B1 Verb Forms 1 min read Easy

Causative 'Hai'

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'hai' (ໃຫ້) to express that you are making, letting, or causing someone to perform an action.

  • Place 'hai' before the person you are influencing: 'Khoi hai lao pai' (I let him go).
  • Use it for permission: 'Mae hai pai' (Mom lets me go).
  • Use it for causation: 'Khao hai khoy het' (They make me do it).
Subject + ໃຫ້ (hai) + Person + Verb

Causative 'Hai' Structure

Subject Causative Person Verb Example
Khoi
hai
khao
pai
Khoi hai khao pai
Mae
hai
khoy
kin
Mae hai khoy kin
Khu
hai
nak-hian
an
Khu hai nak-hian an
Jao
hai
khoy
het
Jao hai khoy het
Lao
bo hai
khoy
pai
Lao bo hai khoy pai
Jao
hai
khao
pai
bo?
Jao hai khao pai bo?

Meanings

The causative 'hai' is used to indicate that the subject causes, allows, or forces another person to perform an action.

1

Causation/Force

Compelling someone to do something.

“ພໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຮັດວຽກ (Father makes me work)”

“ແມ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍກິນເຂົ້າ (Mother makes me eat)”

2

Permission

Allowing someone to do something.

“ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປຫຼິ້ນ (He lets me go play)”

“ເພິ່ນໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍນັ່ງ (They let me sit)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Causative 'Hai'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + hai + Obj + Verb
Khoi hai khao pai
Negative
Subj + bo hai + Obj + Verb
Khoi bo hai khao pai
Question
Subj + hai + Obj + Verb + bo?
Jao hai khao pai bo?
Permission
Subj + hai + Obj + Verb
Mae hai khoy pai
Command
Subj + hai + Obj + Verb
Khu hai khoy an
Past
Subj + hai + Obj + Verb
Lao hai khoy het (contextual)

Formality Spectrum

Formal
ກະລຸນາໃຫ້ລາວໄປ

ກະລຸນາໃຫ້ລາວໄປ (Permission)

Neutral
ໃຫ້ລາວໄປ

ໃຫ້ລາວໄປ (Permission)

Informal
ໃຫ້ລາວໄປໂລດ

ໃຫ້ລາວໄປໂລດ (Permission)

Slang
ປ່ອຍລາວໄປ

ປ່ອຍລາວໄປ (Permission)

The Causative Bridge

ໃຫ້ (hai)

Permission

  • ອະນຸຍາດ allow

Command

  • ສັ່ງ order

Influence

  • ເຮັດໃຫ້ make
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Examples by Level

1

ແມ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ

Mom lets me go

2

ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍກິນ

He lets me eat

3

ຄູໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍນັ່ງ

Teacher lets me sit

4

ພໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຫຼິ້ນ

Dad lets me play

1

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໃຫ້ລາວໄປ

I don't let him go

2

ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຮັດບໍ່?

Do you make me do it?

3

ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຮັດວຽກ

He makes me work

4

ແມ່ບໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຫຼິ້ນ

Mom doesn't let me play

1

ຫົວໜ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຮັດວຽກລ່ວງເວລາ

The boss makes me work overtime

2

ເພິ່ນໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍລໍຖ້າຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້

They make me wait here

3

ເຈົ້າຈະໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຮັດແນວໃດ?

What do you want me to do?

4

ລາວບໍ່ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຂົ້າໄປ

He doesn't let me enter

1

ຄູສອນໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍແກ້ບົດເລກນີ້

The teacher makes me solve this problem

2

ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເຊື່ອໄດ້ແນວໃດ?

How can you make me believe?

3

ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປເອົາເອກະສານ

He makes me go get the documents

4

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໃຫ້ໃຜເຂົ້າມາໃນຫ້ອງ

I don't let anyone enter the room

1

ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຮັບຜິດຊອບວຽກນີ້

He makes me take responsibility for this task

2

ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກຜິດ

You make me feel guilty

3

ເພິ່ນໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍອະທິບາຍເຫດຜົນ

They make me explain the reason

4

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໃຫ້ສະຖານະການນີ້ເກີດຂຶ້ນອີກ

I won't let this situation happen again

1

ລາວໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຕົກຢູ່ໃນສະພາບທີ່ຍາກລຳບາກ

He puts me in a difficult situation

2

ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າທຸກຢ່າງຈະດີຂຶ້ນ

You make me think everything will get better

3

ເພິ່ນໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຕັດສິນໃຈດ້ວຍຕົນເອງ

They let me decide for myself

4

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໃຫ້ຄວາມຜິດພາດນີ້ເກີດຂຶ້ນຊ້ຳ

I will not let this error repeat

Easily Confused

Causative 'Hai' vs Hai (Give) vs Hai (Causative)

Both use the same word.

Causative 'Hai' vs Tam (Do) vs Hai (Cause)

Both relate to action.

Causative 'Hai' vs Hai (Cause) vs Khoy (Wait)

Sounds similar to beginners.

Common Mistakes

✗

Khoi hai pai

✓

Khoi hai khao pai

Missing the object (person).
✗

Khoi pai hai

✓

Khoi hai pai

Wrong word order.
✗

Khoi hai het khao

✓

Khoi hai khao het

Object must follow 'hai'.
✗

Hai khoi pai

✓

Mae hai khoi pai

Missing the subject.
✗

Khoi bo hai pai

✓

Khoi bo hai khao pai

Still missing the object.
✗

Jao hai pai bo?

✓

Jao hai khao pai bo?

