Permissive Causatives
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the word 'ໃຫ້' (hai) to grant permission or allow someone to perform an action.
- Place 'ໃຫ້' before the verb to mean 'let' or 'allow': 'ໃຫ້ໄປ' (let go).
- Use 'ບໍ່ໃຫ້' to deny permission: 'ບໍ່ໃຫ້ໄປ' (don't let go).
- The structure is Subject + ໃຫ້ + Person + Verb: 'ແມ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ' (Mother lets me go).
Meanings
The permissive causative in Lao uses the verb 'ໃຫ້' (hai) to indicate that a subject allows or enables another person to perform an action.
Permission
Granting someone the authority or freedom to do something.
“ຄູໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍກັບບ້ານ”
“ແມ່ໃຫ້ກິນເຂົ້າໜົມ”
Causative/Enabling
Making it possible for someone to do something.
“ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຢືມເງິນ”
“ເຈົ້ານາຍໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍພັກຜ່ອນ”
Negative Permission
Prohibiting or not allowing an action.
“ແມ່ບໍ່ໃຫ້ໄປທ່ຽວ”
“ຄູບໍ່ໃຫ້ລົມກັນ”
Permissive Causative Structure
| Subject | Particle | Person | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ຂ້ອຍ | ໃຫ້ | ລາວ | ໄປ | ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປ |
| ແມ່ | ບໍ່ໃຫ້ | ຂ້ອຍ | ຫຼິ້ນ | ແມ່ບໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຫຼິ້ນ |
| ເຈົ້າ | ໃຫ້ | ໝູ່ | ກິນ | ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ໝູ່ກິນ |
| ພໍ່ | ໃຫ້ | ລູກ | ນອນ | ພໍ່ໃຫ້ລູກນອນ |
| ຄູ | ບໍ່ໃຫ້ | ນັກຮຽນ | ລົມ | ຄູບໍ່ໃຫ້ນັກຮຽນລົມ |
| ລາວ | ໃຫ້ | ຂ້ອຍ | ຢືມ | ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຢືມ |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subj + ໃຫ້ + Obj + Verb | ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປ |
| Negative | Subj + ບໍ່ໃຫ້ + Obj + Verb | ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໃຫ້ລາວໄປ |
| Question | Subj + ໃຫ້ + Obj + Verb + ບໍ່ | ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ລາວໄປບໍ່? |
| Short Affirmative | ໃຫ້ + Verb | ໃຫ້ໄປ |
| Short Negative | ບໍ່ໃຫ້ + Verb | ບໍ່ໃຫ້ໄປ |
Formalitätsspektrum
ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂໍອະນຸຍາດໄປ. (Asking for permission.)
ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ. (Asking for permission.)
ໃຫ້ໄປແດ່. (Asking for permission.)
ປ່ອຍໃຫ້ໄປໂລດ. (Asking for permission.)
The 'ໃຫ້' (Hai) Concept Map
Permission
- ໃຫ້ໄປ Let go
Enabling
- ໃຫ້ຢືມ Let borrow
Prohibition
- ບໍ່ໃຫ້ໄປ Don't let go
Examples by Level
ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
Let me go
ໃຫ້ກິນ
Let (me/him) eat
ໃຫ້ຫຼິ້ນ
Let (me/him) play
ໃຫ້ມາ
Let (him) come
ແມ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
Mom lets me go
ຄູບໍ່ໃຫ້ລົມ
The teacher doesn't let us talk
ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍນັ່ງ
He lets me sit
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ໄປບໍ່?
Do you let (him) go?
ເຈົ້ານາຍໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍພັກ
The boss lets me take a break
ພໍ່ບໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຂີ່ລົດ
Dad doesn't let me drive
ໝູ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຢືມເງິນ
My friend lets me borrow money
ເຈົ້າຈະໃຫ້ລາວມາບໍ່?
Will you let him come?
ບໍລິສັດໃຫ້ພະນັກງານພັກຜ່ອນ
The company allows employees to rest
ລາວບໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຂົ້າໄປໃນຫ້ອງ
He does not permit me to enter the room
ແມ່ໃຫ້ລູກຫຼິ້ນເກມໄດ້
Mom lets the child play games
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຊ່ວຍບໍ່?
Do you allow me to help?
ລັດຖະບານບໍ່ໃຫ້ປະຊາຊົນອອກນອກບ້ານ
The government does not allow citizens to go out
ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຕັດສິນໃຈເອງ
He lets me decide for myself
ຄູໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາສະແດງຄວາມຄິດເຫັນ
The teacher allows us to express opinions
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ລາວເຮັດແບບນັ້ນໄດ້ແນວໃດ?
How can you let him do that?
