Non-Restrictive Clauses
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Non-restrictive clauses add extra, non-essential information to a sentence and are set off by commas in writing.
- Use them to provide extra detail about a noun already identified: 'ອ້າຍຂອງຂ້ອຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ອາໄສຢູ່ຫຼວງພະບາງ, ມາຢາມ.'
- They are non-essential; removing them doesn't change the core meaning of the sentence.
- In speech, they are marked by a slight pause or change in intonation.
Meanings
Non-restrictive clauses provide additional, descriptive information about a noun that is already specific or well-defined. They are not necessary for the sentence to make sense.
Descriptive Addition
Adding extra background about a person or thing.
“ປຶ້ມຫົວນີ້, ທີ່ຂ້ອຍຊື້ຢູ່ຕະຫຼາດ, ແມ່ນໜ້າສົນໃຈຫຼາຍ.”
“ແມ່ຂອງຂ້ອຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ມັກເຮັດອາຫານ, ໄປຕະຫຼາດແຕ່ເຊົ້າ.”
Relative Clause Formation
| Noun | Relative Pronoun | Clause Content | Main Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| ນາງ ມາລີ | ຜູ້ທີ່ | ຮຽນພາສາລາວ | ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ |
| ປຶ້ມ | ທີ່ | ຂ້ອຍຊື້ | ແມ່ນມ່ວນ |
| ໝາ | ທີ່ | ນອນຢູ່ | ແມ່ນຂອງຂ້ອຍ |
| ອ້າຍ | ຜູ້ທີ່ | ໄປວຽກ | ກັບມາແລ້ວ |
| ເຮືອນ | ທີ່ | ສີຂາວ | ແມ່ນຂອງລາວ |
| ຄູ | ຜູ້ທີ່ | ສອນດີ | ໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນ |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Noun, Pronoun + Verb, Verb | ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ. |
| Negative | Noun, Pronoun + ບໍ່ + Verb, Verb | ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ບໍ່ຮຽນ, ເວົ້າບໍ່ເກັ່ງ. |
| Question | Noun, Pronoun + Verb?, Verb? | ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງບໍ? |
| Object | Noun, Pronoun + Verb, Verb | ປຶ້ມ, ທີ່ຂ້ອຍອ່ານ, ແມ່ນມ່ວນ. |
| Person | Noun, Pronoun + Verb, Verb | ອ້າຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ມາ, ແມ່ນໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ. |
| Place | Noun, Pronoun + Verb, Verb | ວັດ, ທີ່ສວຍງາມ, ຢູ່ໃກ້ເຮືອນ. |
격식 수준 스펙트럼
ເພື່ອນຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນທ່ານໝໍ, ກຳລັງຈະມາເຖິງ. (Social)
ເພື່ອນຂອງຂ້ອຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນໝໍ, ກຳລັງຈະມາ. (Social)
ໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ, ທີ່ເປັນໝໍ, ກຳລັງມາ. (Social)
ໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ, ທີ່ເປັນໝໍ, ກຳລັງມາເດີ້. (Social)
Relative Clause Map
People
- ຜູ້ທີ່ who
Things
- ທີ່ which/that
Restrictive vs Non-Restrictive
Examples by Level
ອ້າຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ສູງ, ແມ່ນໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ.
The brother, who is tall, is my friend.
ເຮືອນ, ທີ່ໃຫຍ່, ແມ່ນຂອງຂ້ອຍ.
The house, which is big, is mine.
ໝາ, ທີ່ດຳ, ແມ່ນຂອງລາວ.
The dog, which is black, is his.
ແມ່, ຜູ້ທີ່ໃຈດີ, ມາແລ້ວ.
Mom, who is kind, is here.
ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງ, ໄດ້ໄປຮຽນຕໍ່.
Nang Mali, who studies well, went to study further.
ປຶ້ມ, ທີ່ຂ້ອຍອ່ານ, ແມ່ນມ່ວນຫຼາຍ.
The book, which I read, is very fun.
ລົດ, ທີ່ລາວຂັບ, ແມ່ນໃໝ່.
