Vietnamese làm sao Usage (How/So Emphatic)
When placed after an adjective, làm sao expresses strong emotion, similar to "how..." or "so..." in English.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
When placed after an adjective, làm sao expresses strong emotion, similar to "how..." or "so..." in English.
English meanings
- How (emphatic)
- So (emphatic)
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Câu hát này hay làm sao!
How wonderful this song lyric is!
2
Tiếng Việt đẹp làm sao!
Vietnamese is so beautiful!
How to use it
Làm sao is not only used to ask "how to do" something. In exclamatory sentences, it follows an adjective to emphasize the degree or intensity. This usage is common in literary, poetic, or more formal expressions. It conveys admiration or strong feeling about the adjective it follows.
- Used in exclamatory sentences after adjectives.
- More common in literary or poetic contexts.
- When used as a question meaning "how," làm sao appears in interrogative contexts, not after adjectives.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, we might say "How beautiful!" or "So beautiful!" similarly, Vietnamese uses "đẹp làm sao" to express strong admiration. Not all uses of làm sao are questions; here it functions as an intensifier after adjectives.
Common mistakes
Làm sao tiếng Việt đẹp!
Tiếng Việt đẹp làm sao!
For exclamations, làm sao must follow the adjective, not precede it.
Bạn học làm sao?
Bạn học chăm chỉ biết bao!
Do not confuse the interrogative use of làm sao (asking "how") with the emphatic exclamatory use after adjectives.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses làm sao?
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Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses làm sao?
- Câu hát này hay làm sao!
- Làm sao tiếng Việt đẹp!
- Bạn học làm sao?
Answer: Câu hát này hay làm sao!
Explanation: In exclamations, làm sao follows the adjective.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Câu hát này hay ____!
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Câu hát này hay ____!
Answer: Câu hát này hay làm sao!
Explanation: Làm sao follows the adjective in exclamatory sentences.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "How wonderful this song lyric is!" into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "How wonderful this song lyric is!" into Vietnamese.
Answer: Câu hát này hay làm sao!
Explanation: Use làm sao in the same structure as the example.
True or false
True or False: "Làm sao tiếng Việt đẹp!" is correct.
Show answer
True or false
True or False: "Làm sao tiếng Việt đẹp!" is correct.
Answer: False
Explanation: In exclamations, làm sao must come after the adjective.
Correction
Correct this sentence: "Làm sao tiếng Việt đẹp!"
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: "Làm sao tiếng Việt đẹp!"
Answer: Tiếng Việt đẹp làm sao!
Explanation: Làm sao should follow the adjective in exclamatory sentences.