Colloquial Thai - The Complete Course for Beginners

246 Unit 15: Good news, bad news

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l.i (before a verb) get to do somethillE ~,:jtlil~ things

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Exercise 7 Writing

You have me l a singer from England. Write notes on him to include
in a len er:

1 enjoys his life as a singer
2 travels to many countries, earns a lot of money but has to spend

a lot, career won' t last long
3 used to enjoy going out with friends; since be is married and

bas a child prefers to stay with his family
4 has no regrets; happy just listening to music
5 has a dog and two cats
6 would like to be a doctor if he wasn ' t a singer
7 would like to live in the US but all friends live in England

Grammar summary

1 Basic sentence patterns

1.1 Affirmative statements

Thai basic word order is usually the same as in English (subject +

predicate), for example, subject + verb + object or subject + verb
+ adverbial:

Maalee chawp phonlamai
Maalee likes fruit
Maalee pm taIaal
Maalee is going to the market
The subject of a sentence can be omitt'ed if it can be understood
rrom the context:
pai lalaat
(l. etc.) am going to the market
Adverbials indicating a point of time usually come first in a
sentence:
wan nee ja pai titHlat
I'm going to the market today

1.2 The verb 'to be'

When the predicate is an adjective, Thai does not use a verb 'to be':
aabasn aroi
(The) food (is) delicious

Another way of looking at it is to regard adjectives as doubling as
verbs, so aroi means 'delicious' or ' to be delicious'.

248 Grammar summary

When the predicate contains a noun complement the verb pen
is used:

Malilec pen khroo
Maalee is a teacher

When explaining, clarifying or defining something kheub is used:

sawp toll: kheub sawp m.iii dai:
'Fail' means ' not pass'

pen is descriptive; theub links a term with its definition, name or
key characteristic.

1.3 Negative sentences

rnai is added immediately before the adjective or verb:

aabAan mlii a f':'i
(The) food (is) not nice
Maalee mil psi
Maatee is not going

When pen is used lO mean '(0 be' the negative is made by replacing
it with mii chii:

Silphuchai mii chi i kbroo
Supbacbai isn' t a teacher

1.4 Ves/no questions

Yes/no questions are made by adding a question marker or tag at
the end of a stalement:

mai pili rnai?
Are you going?

Genera l questio n form but can also imply a suggestion or
invitation
chai rnai Mualcc yoo chai mai?

Maalec is here, isn't she?
Checks what you think is the case; corresponds to a question
t ag or ' right'! ' in English
reuh Maalec nuii yoo r~uh ?

Maalee 's not here?
Also a q uestion for confirmation

Grammar summary 249

reu plao Maalee pai reu plao?
Is Maalee going?

Literally'... or no t?'; used to a£k a question o f fact especially
about the past

rell yang Maalee pai reo yang?

H as Maalee gone yet?
Used whe re 'yet' could be used in Englis h

1.5 Answering questions

Questions with mm, chii rulli , re ub or reu pJao . For example: khnn
chiiwp aah ~an thai rnai?

Affirmative answer Negariv e answer

~ use the polite particle mal kbfUP
alolle
miii cbawp khnip
chiiwp khrap - repeat the verb or
adjective in the question

' .6 Answering questions with rau yang

For example: Maalee pai reu yang?

Yes answer - repeat the verb or No allswer
pai lal!() adjective in the question yang (mil; dai pai)
and add hioo (already)

1.7 Negative questions

With chai rnai and reuh you can also ask negative questions:

kbun rnai chawp aahaan thai chfii mai?
You don' t lik e Thai food , do you?

khun mi i chiwp aahaan thai reuh?
You don'1 like Thai food?

250 Grammar summary

To confirm the question Tn contradict rhe quel'lion
chal 'I don 't like it'
llIai chawp ma i chiti " do like it'

cha wp

1.8 Questions with question words

Q uesljoD words nonnalLy come al the end of t he question or in
the same position as the word(s) they replace:

aral khun kin ara i~ What are you eating?
IIroi 10k? What fell'!

thee n iii Maalee )'00 thee n1U? Where is Maalcc?

kh rai moo haa khra i? Who have you come to lOCe?
khrai maa? Who's coming?

Iha m-mai khon maa tharn-mai? Why have you come?
Wh y don', you buy the
tham-mai maj siuh
1111 yai? hig one?
(tham-mm can he initial or
nre ullrai khun pai meuang thai fi nal)
meuarai?
When did you go to Thniland?
meuurai kh wi Jo pai
When are you going 10
mewa ng thai? T h a i la n d ?

t hiio r ai miam slim khuat (Wilh fu ture meaning rncmtr:ti
thaorUl? can come a t the beginning or end
of the question)
chai wchUi n alln
thao rai? How much is a bottle or orange
ju ice ?
yallg. ngai ja pai yang-ngai?
H ow long does it take?

How will you go'!

Grammar summary 251

Two queslion words are used with classifiers:

"iii ja ao an nai?
Which one do you want?

kec mee look kee khon?
How many children do you have?

1.9 Imperative sentences

The main verb is used without a subject and with yaa for the nega-

tive:

pal thaang nec khli Go this way

yaa lcuhm ! Don't forget!

1.10 Direc1 and indirec1 objec1s

The direct object nonnally precedes the indirect:
KQCO hai na ali'ka a lOok ehai:
Ka eo gave his son a present

1.11 Passive sentences

Passive sentences are form ed using dohn Ot thook. The passive is
used less in Thai than in English, mainly when the subject suffe rs

something unpleasant.

Word order in passive sentences is:

subject + dohn + agent + main verb

where agent is the person or thing that does the action

Koco dohn tamTuat jap

subject agent

KAeo was arrested by the police

subj.;ct agent

thOok is a more fonnal alternative to dohD.

252 Grammar summary

1.12 Variations on word order

Familiar or less important information is usually given first in the
sentence with new or more prominent information placed towards
the end:

Normal word Subject + vtrb + Time and place: udvcrbi(l{s
order object sentence initial

chan chiwp an nee wan nee rawn mUltk
L like this o ne U's very hot today
ihee nee kaa[ac .Mi
Varied to au nec eMn chawp The coffee here is delicious
This om: 1 li ke
move new pai wan nee
It's loday I'm going
information kaarae aroi kW1l1l thee Dflbn
last That's where the coffee is better

1.13 Particles

Particles add meaning rather like stress and intonation in English:

khi Polite particles sentence final mii phe! khii
female speakers, sentence final It's not spicy
for statements sentence fi nal
phet mai kha'!
kh, female speakers, Is it spicy?

for questions mw phet khrap

k brlip ma1e speaker!> It's not spicy
rawang OIi khrip!
"' invites agreement. sentence final Be careful!
softens a warning hUI before
ruwk or request khi, khrap mii phacng rawk khrup
No, it's noL expensive
". used in sentence final
contradicting or but before pai see khil
correcting leba, khrap Sure, let's go

'sure' or 'really' senfence rillal
(emphasi~s a but before
positive response) khi, khrip