The car, which he drives, is new.
ພໍ່, ຜູ້ທີ່ເຮັດວຽກໜັກ, ພັກຜ່ອນແລ້ວ.
Dad, who works hard, is resting.
ທ່ານ ສົມສັກ, ຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນຫົວໜ້າ, ໄດ້ປະຊຸມ.
Mr. Somsak, who is the boss, had a meeting.
ເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງ, ທີ່ເປັນເມືອງມໍລະດົກ, ມີນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວຫຼາຍ.
Luang Prabang, which is a heritage city, has many tourists.
ອາຫານລາວ, ທີ່ຂ້ອຍມັກ, ແມ່ນລາບ.
Lao food, which I like, is Larb.
ເພື່ອນຂອງຂ້ອຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຢູ່ໄກ, ໂທມາຫາ.
My friend, who lives far, called.
ໂຄງການນີ້, ທີ່ພວກເຮົາເລີ່ມປີກາຍ, ໄດ້ສຳເລັດແລ້ວ.
This project, which we started last year, is finished.
ນາງ ພອນ, ຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນນັກແຕ້ມ, ໄດ້ແຕ້ມຮູບສວຍງາມ.
Nang Phone, who is an artist, painted a beautiful picture.
ເຮືອນຫຼັງນັ້ນ, ທີ່ສ້າງດ້ວຍໄມ້, ແມ່ນເກົ່າແກ່.
That house, which is built with wood, is ancient.
ທ່ານ ໝໍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຊ່ວຍຊີວິດຄົນ, ໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນ.
The doctor, who saves lives, received an award.
ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ, ທີ່ເປັນສູນກາງວັດທະນະທຳ, ມີປະຫວັດສາດຍາວນານ.
Vientiane, which is the cultural center, has a long history.
ນັກວິຊາການ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຄົ້ນຄວ້າເລື່ອງນີ້, ໄດ້ສະເໜີທິດສະດີໃໝ່.
The scholar, who researches this, proposed a new theory.
ວັດທະນະທຳລາວ, ທີ່ສືບທອດມາ, ແມ່ນມີຄ່າ.
Lao culture, which has been inherited, is valuable.
ຜູ້ບໍລິຫານ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຕັດສິນໃຈ, ໄດ້ປ່ຽນແຜນການ.
The executive, who makes decisions, changed the plan.
ພາສາລາວ, ທີ່ເປັນພາສາປະຈຳຊາດ, ມີຄວາມອ່ອນຊ້ອຍ.
The Lao language, which is the national language, has grace.
ນັກປະພັນ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຂຽນປຶ້ມນີ້, ໄດ້ຮັບກຽດສູງສຸດ.
The author, who wrote this book, received the highest honor.
ສິລະປະພື້ນເມືອງ, ທີ່ສະແດງເຖິງເອກະລັກ, ຄວນໄດ້ຮັບການອະນຸລັກ.
Traditional art, which represents identity, should be preserved.
ຜູ້ນຳ, ຜູ້ທີ່ເບິ່ງການໄກ, ໄດ້ສ້າງການປ່ຽນແປງ.
The leader, who is visionary, created change.
Easily Confused
Learners often don't know when to use commas.
Using them interchangeably.
Mixing up simple adjectives with clauses.
자주 하는 실수
ນາງ ມາລີ ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງ ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
ປຶ້ມ ຜູ້ທີ່ຂ້ອຍຊື້ ແມ່ນມ່ວນ.
ປຶ້ມ, ທີ່ຂ້ອຍຊື້, ແມ່ນມ່ວນ.
ນາງ ມາລີ, ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງ ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
ນາງ ມາລີ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນເກັ່ງ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
Sentence Patterns
___, ຜູ້ທີ່ ___, ___.
___, ທີ່ ___, ___.
___, ຜູ້ທີ່ບໍ່ ___, ___.
___, ທີ່ບໍ່ ___, ___.
Real World Usage
ໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຢູ່ວຽງຈັນ, ມາຢາມ.
