Course

39 topics on reading and building phrases

How Thai grammar works

Thai words don't change their endings. Tense, questions and other shades of meaning come from word order and short marker words like จะ or แล้ว. We'll look at them through examples.

First come the reading rules: consonant classes and tones. Then we move on to building phrases.

In the examples every word has its reading and meaning. Later you'll try reading the same words in a line without spaces.

Phrase patterns12 patterns for building sentences

Consonant classes and tones

3

how the initial consonant helps determine a syllable's tone

High-class consonantsHow high-class consonants determine a syllable's tone.ขสหMid-class consonantsNine consonants and the rules that give all five tones.กตอLow-class consonantsThe largest class, and when vowel length changes the tone.คนม

Writing and syllables

8

how letters and vowel signs form a spoken syllable

Final consonantsHear how a syllable ends, and use its ending to work out the tone.งนกShort and long vowelsHear how vowel length distinguishes words and can affect tone.มักมากWhere vowels are writtenFind the vowel around a consonant and read the whole syllable.เโไUnwritten vowelsRead syllables that have no separate written vowel sign.คนขนมConsonant clustersTell when two consonants share a syllable and when they belong to separate syllables.รลวLeading consonantsSee how an initial letter can change another consonant's tone rule.หมูอยู่ตลาดSilent lettersRecognise the mark that tells you which letters to leave unpronounced.เบียร์ไวน์ศูนย์Marks and spacesRead repetition signs, abbreviations and spaces in a Thai line.ๆฯฯลฯ

Sentence structure

7

actions, descriptions, locations and who does what for whom

Building a sentenceStart with a simple sentence, then add time and place.ที่จะไม่Word orderPut actions, descriptions and owners in the right place.Words don't change formUse context and short markers instead of conjugation and plural endings.When to use a word for “be”Choose เป็น, อยู่, คือ or มี, and recognise descriptions that need none of them.เป็นอยู่คือWhere things are and where people goDescribe locations, positions and destinations.อยู่ในบนให้: give, do for and letUse the position of ให้ to recognise giving, doing something for someone and permission.ให้ทำให้Passive constructionsDescribe what happens to someone or something with ถูก, โดน and ได้รับ.ถูกโดนได้รับ

Time

3

past, future and right now, without verb endings

Time words instead of tensesTalk about the past, the present and plans with context and time markers.จะแล้วกำลังTelling the time: a day in four partsLearn how to say the time in different parts of the day.กี่โมงโมงทุ่มDays, months and yearsName the days, months and years, and get to know the Thai calendar.วันเดือนปี

People and pointing

2

I, you, they, and this and that

Pronouns and forms of addressChoose words for I, you, he and she, and learn when to leave them out.ผมฉันเขาThis and that: นี่, นั่น, นี้, นั้นTell apart the similar words for this and that.นี่นั่นนี้

Counting

2

numbers, how many and classifiers

Classifiers: counting wordsCount people and things with classifiers.คนตัวอันNumbers and quantityBuild numbers and say how many, a lot and every.กี่เท่าไหร่

Questions and negation

3

how to ask and how to say no

QuestionsAsk who, what and where, and see where the question word goes.ไหมใช่ไหมอะไรNegationSay no, I don't, and don't do it.ไม่ไม่ใช่อย่าไม่ได้: didn't and can'tLearn the two meanings of ไม่ได้: didn't and can't.ไม่ได้ยังไม่ได้

Nuance and politeness

8

can, must, more, please

Can, must, wantTalk about wanting, being able to and having to do something.อยากต้องได้ComparisonCompare things: more, better and the best.กว่าที่สุดLinking words: ของ, ที่, กับ, แต่Join parts of a sentence: whose, which, with, and, but.ของที่กับไป and มา: away and towardsLearn how ไป and มา show direction and what else they do in a sentence.ไปมาPoliteness and softeningMake greetings, requests and everyday sentences more polite.ครับค่ะหน่อยHow muchSay very, too and a little, and put these words in the right place.มากจังเกินไปVerbs in a rowCombine several actions in one sentence.เสร็จเจอหมดAsking and orderingAsk for help, choose from what's offered and order food.ขอเอาช่วย

Joining sentences

3

if, so and saying that

ก็: also, then and a softenerSee ก็ in different sentences and work out its meaning from context.ก็ก็ได้ก็ดีIf and soLink a condition, a reason and a result with ถ้า, เพราะ and เลย.ถ้าพอเพราะเลยว่า: said thatReport what someone said or thought with ว่า.ว่าคิดว่าบอกว่า