Language/Lao/Grammar/Negations
Negation is a common element in most languages, and Lao is no exception. In this lesson, you will learn how to negate sentences in Lao and understand the rules for negation. Negation is a fundamental concept in grammar, and mastering it will allow you to express the negative form of verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and even questions accurately.
Negation in Lao
Negation in Lao is relatively simple and follows a predictable pattern. To create a negative sentence, you start with the affirmative sentence and add the word "ບໍ່" (bò) before the verb/adjective/adverb. For example:
- ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເມື່ອນລະບົບດີ. (khaa pa jao maen la-bôt dee) - "You are good at operating the system."
To make the sentence negative, we add "ບໍ່" before the verb at the end of the sentence, as follows:
- ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ເມື່ອນລະບົບດີ. (khaa pa jao maen bò la-bôt dee) - "You are not good at operating the system."
Notice that the word "ບໍ່" comes immediately before the verb, not at the beginning of the sentence. Also, the tone mark attached to the verb is still present in the negative sentence.
Negating a Question
To negate a question in Lao, we add "ບໍ່" before the verb in the question. For example:
- ທ່ານຊອກຫາເວັບອາຫານບໍ່? (thaa-ngo sook haa wayp-a-haan bò) - "Did you search for the recipe?"
To make the question negative, we add "ບໍ່" before the verb, as follows:
- ທ່ານບໍ່ຊອກຫາເວັບອາຫານບໍ່? (thaa-ngo bò sook haa wayp-a-haan bò) - "Didn't you search for the recipe?"
Notice that the tone mark attached to the verb is still present in the negative question.
Negating Adjectives and Adverbs
Negating adjectives and adverbs in Lao follows the same pattern as negating verbs. We add "ບໍ່" before the adjective or adverb to make the sentence negative. For example:
- ຂອບໃຈ. (kob chai) - "Happy."
To make the sentence negative, we add "ບໍ່" before the adjective, as follows:
- ບໍ່ຂອບໃຈ. (bò kob chai) - "Not happy."
Here is another example:
- ພວກເຮົານັ້ນພວກເຮົາດີໃຫ້ເຂົ້າຊົມບ້ານ. (phuak hao nun phuak hao dee hai khom som baan) - "We are happy to enter the village."
To make the sentence negative, we add "ບໍ່" before the adjective, as follows:
- ພວກເຮົານັ້ນພວກເຮົາບໍ່ດີໃຫ້ເຂົ້າຊົມບ້ານ. (phuak hao nun phuak hao bò dee hai khom som baan) - "We are not happy to enter the village."
Negating adjectives and adverbs in Lao is straightforward as long as you remember to add "ບໍ່" before the adjective or adverb.
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the general rule of negation in Lao. In some cases, instead of using "ບໍ່," we use the word "ມີ" (mii) to negate a sentence. For example:
- ພວກເຮົາບໍ່ມີໃນຄຳສັ່ງນີ້. (phuak hao bò mii nai kham sang ni) - "We don't have the order."
In this example, we use "ມີ" instead of "ບໍ່" to negate the sentence. This exception is common when we want to negate a sentence that expresses the absence or lack of something.
Another exception to the general rule is when we want to negate a verb with the word "to be." In this case, we use the word "ບໍ່ແມ່ນ" (bò mae) before the verb "to be." For example:
- ພວກເຮົາບໍ່ແມ່ນຜູ້ໝົດສັນຍາລັກ. (phuak hao bò mae nai môt sa-nyaa lak) - "We are not all experts."
Here, we use "ບໍ່ແມ່ນ" instead of "ບໍ່" to negate the verb "to be." This exception is common when we want to express the negative form of a sentence that uses the verb "to be."
Conclusion
Negation is an essential concept in Lao grammar, and mastering it will allow you to express negation accurately in your speaking and writing. Remember to use "ບໍ່" before the verb, adjective, or adverb to make the sentence negative. There are some exceptions to the general rule, but these are relatively easy to understand and apply. With practice, you will soon be able to negate sentences and questions in Lao with ease.