ໂຄງການ, ທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຮັບຜິດຊອບ, ໄດ້ສຳເລັດ.
ຫຼວງພະບາງ, ທີ່ເປັນເມືອງມໍລະດົກ, ສວຍງາມ.
ອ້າຍ, ຜູ້ທີ່ມາ, ຢູ່ໃສ?
ລາບ, ທີ່ຂ້ອຍກິນ, ແມ່ນແຊບ.
ຜົນການຄົ້ນຄວ້າ, ທີ່ໄດ້ສະເໜີ, ແມ່ນໜ້າສົນໃຈ.
Use Commas
Don't confuse pronouns
Pause in speech
Be polite
Smart Tips
Always check if you can remove the clause. If yes, add commas.
Pause slightly before and after the clause.
Ask: Is it a person? Use ຜູ້ທີ່.
Only add info that is truly extra.
발음
Pause
Pause slightly at the commas.
Parenthetical
Lower pitch for the clause.
Signals extra info.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Extra info needs a comma, like a pause for breath.
Visual Association
Imagine a person wearing a 'bonus' hat. The hat is the clause; you can take it off and they are still the same person.
Rhyme
Comma here, comma there, extra info in the air.
Story
Nang Mali is a student. She is already known. We add 'who studies Lao' as a bonus. We put commas around it to show it's just extra flavor.
Word Web
챌린지
Write 3 sentences about your family members using non-restrictive clauses.
문화 노트
Lao speakers value politeness. Using these clauses can make speech sound more formal and educated.
Lao relative clauses evolved from simple demonstrative structures.
Conversation Starters
ໝູ່ຂອງເຈົ້າ, ຜູ້ທີ່ຮຽນພາສາລາວ, ເປັນແນວໃດ?
ປຶ້ມ, ທີ່ເຈົ້າອ່ານ, ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
ເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງ, ທີ່ເປັນເມືອງມໍລະດົກ, ມີຫຍັງໜ້າສົນໃຈ?
ອາຫານລາວ, ທີ່ເຈົ້າມັກ, ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
ນາງ ມາລີ, ___ ຮຽນເກັ່ງ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
ອ້າຍ, ທີ່ມາ, ແມ່ນໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ.
ມາລີ / ຜູ້ທີ່ / ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ / , / , / ນາງ
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
ນາງ ມາລີຮຽນເກັ່ງ.
Which is non-restrictive?
ເຮືອນ, ___ ໃຫຍ່, ແມ່ນຂອງຂ້ອຍ.
Score: /8
연습 문제
8 exercisesນາງ ມາລີ, ___ ຮຽນເກັ່ງ, ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
ອ້າຍ, ທີ່ມາ, ແມ່ນໝູ່ຂ້ອຍ.
ມາລີ / ຜູ້ທີ່ / ເວົ້າເກັ່ງ / , / , / ນາງ
Match: 1. ໝາ, 2. ຄູ
ນາງ ມາລີຮຽນເກັ່ງ.
Which is non-restrictive?
ເຮືອນ, ___ ໃຫຍ່, ແມ່ນຂອງຂ້ອຍ.
Score: /8
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
It's a clause that adds extra information to a noun that is already identified.
Yes, in writing, commas are essential to mark the clause as non-essential.
It's better to use 'ຜູ້ທີ່' for people to be precise.
No, restrictive clauses identify the noun, while non-restrictive ones describe it.
Use it when you want to add detail to a specific person or thing you are talking about.
The hardest part is remembering to pause in speech and use commas in writing.
Sometimes other words are used, but 'ຜູ້ທີ່' and 'ທີ່' are the standard ones.
Yes, but keep it short.
In Other Languages
Cláusulas relativas explicativas
Spanish uses gendered pronouns.
Propositions relatives explicatives
French has more complex pronoun rules.
Nicht-restriktive Relativsätze
German word order is much stricter.
非制限的関係節
Japanese uses particles like 'no'.
الجملة الموصولة
Arabic is VSO/SVO flexible.
非限制性定语从句
Chinese lacks relative pronouns.