Grammar summary 253

k. shows hesitancy. sentence initial ko yiak menan kiln
Well, yes it is quite
politeness
difficult
o. also, either
connects clauses phaasaa thai yask.
(with negative with different phaasaa angkrit k6
st ateme n t) subjects; placed yiak
after the second
subject Thai is difficult,
English is too

1.14 Comparisons

Comparative adjective Idtreuang bin phaeng kWlla rot rai
or adverb + kwaa The plane is more expensive than the train

kh80 khap rot rllyo kwila phorn
He drives faster than me

phOm duiwp aahlian jeen mw kwilll

aahlian filrillnvayt
I like Chinese food more than French food

D egree of differe nce an nee phscn, kwiaa ao nia millk
This one is much more expensive than

that one

Superlatives: adjective, rot thull thOok thee sut
adverb or verb + thee sut Thc concb is the cheapest

phOrn chiwl' allhaan rarimgsayt (maa);;)
thee 5111

I Like French food the most

tbe same: mi;uan baan khun mhan (kap) baan ph6m
equa l: thi'io Your house is the same as mine

bian kbun kilp bian phOm meuan kan
Your house and my house are the same

rut fai kilp rol thua raakhaa thio kan
The tmin and the coach are the same price

rot fal rayo thuD kMP rot thua
The train is as fast as the coach

identical: dio kun Kiieo kiip phlim yoo thee dio kall
K1ieo and T live in the same place
similar: khhii kan or
khltiJ kbhii kaD bian khlai khl:ii kan
The houses arc similar

254 Grammar summary

2 Nouns and noun phrases

2. 1 Personal pronouns

Thai has over forty pronouns, which are used according to the age,
status and relatiollship of the speakers. These are the most useful :

phOm J (male speaker)

chan I (female speaker, informal)
he , she, they
khlio we
it, they (for things)
'a.

man

Thai does nOl have separate object or possessive pronouns so the
same words ca n also mean 'hinl', 'his', 'me' , 'mine ', etc.

The grammar does not require the pronouns to be used and
they are often omitted in informal speech if they can be under·
stood from the context.

Other words are oft en used in place of pronouns:

• Relationship words, e.g. pbaw (father), phee chili: (elder
brotb e r)

,. Personal names
,. Occupation terms, e.g. maw (doctor), aajaan (teacher)

2.2 Nouns

Thai does nOl have separate singular and plural fonns of nouns
and there are no articles.

2.3 Classifiers

Classifiers are used when counting or referring to nouns; there are
different classifiers for particular types of things and people. The
general classifier an can be used for any object but it is better to
use the specific classifier.

90 hOk an I want six (things)

ao see dee hok phaeo 1 want six CDs

Grammar summary 255

When to use classifiers : aD kaeo sawng bai
c o unl.ing I want twO glasses
asking how many
with demonstratives mee krapao kee bai?
with ' which' How many cases do you have?
with 'each '
with 'every' krapao bai nee
with 'another' This bag

krapao boi nai?
Which bag?

bai hi SIp bilat.
Ten baht each (e.g. glass)

kileo thUk bai
Every glass

aD kaeo bal euhn
I'll have another glass

Common classifiers

Classifier Used to refer to Example

kbon people mee look. sip khon
I have te n childre n

phaen CDs, paper and 1110 Set! dee bOk philen
bai Hal things I want six CDs

gla~es, bags, pictures mee kraplio ket: bar !
How many cases are there?

khriullng machines 1110 khawmpiuter tb6k kbreuang
I wan t every computer

lOok round things including look hi sip baat
some fruits, e.g. mangoes, Ten baht each
kh," limes, oranges, balls

vehicles mee rot kce khan?
H ow many cars lire there?

lang houses balllo lang Dce suey

t., furniture. clothes, This house is pretty

animals seub SCUll sliwng tUIII
I boughl two shirts

256 Grammar summary

In some compounds the classifier is tlle first part of the compound,
[or example Miwng and rohug. In some cases the no un and [he
classifier are the same, for example: khon, faan , wtit, see, tiang.

2.4 Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns

Near lhe Adjective P ronUlln
speake r
nee bian lan, nee suey nee nee mai phu ng
Away
from t he T his ho use is pretty This is nOI expensive
spea ke r
min baan lang nan suey nan nan mil phat:ng
Furt her That house is pretty That one is not
away expens ive
noho baan lAng nohn suey
from the noho rot thAwng khall yoo
That ho use over tbee nohn
speak e r
there is pretty Your car is way over
there

In spoken Thai the de monstrative is often used without the clas-
sifie r:

baan nobo suey That house is pretty

2.5 Adiectives

Adjectives follow the nouns th ey modify and do n01 agree with
the m ,

baao suey The pretty house(s)
The house(s) is/are pretty

Adjectives follow a verb wilhout an equivalent of ' to be ':

YUHk phliwm. mai chuwp uwan
I want to be thin, I don't like being fat

2,6 Indicating possession

Pronouns and nouns can be used like adjectives to show posses-
sio n:

phaw dllin my father
mae Maalee Maalee's motber

Grammar summary 257

More explicitly, khawng ('belonging to') can be added afte r tbe
main noun:

nee ngeTn kh1'lwng phom This is my money

khliwng is optional unless the noun you are referring to is omitted:

nae ngern khawng khrai? Wh ose is this money?

khawng pbOm Mine

2.7 Quantitv

Words used witb the appropriate classifie r:

mee phooying llii: khon There are a lot of women
mee phoochai: noi kbon There are few men

Words used without a classifier:

mee bbn yer (maak) There are a lot of houses
There are n01 many peo ple
mee kho n mai yer He doesn' t have a lot of money
mce ngern mii mask I have enough money
mee ngem phaw I do n't bave enough money
ngem mai phaw Is this one big enough?

an Dt!e yai phaw mlii?

2.8 Forming nouns

Compoltnd,~ Base nouns Co mpound n Oll m'

Formed by adding a nalilm 'water' hiwng mJllm 'toilet'
verb or anothcr noun biwng ' room' naam 10k 'waterfall'
to a base noun jai ·heart' wiam j ai 'generosiIY'

Other common base khreuang 'machine' khreuang biD 'airplane'
noun s khawTI!: wn 'toys'
khl\wng 't hings'

Prefixes Prefix Verb /adjec tive Noun
khwaam
Make a verb fawn 'hot' khwwam rawn 'heal'
into n noun jing 'true' kbwaam jing 'truth'
rait 'to love' khwaam rak 'love'

Makc a verb . .on rian '10 study' kaan rian 'studies'
into It noun or a ngem ' money' kaan ngern 'fina nce'
noun into It morc
abst ract noun

258 Grammar summary

Mllke a verb khee Jeuhm 'to forget' khee leuhm 'forgetful'
into an lldjective
'prone 10' beua 'to be- bored' oia hCUB 'boring'

mIll (-iog)

3 Verbs and verb phrases

There are no verb endings to show tense or aspect in Thai and no
agreement belwce n verb and subject.

