Sentence Patterns and Grammar

Basic Sentence Structure§

Simple Statement§

Subject + Verb + (Object)

Verb Patterns§

1. Ongoing Action: jiu + Verb§

Jiu indicates an action currently happening or ongoing.

2. Completed Action: Verb + pau§

Pau indicates completion or “already.”

3. Negative: mo/mang + Verb or Verb + mo§

Mo = not, Mang = not yet

4. Want/Desire: oi + Verb§

Oi = want to

5. Like: nyen + Verb§

Nyen = like to

6. Think/Feel: chi to + Statement§

Chi to = think/feel

7. For Someone: Verb + pun nyi§

Pun nyi = for you

Connecting Words§

1. With: kak§

Used to connect items or people.

2. But: tapi / tan he§

3. Because: thet…ko theu§

Location and Time Expressions§

1. Location: [Place] + e bi§

E bi indicates location (at/in).

2. Position: Before noun§

Time and location often come at the beginning or middle of sentence.

Intensifiers§

1. Very: an + Adjective§

2. Too/So: thet + Adjective§

Expressing Possession§

Using “jiu” (have)§

Describing Yourself§

Age: [Number] + se§

Name: miang + [Name]§

Living: [Place] + bi hek§

Example Complex Sentences§

1. Kinyit ngai chi to an ho, ngai nyi ngai phenjiu café e bi

   • Today I feel very good, I met my friend at the café

2. Li ha ngai kuliah Paris e bi, tapi sangha ngai jiu co se

   • Right now I study in Paris, but sometimes I work

3. Ngai chi to si boi lok sui ee, thet sau ko theu

   • I think it will rain because it’s too hot

4. Ngai an siong sit bakso kak cian kai nyuk

   • I really want to eat bakso and fried chicken

5. Li kian su tiam an thai, mak kai tu jiu

   • This bookstore is very big, everything is available

Notes§

• Word order is generally Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
• Time expressions often come first or early in the sentence
• Modifiers (like “an” for “very”) come before the word they modify
• Context is important - subjects and objects can be omitted when clear