Missing the person.
✗

Lao hai khoi het

✓

Lao hai khoi het

Correct, but ensure context is clear.
✗

Khoi hai khao het khao

✓

Khoi hai khao het

Redundant object.
✗

Khoi hai khao pai bo?

✓

Jao hai khao pai bo?

Wrong subject in question.
✗

Lao hai pai

✓

Lao hai khao pai

Ambiguous causative.
✗

Khoi hai khao het pai

✓

Khoi hai khao pai

Over-complicating the causative.
✗

Lao hai khao het khao

✓

Lao hai khao het

Redundant object.
✗

Khoi hai khao pai

✓

Khoi hai khao pai

Correct, but check register.

Sentence Patterns

___ ໃຫ້ ___ ໄປ.

ເຈົ້າ ໃຫ້ ___ ເຮັດ ___ ບໍ່?

ຂ້ອຍ ບໍ່ ໃຫ້ ___ ___.

___ ໃຫ້ ___ ເຮັດ ___.

Real World Usage

Workplace constant

Boss hai het.

Family constant

Mae hai pai.

School very common

Khu hai an.

Texting common

Hai pai bo?

Ordering Food common

Hai sai pak.

Travel occasional

Hai pai hong-haem.

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💡

Context is King

Lao relies on context. If you say 'hai', the situation tells the listener if it's permission or force.
⚠️

Don't Drop the Person

Always include the person after 'hai'. It's the most common mistake.
🎯

Use 'bo' for Negatives

Add 'bo' before 'hai' to negate the entire causative action.
💬

Polite Requests

Use 'hai' to make polite requests by framing them as 'let me do' or 'let me help'.

Smart Tips

Use the structure [Subject + hai + Person + Verb].

Khoi het khao pai → Khoi hai khao pai

Use 'hai' to frame your request.

Khoi pai → Mae hai khoy pai bo?

Use 'hai' to delegate tasks.

Khao het → Khoi hai khao het

Check if a verb follows 'hai'.

Khoi hai khao → Khoi hai khao pai

Pronunciation

/haːj/

Hai

The 'h' is aspirated, and 'ai' is a diphthong.

Statement

Khoi hai khao pai.

Neutral tone.

Question

Jao hai khao pai bo?

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'hai' as a 'High-Five' that pushes someone into action.

Visual Association

Imagine a boss pointing at a worker and saying 'Hai!' (Give/Make). The worker starts moving immediately.

Rhyme

When you want them to do, use 'hai' for the clue.

Story

I wanted to go out. I asked Mom. Mom said 'Hai!' (Yes/Let). Now I am free to go.

Word Web

ໃຫ້ (hai)ເຮັດ (het)ໄປ (pai)ກິນ (kin)ນັ່ງ (nang)ອ່ານ (an)

Challenge

Write 5 sentences today using 'hai' to describe things people make you do.

Cultural Notes

Using 'hai' is very common in family settings. It shows the hierarchy between parents and children.

The structure is nearly identical, reflecting shared linguistic roots.

The usage is even more frequent in daily speech.

The word 'hai' originally meant 'to give'. Over time, it grammaticalized into a causative marker.

Conversation Starters

“

ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ໃຜເຮັດວຽກ?

“

ແມ່ໃຫ້ເຈົ້າໄປຫຼິ້ນບໍ່?

“

ຫົວໜ້າໃຫ້ເຈົ້າເຮັດຫຍັງ?

“

ເຈົ້າໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຊ່ວຍຫຍັງບໍ່?

Journal Prompts

Write about a time your parents let you do something.
Describe your daily work tasks using the causative.
Explain why you don't let people do certain things.
Write a dialogue where you ask for permission.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Khoi ___ khao pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hai
Hai is the causative marker.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Subject-Hai-Person-Verb.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Lao hai pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lao hai khao pai
Missing object.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Khoi hai khao pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi bo hai khao pai
Bo goes before hai.
Order the words. Sentence Building

khao / hai / pai / khoi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Correct order.
Is this true? True False Rule

Hai can mean permission.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Yes, it is used for permission.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Jao hai khao pai bo? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Needs full structure.
Sort the words. Grammar Sorting

hai, khao, khoi, pai

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Correct order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Khoi ___ khao pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hai
Hai is the causative marker.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Subject-Hai-Person-Verb.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Lao hai pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lao hai khao pai
Missing object.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Khoi hai khao pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi bo hai khao pai
Bo goes before hai.
Order the words. Sentence Building

khao / hai / pai / khoi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Correct order.
Is this true? True False Rule

Hai can mean permission.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
Yes, it is used for permission.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Jao hai khao pai bo? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Needs full structure.
Sort the words. Grammar Sorting

hai, khao, khoi, pai

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Correct order.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

No, when followed by a verb, it is causative.

Add 'bo' before 'hai'.

Yes, 'Mae hai khoy pai' (Mom lets me go).

It is neutral and used in all registers.

Learners often drop the object.

Yes, the structure is identical.

Add 'bo' at the end.

Yes, it is common for orders.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Thai high

ให้ (hai)

None, they are essentially the same.

English partial

Make/Let

Lao uses one word for both.

Spanish partial

Dejar/Hacer

Lao uses one word for both.

French partial

Laisser/Faire

Lao uses one word for both.

Japanese low

Saseru

Lao uses a separate word.

Chinese high

让 (rang)

The structure is very similar.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Causative 'Tham-hai'

Related Grammar Rules

B1

Causative 'Tham-hai'
B1

Causative Nuances
B2

Hypothetical Mood
B2

Subjunctive Markers
B2

Mood Nuances
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