! Try using comparatives in your daily conversations, and don't hesitate to refer back to this lesson whenever you need a refresher.

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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