Chapter 18

present, future & past tense

present

khun bpai

You go.

rao mâi gin

We don’t eat.

khăo wâai-nám

He swims.

ther mâi deùum

She doesn’t drink.

khăo deùum gaa-faae măi?

Does he drink coffee?

khun châwp măi?

Do you like?

future

khun jà bpai

You will go.

rao jà mâi gin

We won’t eat.

khăo jà wâai-nám

He will swim.

ther jà mâi deùum

She won’t drink.

khun jà raw chăn măi?

Will you wait for me?

ther jà phráwm măi?

Will she be ready?

past (positive) 1

phûuak-khăo bpai láaeo

They went.

rao gin láaeo

We ate.

khăo wâai-nám láaeo

He swam.

ther deùum láaeo

She drank.

past (positive) 2

chăn dâi gin láaeo

I ate.

khăo dâi dern láaeo

He walked.

ther dâi hĕn láaeo

She saw.

chăn dâi phûud gàb khăo láaeo

I spoke with him.

past (negative)

chăn mâi-dâi gin

I didn’t eat.

khăo mâi-dâi dern

He didn’t walk.

ther mâi-dâi mawng

She didn’t look.

chăn mâi-dâi phûud gàb khăo

I didn’t speak with him.

past (questions)

ther gin láaeo rĕuu?

Did she eat?

khăo dern láaeo rĕuu?

Did he walk?

khăo bpai láaeo rĕuu?

Did he leave?

ther raw khun rĕuu?

Did she wait for you?

past simple precise

khăo bpai dtawn-cháo-née

He went this morning.

ther mâi-dâi àan mêuua-waan-née

She didn’t read it yesterday.

rao jer khăo aa-thíd thêe-láaeo

We met him last week.

phûuak-khăo mâi-dâi séuu deuuan thêe-láaeo

They didn’t buy it last month.

ther yùu thêe-nêe mêuua-waan măi?

Was she here yesterday?