3.1 Time reference and aspect

• With adverbials:

Past Po int of time meuu waan nee psi I'J.llIlt

I went TO the ma rke t yesterday

period + thee tacu pee thee llieu pbum pai a ngkrit
I went to England Jast yea r
(a year ago)

19co pal hb maw hieo
He went to sec the doctor (already)

P rese nt Indicator of tawn nee phi'im wee ngaan yer
preseot time
I have a 101 of work 31 t he moment

Future Point of time phriing nie U1ai pai talaat
J'm nol going to the market
..'"Period of time
tomorrow
O n the point kenap (ja) + ve rb pee mila ja pai ullgkrtl
of doing Next year we're going to England

kliii (jll) + verb kaurae "euap (jill) 0101

T he coffee I:; almosl finillhed

kllii jll sel
I'm nearly ready

To have just phem~ + verb phOm phcrng milia
I' ve just come
done

'still' and 'yef ylmg yllng up n:lam yO<.
ya ng nllii + verb
He's l;lill having II shower

yang Dliii dili pili
I huven't been yet

Grammar summary 259

ya ng mai pai
I'm not going yet

• With secondary verbs:
If tbere is a time adve rbial or [he reference is clear from the

context , these are usually optional:

Present main verb + maa pai n1'li maa?
perfect khoei + main verb Where have you been'!

rnai khuei rian phllllsaa angkrit
1 have never studied English

Past mai n verb + pai kh lii: pai law
I sold it already
Future
Action in negative state me nts phi'im mii dill pai nlli
progre ss witb diU (actiotl I didn't go anywhe re

'used to' verbs only)

ja + main \'erb phOm ja pai doc)
I'll go and see

kamJang + main khao kamlang kin khlio:
Hc's eating
verb
khao imp naam yoo
main verb + yoo
H e's having a shower
kumlallg + main
khao bmlaog don thee wee yoo
verb + yoo
He's watching television

khoci + main verb phom khoei soop burce
I used to smoke

The forms which express perfective and progressive aspects and
future time caD also be used relative to a past time reference:

dcm mum hico. kamlang ja klap
I walked for a long time and I was about \0 return

3,2 Modal meanings and auxiliary verbs

'able to' verb + dill: phom chuey khun diii:

I can help you

pMm chiley khun Olfii diii:

I can't help you

260 Grammar summary

'able to' verb + pe n khun khap rot pen Rtai?
(have the Can you d rive?
skill to o r tiiwng
habit of) khuan VII) khun tiiwng klap balln
You must/should go home
'must', khun khuan (jll) &dap billn
'should' You should go horne

'want' to do yaak Oa) + verb yaak (ja) pai angkrit
tawngkaan + verb I want to go to England
phOm liwnp:olln pai prachum
'wan I ' yial! dii (informal) I want to go to th e meeting
tawngk aa n
som ~ th ing yallt dill naalikaa nuli
I want a new watch
Possibility, aat (ia) + verb phOm tiwngkaan weesin
pro bability J want a visa
(adj ective)
Past thong Oa) + \'crb aat jll pai
negati ve I m ight go
Emph asi s (adjective) khong ja pai
or succeetJ lawng + verb I'll probably go
khno lawng a.eog
in doing (adjecti ve) He must be good (at il)

mai diU + ve rb mill dii pai
I didn't go
dii + verb
dji dem Iba&ng
I'm able to travel
(I gel the chance to travel)

3.3 Verb strings

1 Two or more verbs used together without any linking words:

pai tb.W: rOl)p To go and take photographs
maa doo Come and see
chawp dern I like walking

Grammar summary 261

2 Verbs of motion used \0 indicate the direction of an action:

pl&i and action away i,,'k pai
m. . from or towards go out
the speaker khao mall
comem
110 pai, take, bring ilio dern k1ap pai bun hieD
110 maa TIley've al ready walked back borne

kIap back ao nangs~uh pai
(pai, maa) Take the book
ao wmgsfuh maa
'wk 0 ", Bring the book

long down khao wing kliip maa
He ran back (here)
theun up
tiwng ao kunjae awl:. Uwn
You m us t remove Ihe key first

ao pili long
Take it down

ao pai khelm
Take it up

3 Indicating past time:

action finished thing pai hieo
or gone I've already th rown it away

past action with seuh mall hieo
present relevance I've already bought it
pai maa laCQ
I've been (and come back)

4 Add meaning to a verb: dem len
to walk for pleasure
oeD something not
pboot len
do ne seriously I'm joking (lit. 'speaking to play')

262 Grammar summary
do.
some thing considered khil doo kiWD
wiii
or judged I'U think about it

something kepl Icuhm wai
in place I forgot it (left it behind)

5 Two verbs needed to express a single action:

hii yeuhm to lend pheuan hili yeumn rot
A friend lent me his car
tha lli hlii: to lose
chan tham waen hai:
tham sia to break
I lost my ring

chan tham khreullng wee dee ob sia
I broke the video

6 Combine verbs to express a complex idea or action:

lawng chim don have a tas te
( IiI. ' try tasle see') try something on
I.wog sili don to be curious
(Iii. 'try wear see') he gave us 11 lift back

yaal.: roo ylal.: hen
(lit. 'want to know wanl to see')

khan pllaa rao klHP maa song
(JiL. 'took us return come send')

3.4 Frequency adverbs

'often'/ boi or ruw bOi are pai doo nang !>Oi rnai khnip?
'not oflen' used at the end of Do you often go to watch films?

a statement chan pai doo ming bOi
I often go to watch film s

chan pai doo naug mID bOl
I don't ofte n go 1O watch fi lms

' usu nlly' tham-madaa or pok-kHli pOk-kat. dilin pal wing I~n
are used a l the I usually go I unning

beginning of t he
sente nce

Grammar summary 263

'some- bunK khni.ng is used at pal wing len baang khni.ng
times ' rh e e nd of a statement I sometimes go runn ing
'always'
usually e xpressed by chan doo thee wee thiik wan
'never' 'every day', etc. altilift

I always watch television on
Sunday (lit. 'I watch television

every Sunday')

expres..o;ed by 'not' ch' D miii pai thon dio
o r mii kltoei J never go OIL my own
(,never have')
dUln mii klwei pili khon dio
I ha ve never been on my own

3.5 Other frequency expressions

.ham ngaan aatbit 13. haa wan
I work. five days a week

Use the same pattern for ho urs in a day, weeks or months in a
year, el·c.:

pm doo n1ng deuao hi sawng reuh ~am khrang
1 go to the cinema two or three times a month

cUn pili wiii: O1iltm 3atbit hi khrang
I go swimming once a week

Use the same pattern to say you go twice a year, etc.:

dlli n pai wiii: miam thUk w.nlaathitldeuanlpee

r go swimming every day/weelclmonth/year

3.6 Other adverbs

There is no adverbial ending 10 make adverbs from adjectives. A
word is used either as an adjective or an adverb. Some words can
be used as either:

miL: dwng khon nee keng
This singer is good (at singing)

nak niwng khon nee ciwng phlayng keng
This singer sings well

264 Grammar summary

Adverbs are compared in tbe same way as adjectives:

khreuang bin tayo kwaa rot rai
The plane is quicker than the train

Kamon khap rot rayo kwfta Udom
Kamon drives faster than Udom

The negative ma i normally comes before the adverb:

pMm khap rcit mii tayo
I don't drive fast

3.7 Prepositions (examples)

Place trong khaam wlit yoo 'rong khiiam paolOam.man
'oppos ite; The temple is opposite the petrol

stalio n

' behind ;! (khaang) wat )'00 khiUmg ling pamllllim·man
The temple is behind the petrol
'in front of: linyna.
sta t ion

