- Both "pen" (ເປັນ)
 and "mE#En" (ແມ່ນ)
mean "to
be". "mE#En" (ແມ່ນ) ,
however, specifies or defines something or the role that someone plays,
while "pen" (ເປັນ)
does not; it
merely identifies someone.For example,
|
ລາວເປັນນາຍຄູ
|
la2aw pen na2ay khu2u |
He's a teacher. |
|
ລາວແມ່ນນາຍຄູ
|
la2aw mE#En
na2ay khu2u |
He's a teacher. |
- Nouns in Lao do not have singular and plural endings. "kho2n" (ຄົນ)
means "person"
or "people" depending on context.
- To state the nationality of a person, it is necessary to say "kho2n" (ຄົນ)
before their
nationality.
For example,
|
ຄົນລາວ
|
kho2n la2aw |
a Lao, a Lao person(s) |
|
ຄົນອເມລິກາ
|
kho2n ame2elikaa |
an American, Americans |
|
