Nuance and politeness

Can, must, want

Talk about wanting, being able to and having to do something.

Want, must and should go before the verb, just as in English. Can is different: ได้ goes after the verb, usually after the whole verb phrase. ขับรถได้ is literally “drive a car, can”.

อยากyàak
want to
before the verb
ต้องdtɔ̂ɔng
must, have to
before the verb
ควรkuan
should, ought to
before the verb
ได้dâi
can, be able to, be allowed to
after the verb
เป็นbpen
know how to
after the verb, for a learned skill
ได้ไหมdâi-mǎi
can I…? may I…?
at the end of the sentence

ผมpǒmIอยากyàakwant toกินgineatข้าวผัดkâao-pàtfried rice
I want fried rice.
ผมpǒmIต้องdtɔ̂ɔngmustไปbpaigoแล้วlɛ́ɛonow
I have to go now.
คุณkunyouควรkuanshouldไปbpaigoหาhǎaseeหมอmɔ̌ɔdoctor
You should see a doctor.
ผมpǒmIพูดpûutspeakไทยtaiThaiได้dâicanนิดหน่อยnít-nɔ̀ɔia little
I can speak a little Thai.
ผมpǒmIขับรถkàp-rótdriveเป็นbpenknow how
I know how to drive.
ผมpǒmIนั่งnângsitที่นี่tîi-nîihereได้ไหมdâi-mǎimay I?
May I sit here?

Common mistake

In this role ได้ and เป็น come after the verb: ขับรถเป็น, not เป็นขับรถ. ได้ is the broad word for being able or allowed to do something. เป็น is narrower: it says you've learned a skill.

Practise

Kai says

555 in a Thai message is laughter. Five is ห้า, hâa, so a row of fives reads like haa, haa, haa.