'next to' fit tap waf Ilt up sanliaru keelaa
The temple is next to the stadium
.' be tween rawang ...
phlillom yoo rawMHng tiang kap 100
... and ... k.p ye n

The fa n is between the bed and the
fr idge

'on', 'under' bon, Iii trapao yoo bon baw
The bag is on the seat

'from' jaak maa jaak angkrit
I come from England

'at', 'in' yoo thee sllnaambin
He's at the airport
I nai
yoo nal bawng
'io'
It's io the room
I

II

Grammar summary 265

Other

'abo ut " kif! k8.p kbun tham ngaan klo up an~i?
What is you r work to do with'/
'concerning'
slimrap phiSm chao rot yon dee kwas
'as for' si'imrap Tn my o pinion it would be bette r to

' to', 'for' hili hire a car

ao mas. hii phom
Bring it fo r me

Time kilwn, laog kin kawn lIah1iao
ting tae Take before meals
'before',
'afte r ' theung ting tac WIIU min phOm mai simjal khcc
'since' thllng, talawt chaang eek loei

'(from) ... Since that day I'm not interested in
to· going elephant riding

'all' phom Cham nga.an kio mohne thenng
sIP mohng

I wo rked from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

tham ngllan tiduwt wao

I worked all day
chan doo thee wee thang kbeullO
I watched television all night

4 Complex sentences

4,1 Relative clauses

thee is used in relative clauses as an equivalent of either 'who',
'wh ich ' or 'that':

phOoylng thee phOot kilp Ken suey
The woman who is talking to Ken is pretty

baan thee khao seub yui miak
T he house she bought is very big

266 Grammar summary

4.2 Conjunctions

'and' Up, hie phom scuh naallkaa Up paak-tau
to join nouns I bought a watch and a pen
hie, llien ko
to join words bieo to thee nee suey hie ngiap
and phrases Jt's prdly and quiet here
to join clauses
pai dern len hien ko ja thai: roop duey
I'm going for a walk and I'm also going

to take. photos

'but' lac tham kHp khao: aroi tae ch;ii wH)'lua naan

She cooks delicious food but she lakes

a long time

'because' phraw waa khuD tiwng (hoh jawng kawn phraw
waa -sao aatml ja mee nak thawng
Imo yer

You must book fi rs t because there will
be a lot of tourists at the weekend

'if thaa tJula khao wat tawng taeng tua suphiap
riaproi

If you go in a temple you must dress
politely

'or' reuh ao khiiat yHi reuh khuat lek?

Do you wanl the large or the small

bottle?

4.3 Conjunctions showing the order of events

'after' lang (jaak) lang jaak pai nian aabaan yecpun thawng sia
'before'
'then' After I went to the Japanese restauraot I've
had diarrhoea

own (thee) klIwll (thee) klap baan phOm tawllg seuh
kap khao:

Before going home 1 must buy food

lacn ko khelln doi yon lacn ko long thaang
We went up the mountain then we lost

our way

Grammar summary 267

'since' tang tile tang tae phom maa yon krungthayp phom
all'k kamlang kai: thuk wlin
'when' meua
Since I came to Bangkok, I have exercised
every day

meua khao wat tawng tacug lua suphullp
riaproi

When you go in a temple you must dress
politely

4.4 Reported speech

Ar:/Ual words Reported words

ja thoh maa mili kluio hawk waa kluio ja thoh mila mili
I'll call back He said he would call back

khun ja pai reu plao? khao IMam wia pbOm.ia pai reu plao
WjIJ you go? He asked me if r would go

khao bawk waa ja pai reu phio?
Did she say if she was going?

khao ja maa meuann'! khao bawk reu plao waa khllo jll mall mellilrili?

When will she go'! Did she say when she was going'!

4.5 Subordinate clauses after 'to know'

The clause after 'to know' has the same order of words as 10 a
question:

Question '/0 know ' + clause

Ihohnlsap khau ber arai? chan mai roo waa thohrasap khao ber arai
I don't know what his phone number is

klul.o ja klap kee mohng? kblln sliap mlii waa khao ja klap kee mohng?
Do you know what time he is coming back?

khao ja pai reu plao? thun sliap mlii waa khao ja pai reu plao ?
Do you know if he is going?

khao ja pai reu plao? chan tawngkaan saap waa kba(J ja pai reu
plao

r want to know if he will go

268 Grammar summary

4.6 'That' clauses

waa is used after these verbs and phrases:

phOm khit Wa3 ja pai wing
I think I'll go running

wang waa rao ja mee ohkaat jer kan hoi
I hope we will meet often

pen pai dai: waa pbom ja pai awtsatrelia
It's possible I'll go to Australia

4.7 Other clauses following verbs

tham hii pai wing tham hili suk-khaphaap dee
yaak hai Running makes your health good
hai
yaak bili khuD pai wing
I want you to go running

phom ja hai look nan phaasaa angkrlt
1 will have my children study English

4.8 clauses with thee

khawthoht, khawpkhun, dee, dee jai, sia jai, chOhk dec and chawp
are followed by thee before a clause:

khawthOht tbee maa sai: kh3
I'm sorry (that) I'm lalC

khawpkhun maak thee maa cbiiey
Thank you very much for helping me

phOm dee jai thee thuD maj dai pai
I'm happy that you didn't go

chan sia jai thee mm dai cher Dao:
I'm sorry I didn't meet Dao:

dee (thee) phOrn rn:ii d:ii klap b:ian
It's good I dido't go home

Grammar summary 269

4.9 Conditional clauses

thaa khao wat tawug taeng tua supbliap riaproi
If you go in a temple you must dress politely

tawng taeng tua suph3.ap riaproi thaa khiio wat
You must dress politely if you go in a temple

The same conditional sentences can also refer to the past. When
referring to the future, thlla often means when:

thaa khao maa phOm ja bawk khao
When (or if) he comes, I'll tell him

Spoken Thai normally uses a negative conditional instead of
' unless ':

s3i kaang kayng khaa san dai: thiia mlii khao wat
You can wear shorts unless you are going in a temple

How to write
Thai letters

Most letters can be written with a single stroke starting at the
beginning of the line marked '1'.