ກົດໝາຍບໍ່ໃຫ້ຜູ້ໃດລະເມີດສິດທິ
The law does not allow anyone to violate rights
ລາວໃຫ້ຄວາມສະດວກແກ່ພວກເຮົາ
He facilitates (lets us have) convenience
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍມີຄວາມຫວັງ
You let me have hope
ບໍ່ມີໃຜໃຫ້ລາວເຮັດວຽກນັ້ນ
No one lets him do that work
Easily Confused
Both use the same word, but the grammatical function differs based on what follows.
Both are causative, but 'ໃຫ້' is permissive while 'ເຮັດໃຫ້' is forced.
Both express negative commands.
Häufige Fehler
ໃຫ້ໄປຂ້ອຍ
ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປ
ບໍ່ໃຫ້ໄປຂ້ອຍ
ບໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
ໃຫ້ລາວໄປບໍ່
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ລາວໄປບໍ່
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປຫຼິ້ນ
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປຫຼິ້ນ
ແມ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ
ແມ່ບໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປນຳ
ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປນຳ
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວເຮັດ
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວເຮັດ
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປໄດ້ບໍ່
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປໄດ້ບໍ່
ພໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຢືມເງິນ
ພໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຢືມເງິນ
ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
ລາວອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
Sentence Patterns
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ ___ ໄປ.
ແມ່ບໍ່ໃຫ້ ___ ກິນ.
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ ___ ເຮັດວຽກບໍ່?
ຄູໃຫ້ ___ ຕັດສິນໃຈເອງ.
Real World Usage
ແມ່ບໍ່ໃຫ້ໄປ
ເຈົ້ານາຍໃຫ້ພັກ
ໃຫ້ໄປໂລດ
ຄູໃຫ້ກັບບ້ານ
ໃຫ້ເອົາໄປສົ່ງ
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປນຳບໍ່?
Check the context
Don't forget the person
Use 'ບໍ່ໃຫ້' for rules
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always put 'ໃຫ້' first, then 'ຂ້ອຍ', then the verb.
Put 'ບໍ່' before 'ໃຫ້', not after.
Add 'ບໍ່' at the very end of the sentence.
Use 'ອະນຸຍາດ' instead of 'ໃຫ້' in professional emails.
Aussprache
Tone of ໃຫ້
The word 'ໃຫ້' has a low tone. Ensure it is distinct from high-tone words.
Question intonation
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ລາວໄປບໍ່? ↑
Rising pitch at the end indicates a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Hai' as 'High-five'—you give a high-five to let someone start the game.
Visual Association
Imagine a parent holding a gate open for a child. The gate is 'ໃຫ້'.
Rhyme
To let them go, use 'ໃຫ້' so.
Story
I wanted to go to the park. My mom said 'ໃຫ້' (let). I ran to my friend. My friend said 'ໃຫ້' (let) me play. We were happy.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 3 sentences today using 'ໃຫ້' to describe what you allow your friends to do.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Respect for elders is key. You often ask for permission using 'ໃຫ້' even if you are an adult.
Lao workplaces are hierarchical. 'ໃຫ້' is used by managers to give instructions.
Teachers are highly respected. Students always ask for permission.
The word 'ໃຫ້' comes from Proto-Tai roots meaning 'to give'.
Conversation Starters
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ໝູ່ຢືມເງິນບໍ່?
ແມ່ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ເຈົ້າໄປທ່ຽວບໍ່?
ເຈົ້ານາຍໃຫ້ເຈົ້າພັກວັນເສົາບໍ່?
ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ລູກຫຼິ້ນເກມຫຼາຍບໍ່?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
ແມ່ ___ ຂ້ອຍໄປຫຼິ້ນ.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
ໃຫ້ໄປຂ້ອຍ.
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປ.
ລາວ / ໃຫ້ / ຂ້ອຍ / ໄປ
'ໃຫ້' always means 'to give'.
A: ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ລາວໄປບໍ່? B: ____.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesແມ່ ___ ຂ້ອຍໄປຫຼິ້ນ.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
ໃຫ້ໄປຂ້ອຍ.
ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປ.
ລາວ / ໃຫ້ / ຂ້ອຍ / ໄປ
'ໃຫ້' always means 'to give'.
A: ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ລາວໄປບໍ່? B: ____.
Match 'ໃຫ້' usage.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, it's only for permission and giving. Use 'ເຮັດໃຫ້' for causing results.
It's neutral. Use 'ອະນຸຍາດ' for very formal situations.
Because 'ໃຫ້' needs an object to be permitted.
Yes, 'ແມ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ' (Mom lets me go).
Your sentence will mean the opposite!
The word is the same, but the function changes based on what follows.
Yes, 'ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ໝາກິນ' (I let the dog eat).
Use 'ເຈົ້າໃຫ້...ບໍ່?'
In Other Languages
讓 (ràng)
The word order is identical.
させる (saseru)
Japanese conjugates the verb; Lao uses a particle.
let / allow
English is more rigid with infinitive markers.
dejar
Spanish requires the infinitive form of the verb.
lassen
German syntax requires the verb at the end of the clause.
سمح (samaha)
Arabic requires a prepositional link.
