Future Marker 'Si'
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'si' (ສິ) before a verb to indicate that an action will happen in the future.
- Place 'si' directly before the main verb: 'Khoi si pai' (I will go).
- For negatives, place 'bo' before 'si': 'Khoi bo si pai' (I will not go).
- For questions, add 'bo' at the end: 'Jao si pai bo?' (Will you go?).
Meanings
The particle 'si' is used to mark the future tense or intention in Lao. It indicates an action that is planned or expected to occur.
Future Intention
Expressing a plan or decision to do something.
“ຂ້ອຍສິຮຽນພາສາລາວ (I will study Lao)”
“ພວກເຂົາສິມາ (They will come)”
Prediction
Speculating about a future event.
“ລາວສິບໍ່ມັກ (He will not like it)”
“ມັນສິແພງ (It will be expensive)”
Immediate Future
Action about to happen right now.
“ຂ້ອຍສິໄປດຽວນີ້ (I am going right now)”
“ສິເລີ່ມແລ້ວ (It is about to start)”
Future Tense Formation
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + si + Verb | Khoi si pai |
| Negative | Subject + bo + si + Verb | Khoi bo si pai |
| Question | Subject + si + Verb + bo | Jao si pai bo? |
| Immediate | Subject + si + Verb + laew | Si pai laew |
| Prediction | Subject + si + Adjective | Man si di |
| Negative Question | Subject + bo + si + Verb + bo | Jao bo si pai bo? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | S + si + V | Khoi si kin |
| Negative | S + bo + si + V | Khoi bo si kin |
| Question | S + si + V + bo | Jao si kin bo? |
| Short Answer (Yes) | Si + V | Si kin |
| Short Answer (No) | Bo + si + V | Bo si kin |
| Future Time | Time + S + si + V | Mue-uen khoi si pai |
Formality Spectrum
ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະໄປ (Daily life)
ຂ້ອຍສິໄປ (Daily life)
ສິໄປ (Daily life)
ໄປລະ (Daily life)
The Future Marker 'Si'
Usage
- Intention Plans
- Prediction Forecast
Structure
- Affirmative S + si + V
- Negative S + bo + si + V
Examples by Level
ຂ້ອຍສິໄປ
I will go
ລາວສິມາ
He will come
ເຮົາສິກິນ
We will eat
ເຈົ້າສິຊື້
You will buy
ຂ້ອຍສິບໍ່ໄປ
I will not go
ເຈົ້າສິໄປບໍ່?
Will you go?
ມື້ອື່ນສິຝົນຕົກ
It will rain tomorrow
ລາວສິເຮັດວຽກ
He will work
ຂ້ອຍສິຮຽນພາສາລາວໃຫ້ໄດ້
I will learn Lao successfully
ພວກເຂົາສິມາຮອດຕອນແລງ
They will arrive in the evening
ມັນສິແພງເກີນໄປ
It will be too expensive
ຂ້ອຍສິພະຍາຍາມ
I will try
ຖ້າເຈົ້າບໍ່ມາ ຂ້ອຍສິໄປເອງ
If you don't come, I will go myself
ຂ້ອຍສິຈັດການເລື່ອງນີ້ໃຫ້
I will handle this matter for you
ລາວສິບໍ່ຍອມແພ້
He will not give up
ພວກເຮົາສິເລີ່ມປະຊຸມ
We will start the meeting
ຂ້ອຍສິຖືວ່າເຈົ້າຕົກລົງ
I will assume you agree
ເຫດການນີ້ສິປ່ຽນແປງທຸກຢ່າງ
This event will change everything
ລາວສິບໍ່ມີທາງເລືອກອື່ນ
He will have no other choice
ຂ້ອຍສິບໍ່ລືມບຸນຄຸນນີ້
I will not forget this kindness
ຂ້ອຍສິຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຍິນດີ
I will express my congratulations
ອະນາຄົດສິເປັນຜູ້ຕັດສິນ
The future will be the judge
ລາວສິບໍ່ຫວນກັບມາອີກ
He will not return again
ຂ້ອຍສິປະຕິບັດຕາມຄຳສັ່ງ
I will follow the order
Easily Confused
Both mean future, but 'ja' is formal and 'si' is informal.