Consonants
•.:flt
, ,tt· .~• .M' ' ,

~. • ~
••

~~. •

•
~IJtw·~. '~ '~

•
.Il , • •. III'
.'• •
,~,

•' , ~
'. ..a ·tJ-•
.8•- , 'U '~, .
•
\4l' •

'rJ· '~. III • :IJ .~. t,
,. " •••.'\t.'W,~, . ~l•·
• •

,'

'I. a·
00

How to write Thai letters 271

Vowels

. ..

~.,

I'~

~~

~~ ~~ ,q o~ll
•• •

tb it' @~ -t, t ,

Tone and other markers ''It:

. ,.. ' ~• ~•

Sample dialogues
in Thai script

Unit 6: Dialogue 5

~1: f)r,nJ1lilil~1"'(J"hlIJFI::?

GARY: 1J1'th-l1'Ufl;1J

~1: ~(Ul'h~l\1. a:l ' FI:: ?
lU'Uu~~m'f1' 1.J
GARY: 'tfl~i\l.LrifJ1n\Jm:hf1 : ?
"1; 'tfl-l1tl~\J' tiVl,rilllfi 1.Jf1mm')l,f1fliA~U
~'-l,"1i1f\t? 1f1~[J-l~'Ub.hh-llU';::
GARY:
f)N'llu)Jlitl'l1Jf1t ?
'11' 1: 1.i1o.;u ""M"."
SUA\J\'!~flfl1'f\;\J 'lil)IJIf1~tN'WLUuffl1.J
GARY: '1h1rfJfliw::ft: ool"ltAt: f1fU1AL~'I.uMill.I~'thlmA:t?
lJjlllfll'thl'Hi fl; 1J •
GARY: ~flm,,j[J~14l1nfiil\il(Jl)t:i1\i'l.ltl'UA::

,h

Unit 9: Dialogue 5

JOE: ~CUltruti1'J1tif11111l1111JI'I;U?

u.ih: ' 1J'l1lA'hJ l~~iin~'nl!lltlfl;1J

JOE: \J~lf"1l1q)ll11Jl'liu?

lU;': ,.!1::1J1CUif£l>3;tltJinm;u

",il:JOE: l'IJj,.Gn""""'AI"
'Yf~n>31'IJLlIm:::uo\~nAl~t1U \J~';"tJ'W)l')'Ufl;lJ

JOE: -nu~~l'H1JfI; 1J?
ufh ~~-1i'1'U 'th~l'\j,iui'l::!I''UfhT)J>3 L~1J1fUt1J~Ltil

LLiI')rh~nfl'EI>3~lJf'I;lJ "'tjflLiI£I'Ui'!::c:1EI>31U

JOE: .,h>31\1Mitn1il'-3 "1 U::f1 ; \J

flW11.L1'L1LII£luGll'HIlf11u?
u/b: l)jfiiwBlfl~1J r.J1J1JiL1'1.1L~iluuiltl
J OE: Allti~1UtJrJtl1l1\UJfflU?
bUll: l'1lfl;\J fi"'lth\mm~'MhJ fhlrhhii u.'I'Nthufl';\J
Lut::r.J)JfiEl>3a4.~'U1'I1rimuhlmilnufflu (~Uti'h)'ullil'lil111f1;U

Sample dialogues in Thai script 273

Unit 10: Dialogue 5

SUE: 'fl~mi"iun\J"jfll-wl'l1a:l , Mni1fl::?
!lib: OOu~mi1>3f1;U il.nn1'ritw' 11ifl;\.I lt1,fl1u>3U1li'l::innnl1tl1u

tlililRiitlti1tlfl; U

SUE: uAu.l'I>3ni1'Jnl.n~lM1Jfl::
I!lll: 1'1lmu 11.htrrbi~~~';5\l"'1tfflitl
'iCll-wnmtl'rb,.ath~1l'l'IU; 'lnilf1::?
SUE:

ulil: nhrltm1tl
SUE: li"ii.~ul.1,l1,; ,;,.,1...1

Ulh ~ll'l=im.n.Jlftl'HlfJ\lfl~nilf1'hJ

SUE: \hll'u1'ii1mihl'unl.ll.l::fi::

Illh U&1i')W';i1~1tJn1.Ju't-HVI~ih.h::nl.lfl'1.J

uihnf)ruei£l-lL'rI'i'i1 D~fhnu'Vj'l ti '1nl;iI1~Ol~'iiltil~mhHi ~~n

LU£I::l.I::n'u
SUE: fI1~fliJ'mrl'mf)ru fJtu"l1::1'r1 ~~tJ~lA::?

IIIh BTl ,\.N'i01l'lJ,jI'l=iOO}.1l 'Y!'fjlJlJjlfifl' 1.J

Unit 12: Dialogue 3

L~11JiI~: ,hD::lnntl!ilJ?
SUE: ril~U~DUilYU~10Ma~n~
L~1!IEN:
SUE: "~l'l3,jU1'U.'tIn.'hilltJstlf1;\J1

,4'1t1i1-l: 'Wo~inuoD\nfnJ~11JJ¥\: rJ"fha~~:fln
SUE:
'~lt1 !N: 1tlflMijjU1f1flfnntlilflm,JJlL~D L'tI1l'I1L11naUJJ,a~R::

SUE: L,"'U~n~1'tImfJiI :lmm ; \J '!

~ nn::fla1tl~'H~i1ft::?

itiitJti£lU'tll1L1f1'll~du emudtJ~ndulJjlfl ~flnD~}.l1fJ

ti11~mtiCNnmtn.!lJ1tJ~n~nn::lfihilllu,,'U ,!\Jlfltl1t1

l Jjl\1l.1A: L~U\Lluufll u 'I1u1,1ajl~L'IiID1f11

ii'ULl'l~ !lU).nmi::
iI1mff;iI\.!A~U ,,~auu~l}jill.lfliu

'h.a l'l'U QU'i1::ll\l.fI::

Unit 13: Dialogue 2

ANN: Bl.I1lli'unilB::l, t1::?
lifJniiiflf11tl fl1lJli111Jt1;\J?
1.1Jj: fIlJ..lilfJ , fi:: a1UlJl~'tIlfJ~jJiif'M,Uufl'U;1tJ1till'llJfl:t?
llJ'l'lifl;\J umnuOtw ~n~n~ll't'O(J1J
ANN: DuilfiOD::l 'nl::?

1.1Jj:

ANN:

274 Sample dialogues in Thai script

1M!Ji' ~wlA1~DLrhl'l;u

ANN, ~'1111mho:11F1:'!

lM!Ji' ul11;]uan fJWD1'IU11,,1m;fl,\J?

A NN: Q"D1ll1liclilnA:: DWlfiuntJ1.)fh ullIihutm::1-m:?
til,,-htn1'1hi,Nm'l;u
1MIii' ,hiiOl1.DfI::? Q'~"'~DR:?
~"'''UFl'\J liN~tln,w~uiDnilUtll1Ul1.,f';lUl
ANN:
flNtiD~111WfinIU rhUu.(I::lVuU nl1!tl1 ,,~
lMqj, Qul)j$jAlfi:: ~U!~tlUlhvibLD,ui::

ANN: l1!Dfl;\J?

