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Conditional statements: IF, OR, ELSE, THEN in Burmese Language

Late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Corporation, had once asked himself this question: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" He said the question had set his priorities straight, leaving only what is important.

Hmmm... let me think. One day is too late to correct life long mistakes for anyone. So...

in that case...

da2 hso2-yin2 — if this is the case (this + if)

sin3-za3 — think; ponder (verb)

sa1-ya2 — particle to form verb into noun: "something to think"

beare3 — exactly! (particle)

bau1 — (optional) roughly means "of course", or "since you put it that way.."

da2 hso2-yin2 sin3-za3 sa1-ya2 beare3 bau1

Well, since you put it that way, then this is something to think about.

The particle sa1-ya2

modifies the verb sin3-za3think

into noun

sin3-za3 sa1-ya2something to think about.

hso2-yin2

meaning "if" is a conjunction (thun2-bun2-da1), and its literary form is

hso2-hlyin2.

da2 hso2-yin2 — if this is the case (this + if)

beare2-lo2 — how

loat — do

ja1 — plural word ("we" implied.)

ma1-leare3 — ? (shall + ?)

da2 hso2-yin2 beare2 lo2 loat ja1 ma1-leare3

What should we do, in this case?

da2 hso2-yin2 — if this is the case (this + if)

ba2 — what

loat — do

ja1 — plural word ( "we" implied.)

ma1-leare3 — ? (shall + ?)

da2 hso2-yin2 ba2 loat ja1 ma1-leare3

What shall we do now (since this has happened) ?

ba2 loat ja1 ma1-leare3

What shall we do now?

Good question. First, we will put that question in the form of song and dance. That's what we are going to do. Next, we are going to post that clip in the facebook. And then, we are going to embed that clip in this lesson, so the question becomes very, very interesting as well as entertaining.

What shall we do now?

ba2 loat ja1 ma1 leare3 — What shall we do now? Good question. First, we will put that question in the form of song and dance. That's what we are going to do. Next, we are going to post that clip in the facebook. And then, we are going to embed that clip in this lesson, so the question becomes very, very interesting as well as entertaining. [33 seconds]

Posted by Naing Tinnyuntpu on Sunday, May 22, 2016
Myanmar Grammar Notes:

The question word ba2 is usually pronoun as in the question: "What do you like?", or adjective as in the question: "What kind of dish do you like?

In the first question "what" refers to something and used in place of that "something", so it is a pronoun.

In the second question, "what" is used in reference to the "dish" (noun), and expects answers such as "the dish that is sweet", so it is an adjective.

However, in the question: "What do you want to do", "what" asks for the verbs such as "eat", "play", "sing". Therefore, it is more appropriate to classify it under adverb. (This appears to be an exception.)

There is a difference between the above two questions. The first question with "beare2-lo2" (how) is more serious in nature. It is asking how to solve the problem and what kind of action to take in this "grave" seriousness to change the situation.

The second question with "ba2" (what) is less serious. For example, you can use that phrase in a situation where you go to the park for jogging and found it closed. So, you are asking (what) other activities can be done to kill the free time.

However, both questions are not appropriate for the situation above where you have only 24 hours to live. This is not a situation where you can change your fate with "beare2 lo2" (how) question.

da2 hso2-yin2 — if this is the case (this + if)

beare2-lo2 — how

pyau3 — to say

ya1 — particle "can be done"

ma1-leare3 — ? (will + ?)

da2 hso2-yin2 beare2-lo2 pyau3 ya1 ma1-leare3

Then, how to say it?

Choosing the most appropriate

The appropriate word to use in this situation is thin1, which means "be proper and appropriate", of course. Hey, come to think of it, what would be more appropriate than "appropriate" itself :-)

da2 hso2-yin2 — if this is the case (this + if)

ba2 — what

loat — do

thin1 — particle after the verb to mean "appropriate"; "suitable"; "should"

dtha1-leare3 — ?

da2 hso2-yin2 ba2 loat thin1 dtha1-leare3

What is the appropriate thing to do, in this case?

The particle thin1 after the verb is the short for the word thin1-tau2 (verb), meaning be proper, suitable, and fitting.

thin1-tau2 deare2this is appropriate and fitting thing to do.

a-thin1-tau2 zone3 xxxx most suitable; most appropriate xxxx

da2 a-thin1-tau2-zone3 beare3This is most appropriate!

a-loat-thin1 zone3 xxxxmost appropriate xxxx to do

da2 a-loat-thin1 zone3 beare3This is the most appropriate thing to do!

da2 hso2-yin2 — if this is the case (this + if)

ba2 — what

a-loat-thin1 zone3 — most appropriate and fitting thing to do

leare3 — ?

da2 hso2-yin2 ba2 a-loat-thin1 zone3 leare3

What is the most appropriate thing to do, in this case?

Optimum Solution after nth iterations

Perhaps, somedays computers in the field of AI will become smart enough and wise enough to solve human dilemmas and come up with the answer something like this.

IF(today == my_last_day)THEN{

da2 hso2-yin2 — if this is the case (this + if)

pfa1-ya3 — God (Christian), the Buddha (Buddhist)

dtha2 — only; just

ta1 — to wish for

bay2 dau1 — do this and good luck!

da2 hso2-yin2 pfa1-ya3 dtha2 ta1 bay2 dau1

In that case, say your prayers, and good luck!

}

ELSE

just relax;

ENDIF


You can put the stress or emphasis to what you say by repeating the sentence twice.

pfa1-ya3 dtha2 ta1 bay2 dau1 ...

pfa1-ya3 dtha2 ta1 bay2 dau1

I am telling you, say your prayers, and good luck to you!

Another IF word

So far, we have been using

da2 hso2-yin2

for IF statements and questions. There is an another IF word that is very similar.

de2 lo2 — like this (this[pronoun] + like [particle])

hso2-yin2if

de2 lo2 hso2-yin2

If the situation is like this...

You can use either "da2 hso2-yin2" or "de2 lo2 hso2-yin2" for your IF statements.

My preference is to use "da2 hso2-yin2". I find that some of the sentences in the above examples don't have the smooth and natural flow with "de2 lo2 hso2-yin2". But, the choice is yours.

de2 lo2 hso2-yin2 — if like this

koun3 — good

da2 — that which is

bau1 — roughly means "of course", or "since you put it that way.."

de2 lo2 hso2-yin2 koun3 da2 bau1

if you say so, then, it's great...

OR ... ELSE

As you ponder over whether to do this or that, you can say half a sentence with a dramatic pause...

da2 — this

hma1 — referring to

ma1 — not

hote — be correct

yin2 — if

da2 hma1 ma1-hote yin2if not, then....

Let's see what Steve Jobs had to say to graduating students at Stanford University.

news-service.stanford.edu

We must listen to our "inner voice". I see.

da2 hso2-yin2....

na1-jut — stethoscope

koun3 koun3 — good

sha2 — search for

ja1 — plural word

ya1 oun2 — let's

da2 hso2-yin2 na1-jut koun3 koun3 sha2 ja1 ya1 oun2

In that case, let's look for a good stethoscope.

Color Codes: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, particles, postpositional markers, interjections.

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