B1 · Intermediate Chapter 35

Causative Verbs

4 Total Rules
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of influence by using Lao causative verbs to get things done.

  • Construct sentences where you command or request an action.
  • Distinguish between direct causation and accidental consequences.
  • Express permission versus forced obligation using natural Lao structures.
Make things happen with the power of Lao verbs.

What You'll Learn

Using 'hai' to make someone do something. Explains the causative structure in Lao.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'hai' and 'tham-hai' to direct actions or describe outcomes in daily life.

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Context is King

Lao relies on context. If you say 'hai', the situation tells the listener if it's permission or force.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative 'Hai'
💡

Object placement

Always put the object between tham-hai and the verb.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative 'Tham-hai'
💡

Check the context

If you see 'ໃຫ້' followed by a noun, it's 'give'. If it's followed by a verb, it's 'let'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Permissive Causatives
💡

Context is King

Lao relies on context. If you say 'hai khao pai', it could mean 'let him go' or 'make him go'. Use tone or extra words to clarify.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative Nuances

Key Vocabulary (6)

ໃຫ້ (hai) to give/to make (causative) ເຮັດໃຫ້ (tham-hai) to cause/to make happen ອະນຸຍາດ (a-nu-nyat) to permit/allow ວຽກ (viak) work/task ຜົນ (phon) result/consequence ຍອມ (yom) to yield/consent

Real-World Preview

briefcase

At the Office

Review Summary

  • [Subject] + hai + [Object] + [Verb]
  • [Subject] + tham-hai + [Object/Result]
  • [Subject] + yom-hai + [Object] + [Verb]

Common Mistakes

Using 'tham-hai' for simple requests creates a sense of force or unintended consequence. Use 'hai' for standard requests.

Wrong: ຂ້ອຍເຮັດໃຫ້ລາວໄປ (I made him go - implying force)
Correct: ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປ (I let him go / I told him to go)

Don't use 'hai' for inanimate causes. Use 'tham-hai' for events or natural occurrences.

Wrong: ລາວໃຫ້ຝົນຕົກ (He made it rain)
Correct: ມັນເຮັດໃຫ້ຝົນຕົກ (It caused it to rain)

When emphasizing permission, 'yom-hai' is more precise than just 'hai'.

Wrong: ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວນັ່ງ (I allowed him to sit)
Correct: ຂ້ອຍຍອມໃຫ້ລາວນັ່ງ (I consented to let him sit)

Next Steps

You did an excellent job mastering these causative structures. Keep practicing in real conversations!

Listen to a Lao podcast and identify three causative structures.

Continue to: Advanced Time Markers

Quick Practice (8)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ລາວໄປ
Correct SVO structure.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Permissive Causatives

Fill in the blank.

ລາວ ___ ຂ້ອຍຫົວ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຮັດໃຫ້
Tham-hai is the causative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative 'Tham-hai'

Fill in the blank with 'hai'.

ຂ້ອຍ ___ ລາວໄປ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໃຫ້
Hai is the causative marker.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative Nuances

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khoi hai khao pai
Subject-Hai-Person-Verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative 'Hai'

Fill in the blank.

Khoi ___ khao pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hai
Hai is the causative marker.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative 'Hai'

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Lao hai pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lao hai khao pai
Missing object.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative 'Hai'

Fill in the blank with the correct word.

ແມ່ ___ ຂ້ອຍໄປຫຼິ້ນ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໃຫ້
The structure is Subject + ໃຫ້ + Person + Verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Permissive Causatives

Fix the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

ໃຫ້ໄປຂ້ອຍ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍໄປ
Person must come before the verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Permissive Causatives

Score: /8

Common Questions (6)

No, when followed by a verb, it is causative.
Add 'bo' before 'hai'.
Mostly, yes, but use specific verbs for force.
No, it's only for permission and giving. Use 'ເຮັດໃຫ້' for causing results.
It's neutral. Use 'ອະນຸຍາດ' for very formal situations.
Mostly yes, but use 'sang' for formal orders.
Previous Chapter
Reported Speech
Next Chapter
Advanced Time Markers
Back to Roadmap