Editing Thai language (section)

=== Verbs ===
[[Verb]]s do not [[inflected language|inflect]]. They do not change with person, tense, voice, mood, or number; nor are there any [[participles]]. The language being analytic and [[Grammatical case|case]]-less, the relationship between subject, direct and indirect object is conveyed through word order and [[auxiliary verb]]s. [[Transitive verb|Transitive]] verbs follow the pattern ''subject-verb-object''.

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|ฉัน ตี เขา
|chan ti khao
|/{{IPA|tɕʰǎn}} {{IPA|tīː}} {{IPA|kʰǎw}}/
|1SG hit 3SG
|'I hit him.'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา ตี ฉัน
|khao ti chan
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} {{IPA|tīː}} {{IPA|tɕʰǎn}}/
|3SG hit 1SG
|'S/He hit me.'}}

In order to convey [[Tense–aspect–mood|tense, aspect and mood]] (TAM), the Thai verbal system employs auxiliaries and [[Serial verb construction|verb serialization]].<ref name=":3">{{Citation |last1=Jenny |first1=Mathias |title=The aspect system of Thai |date=2001 |url=https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/110203/ |work=Aktionsart and Aspectotemporality in non-European languages |pages=97–140 |place=Zürich |publisher=Seminar für Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft, Universität Zürich |isbn=978-3-9521010-8-7 |access-date=2021-05-02 |last2=Ebert |first2=Karen H. |last3=Zúñiga |first3=Fernando }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> TAM markers are however not obligatory and often left out in colloquial use. In such cases, the precise meaning is determined through context.<ref name=":3" /> This results in sentences lacking both TAM markers and overt context being ambiguous and subject to various interpretations.

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|ฉัน กิน ที่ นั่น
|chan kin thi nan
|/{{IPA|tɕʰǎn}} {{IPA|kīn}} {{IPA|tʰîː}} {{IPA|nân}}/
|'I eat there.'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|ฉัน กิน ที่ นั่น เมื่อวาน
|chan kin thi nan mueawan
|/{{IPA|tɕʰǎn}} {{IPA|kīn}} {{IPA|tʰîː}} {{IPA|nân}} {{IPA|mɯ̂a̯.wāːn}}/
|'I ate there yesterday.'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|ฉัน จะ กิน ที่ นั่น พรุ่งนี้
|chan cha kin thi nan phrungni
|/{{IPA|tɕʰǎn}} {{IPA|tɕàʔ}} {{IPA|kīn}} {{IPA|thîː}} {{IPA|nân}} {{IPA|pʰrûŋ.níː}}/
|'I'll eat there tomorrow.'}}

The sentence {{lang|th-Latn|chan kin thi nan}} can thus be interpreted as 'I am eating there', 'I eat there habitually', 'I will eat there' or 'I ate there'.  Aspect markers in Thai have been divided into four distinct groups based on their usage.<ref name=":3" /> These markers could appear either before or after the verb. The following list describes some of the most commonly used aspect markers. A number of these aspect markers are also full verbs on their own and carry a distinct meaning. For example {{lang|th-Latn|yu}} ({{lang|th|อยู่}}) as a full verb means 'to stay, to live or to remain at'. However, as an auxiliary it can be described as a ''temporary aspect'' or ''continuative marker''.<ref name=":3" />

* [[Imperfective aspect|Imperfective]]
** {{lang|th|อยู่}} {{lang|th-Latn|yu}} {{IPA|/jùː/}}
** {{lang|th|ไป}} {{lang|th-Latn|pai}} {{IPA|/pāj/}}
** {{lang|th|ยัง}} {{lang|th-Latn|yang}} {{IPA|/jāŋ/}}
** {{lang|th|กำลัง}} {{lang|th-Latn|kamlang}} {{IPA|/kām.lāŋ/}}
** {{lang|th|เคย}} {{lang|th-Latn|khoey}} {{IPA|/kʰɤ̄ːj/}}
* [[Perfective aspect|Perfective]]
** {{lang|th|ได้}} {{lang|th-Latn|dai}} {{IPA|/dâːj/}}
* [[Perfect aspect|Perfect]]
** {{lang|th|แล้ว}} {{lang|th-Latn|laeo}} {{IPA|/lɛ́ːw/}}
** {{lang|th|มา}} {{lang|th-Latn|ma}} {{IPA|/māː/}}
* [[Prospective aspect|Prospective]]/[[Future tense|Future]]
** {{lang|th|จะ}} {{lang|th-Latn|cha}} {{IPA|/tɕàʔ/}}

