- 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 |
ma#k bOO |
Do you like it? |
ມັກ |
ma#k |
Yes. |
ບໍ່ມັກ |
bO#O ma#k |
No. |
ຫວານບໍ |
wa4an bOO |
Is it sweet? |
ຫວານ |
wa4an |
Yes. |
- "yu#u" (ຢູ່) 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 |
hO1On bOO |
Is it hot? |
ຮ້ອນຢູ່ |
hO1On yu#u |
Yes. (At least it isn't cold) |
ຮ້ອນຢູ່ |
hO1On yu#u |
Yes, it is. |
- "na4aw" (ໜາວ)
"cold" and "yen" (ເຢັນ), "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 |
?aaka3at na4aw |
It's (the
weather) cold. |
ອາຫານເຍັນ |
?aaha4an yen |
The food's cold.
|
ຂ້ອຍໜາວ |
khO3y na4aw |
I'm cold. |
ມືເຍັນ |
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.
- Note the word order when "si" (ສິ) and "bO#O" (ບໍ່) - the negative -
occur together.
For example,
ສິໄປ |
si pay |
I'll go. |
ບໍ່ໄປ |
bO#O pay |
I don't go. |
ສິບໍ່ໄປ |
si bO#O pay |
I won't go. |
|