A2 · Elementary Chapter 21

Comparisons and Superlatives

4 Total Rules
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of comparing people, places, and things in Lao with ease.

  • Compare two items using the 'kwa' structure.
  • Identify the best or most extreme option with 'thi sut'.
  • Express equality and negative states in your descriptions.
Compare, contrast, and conquer the Lao language.

What You'll Learn

How to compare two or more things. Covers the 'kwa' and 'thi sut' constructions.

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'kwa' to compare two items in a natural conversation.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Express superlatives using 'thi sut' to describe preferences.

Tips & Tricks (3)

💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink the grammar. Just add 'kwa' and you are done.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparative 'Kwa'
💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink the grammar; just add 'thi sut' after the word.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Superlative 'Thi Sut'
💡

Use 'pan dai' for politeness

Lao culture prefers indirectness. Adding 'pan dai' softens your negative opinion.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Comparisons

Key Vocabulary (6)

ໃຫຍ່ (nyai) big ກວ່າ (kwa) than ທີ່ສຸດ (thi sut) the most ຄືກັນ (khue kan) the same ບໍ່ (bo) not ດີ (di) good

Real-World Preview

utensils

Choosing a Restaurant

Review Summary

  • Adjective + ກວ່າ
  • Adjective + ທີ່ສຸດ
  • Adjective + ຄືກັນ
  • ບໍ່ + Adjective + ເທົ່າ

Common Mistakes

In Lao, the particle 'kwa' follows the adjective, it does not precede it.

Wrong: ກວ່າໃຫຍ່ (kwa nyai)
Correct: ໃຫຍ່ກວ່າ (nyai kwa)

The superlative 'thi sut' must follow the adjective to correctly modify it.

Wrong: ທີ່ສຸດໃຫຍ່ (thi sut nyai)
Correct: ໃຫຍ່ທີ່ສຸດ (nyai thi sut)

Saying just 'not big' is not a comparison. You need 'tao' to complete the negative comparison structure.

Wrong: ບໍ່ໃຫຍ່ (bo nyai)
Correct: ບໍ່ໃຫຍ່ເທົ່າ (bo nyai tao)

Next Steps

You are doing amazing! Comparisons are a huge step forward in your Lao fluency. Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Write 5 sentences comparing your family members.

Continue to: Modal Verbs of Ability

Quick Practice (10)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

ລາຄາຄືກັນ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາຄາເທົ່າກັນ
Price needs thao-kan.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Equality Comparisons

Choose the correct word.

ນິໄສຂອງລາວ ___ ກັບຂ້ອຍ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຄືກັນ
Personality is quality.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Equality Comparisons

Complete the sentence.

ລາວເປັນຄົນ ___ ທີ່ສຸດ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Superlative needs the base adjective.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Superlative 'Thi Sut'

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາຄາບໍ່ທໍ່ກັນ
Used for quantity/price.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Comparisons

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

ລາວຄືບໍ່ຂ້ອຍ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ລາວບໍ່ຄືຂ້ອຍ
Negation before marker.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Comparisons

Select the best fit.

The work is not that hard.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ວຽກບໍ່ຍາກປານໃດ
Softener usage.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Comparisons

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

More yai kwa an nan.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yai kwa an nan
Remove 'more'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparative 'Kwa'

Fill in the blank with the correct marker.

ລາວບໍ່ ___ ຂ້ອຍ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຄື
Used for quality comparison.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Comparisons

Fill in the blank.

ລາຄາ ___ ກັນ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເທົ່າ
Thao-kan is for price.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Equality Comparisons

Choose the superlative.

Which is the superlative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Thi sut indicates superlative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Superlative 'Thi Sut'

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, it is the standard comparative particle for all adjectives.
Always after the adjective.
Yes, it works with almost all adjectives.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
No, use 'khue-kan' for people's qualities.
Only when comparing two specific things.
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