Learners mix up future and past/completed.
Learners mix up future and present.
Common Mistakes
Pai si
Si pai
Si bo pai
Bo si pai
Khoi pai
Khoi si pai
Si pai bo
Jao si pai bo?
Si pai tomorrow
Mue-uen si pai
Si going
Si pai
Bo si pai bo
Bo si pai
Ja si pai
Si pai
Si pai laew
Si pai
Si pai ni
Si pai
Si pai na
Si pai
Sentence Patterns
ຂ້ອຍສິ ___
ເຈົ້າສິ ___ ບໍ່?
ມື້ອື່ນຂ້ອຍສິ ___
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ສິ ___
Real World Usage
ສິຮອດລະ
ຂ້ອຍສິເອົາຕຳໝາກຫຸ່ງ
ຂ້ອຍສິພັດທະນາຕົນເອງ
ເຮົາສິໄປຫຼວງພະບາງ
ສິໄປທ່ຽວແລ້ວ
ສິສັ່ງອາຫານ
Keep it simple
Watch the order
Use with time
Be polite
Smart Tips
Combine 'si' with a time marker.
Remember: Bo + Si.
Always add 'bo' at the end.
You can drop the subject.
Pronunciation
Si
Pronounced like 'see' in English but with a shorter, sharper tone.
Question
Jao si pai bo? ↗
Rising intonation at the end indicates a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Si' as 'See'—you can 'see' the future when you use it.
Visual Association
Imagine a crystal ball. Every time you say 'si', you are looking into the ball to see what happens next.
Rhyme
When you want to say what you will do, put 'si' before the verb for you.
Story
I am standing at a crossroads. I look at the path ahead and say 'si'. I will walk this way. I will not walk that way. I will arrive soon.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down 5 things you will do tomorrow using 'si'.
Cultural Notes
Lao people often use 'si' to express politeness by showing they have a plan.
In some northern dialects, the particle might sound slightly different but 'si' is universally understood.
Very common in texting and social media.
The particle 'si' evolved from a verb meaning 'to intend' or 'to want'.
Conversation Starters
ມື້ອື່ນເຈົ້າສິເຮັດຫຍັງ?
ເຈົ້າສິກິນຫຍັງຕອນແລງ?
ເຈົ້າສິໄປທ່ຽວໃສໃນວັນຢຸດ?
ເຈົ້າສິຮຽນພາສາລາວຕໍ່ໄປບໍ່?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
ຂ້ອຍ ___ ໄປຕະຫຼາດ.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
ຂ້ອຍໄປສິ.
ໄປ / ສິ / ຂ້ອຍ
Does 'si' change the verb form?
A: Jao si pai bo? B: ___
ຂ້ອຍສິໄປ
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesຂ້ອຍ ___ ໄປຕະຫຼາດ.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
ຂ້ອຍໄປສິ.
ໄປ / ສິ / ຂ້ອຍ
Does 'si' change the verb form?
A: Jao si pai bo? B: ___
ຂ້ອຍສິໄປ
Match 'Si pai' with English.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, 'si' is the same for all subjects.
No, use 'dai' for the past.
It is neutral. Use 'ja' for formal writing.
Before 'si'.
Only if the context is very clear.
Thai uses 'ja'.
Add 'bo' at the end.
Khoi bo si pai.
In Other Languages
ຈະ (ja)
Thai uses 'ja' more often than Lao uses 'si'.
will
Lao verbs don't change.
ir a + infinitive
Spanish conjugates the verb 'ir'.
futur proche
French conjugates 'aller'.
werden
German conjugates 'werden'.
会 (hui)
Chinese has no tense markers in the same way.