The imperfective aspect marker {{lang|th|กำลัง}} ({{lang|th-Latn|kamlang}}, {{IPA|/kām lāŋ/}}, currently) is used before the verb to denote an ongoing action (similar to the ''-ing'' suffix in English). {{lang|th-Latn|Kamlang}} is commonly interpreted as a [[progressive aspect|progressive]] aspect marker.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Boonyapatipark |first=Tasanalai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rPRyuAAACAAJ |title=A study of aspect in Thai |date=1983 |publisher=University of London |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Koenig |first1=Jean-Pierre |last2=Muansuwan |first2=Nuttanart |date=2005 |title=The Syntax of Aspect in Thai |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4048104 |journal=Natural Language & Linguistic Theory |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=335–380 |doi=10.1007/s11049-004-0488-8 |jstor=4048104 |s2cid=170429648 |issn=0167-806X |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Similarly, {{lang|th|อยู่}} ({{lang|th-Latn|yu}}, {{IPA|/jùː/}}) is a post-verbal aspect marker which corresponds to the continuative or temporary aspect.<ref name=":3" />

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา '''กำลัง''' วิ่ง
|khao '''kamlang''' wing
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|kām.lāŋ}}''' {{IPA|wîŋ}}/
|}}
{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา วิ่ง '''อยู่'''
|khao wing '''yu'''
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} {{IPA|wîŋ}} '''{{IPA|jùː}}'''/
|}}
{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา '''กำลัง''' วิ่ง '''อยู่'''
|khao '''kamlang''' wing '''yu'''
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|kām.lāŋ}}''' {{IPA|wîŋ}} '''{{IPA|jùː}}'''/
|'He is running.'}}

Comparably {{lang|th|ยัง}} ({{lang|th-Latn|yang}}, {{IPA|/jāŋ/}}, still) which is used in an incompleted action, and usually cognates in phrase with {{lang|th-Latn|yu}} ({{lang|th|อยู่}}) or any second marker in common use.

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา '''ยัง''' เขียน '''อยู่'''
|khao '''yang''' khian '''yu'''
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|jāŋ}}''' {{IPA|kʰǐa̯n}} '''{{IPA|jùː}}'''/
|He is still writing.}}

The marker {{lang|th|ได้}} ({{lang|th-Latn|dai}}, {{IPA|/dâːj/}}) is usually analyzed as a past tense marker when it occurs before the verb.<ref name=":2" /> As a full verb, {{lang|th-Latn|dai}} means 'to get or receive'. However, when used after a verb, {{lang|th-Latn|dai}} takes on a meaning of potentiality or successful outcome of the main verb.<ref name=":3" />

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|เขา '''ได้''' ไป เที่ยว เมือง ลาว
|khao '''dai''' pai thiao mueang lao
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|dâːj}}''' {{IPA|pāj}} {{IPA|tʰîa̯w}} {{IPA|mɯ̄aŋ}} {{IPA|lāːw}}/
|He visited Laos. (Past/Perfective)}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|เขา ตี '''ได้'''
|khao ti '''dai'''
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} {{IPA|tīː}} '''{{IPA|dâːj}}'''/
|3SG hit '''POT'''
|'He is/was allowed to hit' or 'He is/was able to hit.' (Potentiality)}}

{{lang|th|แล้ว}} ({{lang|th-Latn|laeo}}, {{IPA|/lɛ́ːw/}}; 'already') is treated as a marker indicating the [[perfect (grammar)|perfect]] aspect.<ref name=":4" /> That is to say, {{lang|th-Latn|laeo}} marks the event as being completed at the time of reference. {{lang|th-Latn|Laeo}} has two other meanings in addition to its use as a TAM marker. {{lang|th-Latn|Laeo}} can either be a conjunction for sequential actions or an archaic word for 'to finish'.