1MIii' lJ(lid'll~5ril(hllI11Yl1~1fllJ,iAiUJihh::lutiUA:::
ib1.!lJln,]lll~!hfi'llLfluUI Uu.rn1'tlD~nfl'bl
ANN:
ultJdD1t.liln::11fl'U?
lMqj,
l"i"'ihtdl n, [ul{l()fl'Hl-l,';l l,uhih'luiftiTI.rh »llJ~\J
ANN:
tl' Ul;";lltlUll1 U1~f1~~Dl\Jf11·jot11l'ltJ ihh::lm6l'lil,uJfl1u?
1MIJi'

Unit 13: Dialogue 4

~nii., i u;il;Jnn Lisa llfitl

LlSA: ;;~li1n'Hln,mfiu1,([""",1
~niio, lulMFl1tJ Ii....ftn6liit)-aLti~ibam'WL~lI\l{tl8ft='i\J

L ISA: "D~1"l'fiautnumll'1Jm::? •
hJ:hwfI;u tlt\nl1~~Ml~frh
f{lltitJ :
L isa 0'."';.,1~M"'n1~'itll""",i

I1l1till: 1~ii1,; 1"1~ii1••
01lJ1"1.1M"",1
LISA:
ltifl'u lil1uShh~~llJ
lifliiu: fjcuii: tJr!{W1"i'lul'1'r1nL1il 'nJ ~:?

LISA: 1tiA'u

FfiliifJ: FJCI.I1tI~Gl1.hml "'3JfI:?
1U~'U'Vi'tfl'U Lfli)U~:1ifl~-l l~Ii";lfillfli)1~f1iJt.J1I1il'ulmfl~u
LISA: ~l"'~Util1'1"'fJfl1"';l'Y'lI"1fifl!1'li1"'1I~:?
Fjlliiv:
ltlfl;u tll1'1'r1fJ~i)~~hhl'ilA'\J
L ISA: f1li1''U~'''fJ..rl11ina\llrfl til ,.,3Jflt'l

~fiii" l,."u
LISA:
';llmJt'l1Ji'hliflr'X~D::":?
~fiii.,
fjwil,hrruutril:l. i"l1J1'I1f1-5U
LISA:
~fiii"

Sample dialogues in Thai script 275

Unit 15: Dialogue 2

JOE: diililuifilw~ir)liL\.!alfl-5U?
)I" bilRIJR: ~'1u;'jat.!'hlR: Siu.mnl)jt\ l"'tiSn"l,j" ~-iltllJi):

fluamrna"ihutlil: flUM.,l"jfll.iJii\ar..lJD:: lil.iialJln
JOE: lim;tJ ;'~lN61)fIA:StJ
O1mi,lllA: ? ill)::l'il.~~u!n.hhm:?
1'1" jj~~-lflU'Hd~l"u'h~~!W!

JOE:

II" "'~i1f1:?

JOE: ~{1U.,hlhu 1J~~lMutlllJu'ViI-lLtm::

II" ilFl'i1tJflh~LtI~lFlt ?

JOE: tillh iltitJiln"hilFl,mJfI;11t.lLilil~l.,,~laj
LL,hnL~iI1,udii:nfl1'Lijil-llf1ur;1'1tJ~1.J
L~'l::flil;tI~U;L1.Mli'l~?
..""II" cNfftlfl;U L~i1ilthli;l'Hd-liltiHfliu

J OE: tilldil: l,fl::?

JOE: i1lJ'llli'll'f1u'lIu:J.Jlnn'i1UiI'cNfl'UUfl1tJ
11hi"~.", .

Unit 15: Dialogue 3

ToNY: fjDnhin1Jmpoo,uuh.n l tUlJl11l'1.1~WMtJ ?
MJJilUlf1:
Mnuuht1: ii-luft~uJJmBu~l'Moot
TONY:
lrilflOU-t1uifFltlljjfl1llJfIft.,"'Umh~hfl;u? tmtJl'M1I,,; u1
1UJllUl,t
'tfilUmil? M"~~lfilU~Tt"j-'::)lijUb,in'f1"W1.:bm1til'MlJfl:
ToNY:
iiullJilflll~fi: 6l1tl';1~luDtiH~U~1-lThM"n
MlJDUlf1: U~lrnftlullJAilooR::

T ONY: Uilfl~lfYU1~u!!Flmi "N 1Ufl::1'fl;\J?

MlJDt-l1"': Lililt1i1UQU 'II~Unlu.~!:l1fl :
~lud~~ll1l1Fl~U?
TONY: e::l,1J:f1::? 'J1milm~rnl1~i11 iil~SlflutbPJ~t
L~"n::i'l~tJ1ou'Vh(nuL~tJ1~lUiiuLUEI:: viH1UFI'Ulih.nllJl'VIl
,.,lJDtflfl:
mhlt1i1-l~'U~1111tJ~iI'!il jjil-l~l!Jfll'tlt~Ui'{"Ltl~
TONY:
niiUl.n;;iH'ti1LiI~ U.~lrntl!lltntl~1ti1l-"llJfI:: u1-l1li1l11

';'N l1-lUl~l li,,i~.U,1n1fit

flwl'iulUluiI::mh lJ-lfl;U?
l',j'Vhnu~ullJ~i"lJ,~1t\~f)I,~u~~1Jfi::
utinl{JnA11I1.~&ffi\j~&n.nf1rr-l~niH 'r'Jn~un~tJ~ilnf'lnA~
1-lilUilniH~a1J,"" , "::iliil~il1'U 'IhlWl'W'nnDU1JtlUA:
l1i1~iiuut)ruvi"N1\tri~\lfl;\J'!

276 Sample dialogues in Thai script

ToNY: 'Mi1~L"nUl'l~ Dft::?
,umU"lfl: "1UU'lfl"'U81)j'MfJflUilMmii'l'~ l L \hn'; i)ilbim.JlfJiI1 ~~

TONY : "L~fJUAlaflaru~f.JNlft"m1,nm.sffl\J?

'H~Hl \.l')f1 : l~,uf'aubalfi:: fM1ln;,~jW;~u
01 ~nRl1t#J1b.ifl>l l u~JjltiL1 Uf\:­
T ONY: 'MJJaulf11~-Bl11J"~ t'Mnrul"'A:­

lumUltt ihu lJln vhm" 'H~1I1\!~illl'H~il1fihTlJllfi::
",nAl111~JlmJA;:\J?
T O NY: \Jn~lIi",
\1l/ilUlf1:
T ONY: 111L,;,1,.,;,,1u?
11IJilUl fl;
T ON''': nUalu."~n~1fi:: ~11nnnl..hl1~lfU1l1t1,md-l.jmJA::
'HlJilUlfi1: \JHA~ 1I).nnnl-m::

T oNY: o11JJfl~milF)NtilD::1'Jlh~l'I~u?

m.silUlft: fiiN~II'1[Jfit ~'\mnwulllHnmhu~Lf'i""mi~
fJruL FltJtlilfl!""lIu~nfh' L\J(\1f11U?
T oNY: lJ.AFllIfi:: ~lU)J1~~nA1iliiu~Fi:­
~ll'1;\Jfijru~nfi',~~~ui1~ml::hf1'\J?
lUmU1't ¥tlYfl~lI1J'!ltl ihh11i1flt:
Llii1n~nfll~fjNlli1lilufll111JA1u?

