Grammar Notes 2
  1. In Lao, a "yes" or "no" answer to a question is often formed by repeating the verb or adjective.  In answering in the negative, the high-mid-tone negative particle /bO#O/ precedes the verb or adjective.

For example,

  ມັກບໍ Click to Listen ma#k bOO Do you like it?
  ມັກ Click to Listen ma#k Yes.
  ບໍ່ມັກ Click to Listen bO#O ma#k No.
  ຫວານບໍ Click to Listen wa4an bOO Is it sweet?
  ຫວານ Click to Listen wa4an Yes.
  1. "yu#u" (ຢູ່) Click to Listen  has several uses.  In this lesson it follows a verb or adjective.  It affirms the meaning of the verb or adjective, but does not modify it in any way.  Compare the two answers.

For example,

  ຮ້ອນບໍ Click to Listen hO1On bOO Is it hot?
  ຮ້ອນຢູ່ Click to Listen hO1On yu#u Yes. (At least it isn't cold)
  ຮ້ອນຢູ່ Click to Listen hO1On yu#u Yes, it is.
  1. "na4aw" (ໜາວ) Click to Listen   "cold" and "yen" (ເຢັນ)Click to Listen "cold" have overlapping meaning.  "yen" is used for something which is cool or cold to the touch.   "na4aw" (ໜາວ)  may be used to describe the weather.  "na4aw" is also may be used to describe the weather.  "na4aw" is also used to say, "I'm cold, he's cold."

For example,

  ອາກາດໜາວ Click to Listen ?aaka3at na4aw It's (the weather) cold.
  ອາຫານເຍັນ Click to Listen ?aaha4an yen The food's cold.
  ຂ້ອຍໜາວ Click to Listen khO3y na4aw I'm cold.
  ມືເຍັນ Click to Listen my2y yen My hands are cold.

Incorrect: ?aaha4an na4aw. na4aw is the bodily or internalized cold that you experience or feel;   yen   is relative temperature, something that can be tested by a touch of the hand or tongue.

  1. Note the word order when "si" (ສິ)  Click to Listen and "bO#O" (ບໍ່) Click to Listen - the negative - occur together.

For example,

  ສິໄປ Click to Listen si pay I'll go.
  ບໍ່ໄປ Click to Listen bO#O pay I don't go.
  ສິບໍ່ໄປ Click to Listen si bO#O pay I won't go.

 

  
           
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2003 SEAsite Laos. Grammar Notes 2
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