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา '''ได้''' กิน
|khao '''dai''' kin
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|dâːj}}''' {{IPA|kīn}}/
|3SG '''PST''' eat
|He ate.}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา กิน '''แล้ว'''
|khao kin '''laeo'''
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} {{IPA|kīn}} '''{{IPA|lɛ́ːw}}'''/
|3SG eat '''PRF'''
|He has eaten.}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา '''ได้''' กิน '''แล้ว'''
|khao '''dai''' kin '''laeo'''
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|dâːj}}''' {{IPA|kīn}} '''{{IPA|lɛ́ːw}}'''/
|3SG '''PST''' eat '''PRF'''
|He's already eaten.}}

[[Future tense|Future]] can be indicated by {{lang|th|จะ}} ({{lang|th-Latn|cha}}, {{IPA|/tɕàʔ/}}; 'will') before the verb or by a time expression indicating the future. For example:

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|เขา '''จะ''' วิ่ง
|khao '''cha''' wing
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|tɕàʔ}}''' {{IPA|wîŋ}}/
|3SG '''FUT''' run
|'He will run' or 'He is going to run.'}}

[[Dative case|Dative marker]] {{lang|th|ให้}} ({{lang|th-Latn|hai}}, {{IPA|/hâj/}}; 'give') often used in a sentence as prepositional or double objects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Acquisition Of Dative Constructions By Thai |url=http://ethesisarchive.library.tu.ac.th/thesis/2017/TU_2017_5521320084_8564_9178.pdf}}</ref>

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา อ่าน หนังสือ '''ให้'''
|khao an {nangsue} '''hai'''
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} {{IPA|ʔàːn}} {{IPA|nǎŋ.sɯ̌ː}} '''{{IPA|hâj}}'''/
|3SG read book '''DAT'''
|'He reads book for (us).'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา '''ให้''' อ่าน หนังสือ
|khao '''hai''' an {nangsue}
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|hâj}}''' {{IPA|ʔàːn}} {{IPA|nǎŋ.sɯ̌ː}}/
|3SG '''DAT''' read book
|'He obligates (us) to read book.'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|indent=3|glossing4=yes
|เขา '''ให้''' หนังสือ นักเรียน
|khao '''hai''' {nangsue} {nak rian}
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|hâj}}''' {{IPA|nǎŋ.sɯ̌ː}} {{IPA|nák ria̯n}}/
|3SG '''DAT''' book student
|'He gives book to student.'}}

The [[passive voice]] is indicated by the insertion of {{lang|th|ถูก}} ({{lang|th-Latn|thuk}}, {{IPA|/tʰùːk/}}) before the verb. For example:

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|เขา '''ถูก''' ตี
|khao '''thuk''' ti
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} '''{{IPA|tʰùːk}}''' {{IPA|tīː}}/
|3SG '''PASS''' hit
|'He got hit.'}}
::This describes an action that is out of the receiver's control and, thus, conveys suffering.

[[Negation (rhetoric)|Negation]] is indicated by placing {{lang|th|ไม่}} ({{lang|th-Latn|mai}}, {{IPA|/mâj/}}; not) before the verb.
* {{lang|th|เขาไม่ตี}}, ({{lang|th-Latn|khao mai ti}}) 'He is not hitting' or 'He doesn't hit'.

Thai exhibits [[serial verb construction]]s, where verbs are strung together. Some word combinations are common and may be considered set phrases.

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|เขา ไป กิน ข้าว
|khao pai kin khao
|/{{IPA|kʰǎw}} {{IPA|pāj}} {{IPA|kīn}} {{IPA|kʰâːw}}/
|he go eat rice
|'He went out to eat'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|ฉัน ฟัง ไม่ เข้าใจ
|chan fang mai {khao chai}
|/{{IPA|tɕʰǎn}} {{IPA|fāŋ}} {{IPA|mâj}} {{IPA|kʰâw tɕāj}}/
|I listen not understand
|'I don't understand what was said'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|เข้า มา
|khao ma
|/{{IPA|kʰâw}} {{IPA|māː}}/
|enter come
|'Come in'}}

{{fs interlinear|lang=th|glossing4=yes|number=ex:
|ออก ไป!
|ok pai
|/{{IPA|ʔɔ̀ːk}} {{IPA|pāj}}/
|exit go
|'Leave!' or 'Get out!'}}