~nA1i1'Iffi\Jtiuu.~iil'Miltmi::

Allti~111f}tltfl4"lthi"ilil::l ' A;U?
ii~....\lu'lnDfhui:: ';mud';il4Lti.:.tib

",hntiD"c1"l~"1M'vitlu,,jrn:
ftWi1i1'l1M....litlln\J'fWl11'1fjW~,"'i -U:.flUiiL'MJJAi1J?

L~1Jilf)flatlflA:: L41JfI~ilfI1li'Mll1 t..rNlubii'AL,.rulfl

u,iln~nA1\);th,~~~twrn L~mic:nl.~mu~Jd'U:iunu'n

u,';fJlt'ifln'::l,"1::":: 'MlJDrnJJi''';l~1'Utl::, ,. n\LlftU~U1tnl Ol

~-I~UnL~\J 1JjL~u1mi-l1-1 ti1f)WM~~~1'UU~9)~n1li.~u

~lFJIUI.~'Un2Jl~ til tn.'t'i'1:i1 LuuT,~;Mitnnu.fl\.l\l

MJ.re)\JDnil~OltmjlmM;\LfI'1fJ 'I'IJJtl1~~ul'l~~nnti'rlUllil
lL~ul\J"lw

English translations
of dialogues for
Units 6 to 15

Unit 6

Dialogue 1

LEK: Excuse me, where do you come from?
I come from Liverpool.
K EN: What country is Liverpool inl
It's in England. Do you know Ine BClIiles?
LEK: No, I don't.
Th ey came from Liverpool as well.
K EN: They're footballers are they?
No, they were singers.
LEK: I don 't really like Western songs.
What sort of songs do you like to listen to?
K EN: I like Isan songs.
liK: Wh ere are you from?
K EN: I'm from [san.
UK:
K EN:
U K:
K EN:

LEK:

Dialogue 3

NiT: Wh ere are you going?
J OE: I'm going to fetch my children at the school.
NeT: How many children do you have?
J OE: Two.
NfT: Really'! Boys or girl.I'?
J OE: One boy, one girl.
NIT: (That '.~) good. How old are they ?
J OE: My SOli is fourteell, m y daughter is six.
NIT: You r daughter was born here, was she?
J OE: Yes.

278 English translations of dialogues, Units 6-1 5

NfT: Most Western families (have fe w people) are small, aren '(
they?

JOE: Yes.
N tr: Thai famili~' are large (have many children). I hnve twelve

children, My mother also had lWelve children.
JOE: Do your parents live in Isan?
NiT: My mother lives in 1$(111, My fath er's dead.

Dialogue 5

F AA: Wh y did y011 cOnle to nwiland?
JOE: I came to work.
FAA: Whal work do you do?
JOE: I'm a manager.
F AA: Whar is your work to do with?
JOE: I work for a compuler company.
FAA: Really? My compuler isn't working. Can you repair il fo r
me!
J OE: / can't, I'm nol a technician. I'm a manager.
FAA: ThaI 's a pity. Exc:«se me, how much is your salary?
JOE: Not very much. Enough to get by on.
FAA: A manager mUSI eam a fof for sure.

Unit 7

Dialogue 1

JOE: Look at that woman.
Which One?
SOMIlOON:
The one wearing sunglasses.
JOE : Do you know her? She looks like a television star.
She 's the wife of a friend.
SCMHOON: Really ?
What 's thai building?
JOE: I(s a temple. Shall we go and have a look at it?
Yes. It's beautiflli.
SCMBOON:
J OE: This temple is very old. Abolll 300 years.
S6 M BOON: It looks new. It's quiet. I can't see any monks.
J OE: There's nobody here.
$OMBOON; Th e trees are tall. The air is nice and cooL
J OE: Yel·. (Jr'l) better than the main road isn't ill
SOMBOON: Mu ch belfer.
JOE:
S()M BOON:

JOE:

English translations of dialogues, Units 6-15 279

Dialogue 3

STEVE: The traffic'S stuck..
It's slUek every where.
UooM: Mind that motorbike! (That's) dangerous.
ThaI man is drunk for sure.
STEVE: Look am! You nearly ran illto that tree. Calm do wn.
D rive more slowly, it's safer. In Bangkok there are a lot
UooM: of accidents.
Yes, there are many sorts of problems. (to do with many
STEVE: things) Which way do we go?
Straight on, then turn left at this side street.
STEVE: Do we go fllrther?
A little bit further. A fter the cro,)·,)·road.\· my house is on
CrOOM: {he left.
Here we are (we've arrived). SlOp here.
STEVE:

Dialogue 5

D AO: What's the weather like in Chiang Ma i?
ToNY: Terrible. It's raining every day. There isn', any sun.
DAO: Really? Mind the masquiloes (biting).
I'm fed up. Going anywhere is very difficull.
TONY: Wh y is that?
It's raining heavily and {he roads are no good.
DAO: Th is month is the rainy season Th e weather's /ike tltis
every year.
T ONY: Is i{ raining in Bangkok?

DAO: It rained this morning. It 's SlOpped now.
It's raining again here. There are fiood.~.
TONY: Rea lly?
I want to go back to Bangkok. It 's not fun here.
DAO:

T ONY:

DAO:

TONY:

Unit 8

Dialogue 1

SUPliACHAl: Call I.)·ee the menu? What should we order? The
WA ITRESS:
'\'eafood here is fresh. What is there?

There's prawns, fish, crab, what will you have?

280 English translations of dialogues, Units 6-15

LISA: I don 't like seafood.
WAITRESS: " Il have one spicy seaf()Qd soup.
L ISA: And one cJllb sandwich.
WAITRESS: Y es. What will you drink?
$i1PHACHAI: A hottle of water.
WA ITRESS:
S0 PH ACHAJ: Yes.

LI SA: Would YOII like anything else?
No.
S UPHACHA1: Why are you only eating a little?
LISA: J'm full.
S(}PHACHAI: Are you not hungry?
If 1 eat a lot I'll get fat.
LISA: You should exercise. Get up early and go running.
I don't like getting up early.
SUPHACHAI: Tomorrow 1'/1 go and fetch you at your house and
L1 SA: we'll go running together.
SUPHACHA[: Tomorrow? All right.
Don't forget.
LISA:
SUPHACHAI:

Dialogue 3

ANN: How milch are Ihe CDs?

STALLHOLDER: Olle CD a hundred and thirty baht. Three CDs for

three hundred and sixty baht.

ANN: Call yolt reduce them a bit more for me?

STALLHOLDER: I've already reduced them. These CDs are hard to

find. How many do you want?

