| Grammar Point |
Summary |
| Infinitive form |
Unlike English, Cambodian does not have the infinitive form of “To”. The base verb form is used after the main verb, for example, I want to drink water. “khnhom jɔng pək dtək.” |
| The word Daer “also” in Khmer |
The word Daer “also, too, as well” is placed at the end of a sentences, for example: I also teach Khmer. “Khnhom bɔng-rian pia-saa Khmer daer.” |
| The past simple of “To be” |
The verb “To be” Jia is replaced by the word Nouw “at” when talking about the the simple past, for example: I wanted to be a teacher when I was a child. “Khnhom jɔng tvəə- jia kruu-bɔng-rian bpeel khnhom nouw dtooch.” |
| “Used to”+ infinitive |
We use Thloab “used to” to talk about habits or repeated actions in the past that we don’t do in the present. We also use it to talk about states in the past which are no longer true. The word Thloab is placed in front of the main verb, for example: I used to drink tea. “Khnhom thloab pək dtək.” |
| The construction មិនសូវ…ទេ “mən souw ..dtee” |
The construction មិនសូវ…ទេ “mən-souw…dtee” meaning “not really, not very, not much” is used to indicate partiality and it is placed before the main verb. អត់សូវ…ទេ “ɔt- souw…dtee” is its alternative.
The construction “mən-souw…bpon-maan- dtee” has exactly the same meaning of “mən-souw…dtee” |