A NN: Six.

STALUIOLDER : Altogether seven hWldred and twenty baht.

ANN: Om yOIl (self them for) six hundred and fifty?

S"r AL!, HOLOcR: Impossible! I'll have no profit. This price is very

, \ cheap.

ANN: In other places they sell them for only a hundred.

I STALLI-IOLDER: Oil! Nowhere sells them cheaper than this. Let's
make if seven hundred and be done with it. Special
price. Is there anything else?

ANN: No.

STALLHOLDER: We're agreed on seven hundred baht, right? (From)

one thousand, four hundred change, right?

ANN : Three hundred.

STALLHOLDER: Correct! I'm going to make a loss for sllre.

English translations of dialogues, Units 6-15 281

Dialogue 5

ATTENDANT: Whal are YOIl looking for?
ANN: I'm looking for my car.
AlTENDANT: Where did you park it?
J can't remember.
ANN: What make is it?
ATJ'ENDANT: Toyota.
ANN: Is this car YOUTl"?
Which one?
AlTENDANT: The one tlull's parked in from of the gare.
No, my car's red. It's new as well.
ANN: What's the registration number?

ATrENDANT: I don't know. I hired it yesterday.

ANN: The one over there, right?
Wh ~re exactly?
ATT"ENDANT: The one next to the lorry.
AN N: 1 can't see. (The one) in front, right?
ATI"ENDANT: (No) behind.
I can see it. Yes.
ANN:

ATIENDANT:

ANN:
ATIENDANT:
ANN:

Unit 9

Di alogue 1

KATE: Do y'ou like watching hoxing?
Well, it'l' good fun.
SUPHACHAJ: What do you like doing in yrmr free lime?
I like watching film:;.
K ATE: Do you often watch films?
SUPHAGHAl: Nor very often.
K ATE: How many times a month?
SUPHACHAl: Two or three times.
KATE: Why don 't you rent videos to watch at home?
SUPHACHA1: My video recorder is broken.
What sort of films do you like 10 watch?
KATE: I like ghost films.
Oh! Aren't YOLt frighten ed ?
SUPHACHAI: Well, I am ralher. BUI they are good ftm.
KATE:
SUPHACHAI:
KATE:

282 English translations of dialogues. Units 6-15

SUPI"lACH A I: I dOIl'r thillk watching films often is very good.
Why nor?
KATE: Exercise is betler. It's good for your health.
I exercise often. J go to the disco 10 dance every
S U r H A CH A I : week.

KATE:

Dialogue 3

FAA: My elder sister lives in England. She's lived rhere many
years. She got married there.
J OE: h her husband a Westerner?
FAA: Yes. They have a daughter of three. She 's really cufe.
JOE:
F AA: Whflf's YOllr siSler's hushand like'!
JOE: He'~' old bllt I'ery rich.
FAA: Is he kind?
JOE: He drinks a lot (lnd he smokes a lot. And he's very meall.
F AA:
Really?
J OE: They argue a lOt. My sister j~. nut happy. I worry about her.
FAA: Why doesn't your sister split up with her husband?
Well, she loves her husband. And she love~' her daughler.
Slie can ', split up.

Dialogue 5

J OE: l'OIl 're a civil servfltU aren't YOII?
KAEo, No, I'm n salesman.
J O E: Is the company big?
KAEo ' About 200 peof)/e.
JOE : That's quite big.
K AI!o: A 101 of staff bur nOI many customers. The company is
nwking a IOS.f.
JOE: Is the work difftCIIlt?
KAEO: Well, yes. I work 10 hours a day. J start lit ten o'clock
and finish at eight. I have two days holiday a m onth.
J OE: You really do work hard. Do you get a good salary?
KAEO: Nol really. I gel II little.
J OE: You have a lot of expenses, right?
KAEO: Righi. 71le rent i.~ expensive. The electricity is also expen-
~·ive. And I have to send money to my parelUs every
momh Th e salary is not reasonable..

English translations of dialogues, Units 6-75 283

Unit 10

Dialogue 1

LISA: 71tis momillg I want to go to the seaside. Shall we
go together?
SUPHACHAI : I can't. I have to wash the car first.
L ISA: You don 't have to. Yuu could wash it tomorrow,
that would be all right.
SfIJ'HACHAI: I can't. The car is very dirty.
LrSA: Can I help yolt?
SUPHACHAI: Thanks. It doesn't mailer. II doe.\'II't take 101lg.
When it's finished, we call go ill the aftemoon.
U SA: I'm not free this aftemoon. I have /0 clean my
house,
SUPtJAO-IAI : Shall we go tomorrow?
LI SA:
Tomorrow I'm going /() the hairdresser's. Are you
SOPH A C H A I : free all Saturday?
LISA: On Saturday I want to take yOIl to my hOllsl!.
S(JPH ACHA l: What for?
Nothing wecial,
LISA : When can we go to the seaside?
Any time. The .fea will stay there all the time. It
SUPH ACHAI : 1V0n 't go anywhere.

Dialogue 3

KAro: Shall we go to the deparrmetlf slore today?
J don 't feel like goillg.
SUE: Why not?
KAEO: I'm not well.
SUB: What's the matter?
KAEO: I've got the_jiu. ['ve go/ a headache and a sore lhroat,
SU E: Have YOIl been to see the doctor?
KAEO: Nor yet. I bought some medicine 10 take. /'II soon be
SlTE: bette r.
1 don 'f wanl to go and see Ihe doc/or.
}(AEO: Why not? Are you frightened of the doctor?
I'm frightened he'll give me an injection
SUE: There's no need to he afraid, An injection is just like a
KAEO: lIm.l·quito bite.
I 'm lIfraid of mosquitoes, lao.
SUE:

284 English translations of dialogues, Units 6-15

Dialogue 5

SUE: Which is better, to go by plane or train?
KAEO: They are good in differem ways. If you go by frain you
can admire the view.
Sue: The plane is more convenient. And it 's safe.
KAEO: But it's more expensive than the train, Lm't it?
SUE: Y~', Going by coach is cheapest but if's dangerous.
KAEO: Which is quicker, the [rain or the coach ?
SUE: They are the same.
KAEO: I can 't decide. Whar should J do?
SUE: In my view, it would be beller to hire a car.
KAEO: That sounds inferening.

SUE: But you must go with a company that has insurance and
KAEO: phone first to book (1.1' there will be a 10/ of tourists at
the weekend.
Will you be using your car next week?

Hey! My car is new. J can', lend you mine.

Unit 11

Dialogue 1

ASSISTANT: Can I help YOII?
LISA: I'd like to change this blouse. I bOllghl it yesterday.
ASS ISTANT: Wh y?
It's too ,\"nwll. It 's a lillIe bit too tight. And there's a
LI SA: buuml broken.
D idn't you try if on in the shop?
A SSISTANT: Yes. Al fin,., J thought if was fine but then J changed
L I SA: my mind.
Did you bring the receipt?
ASSISTANT:
LISA: Ye~·.
ASS ISTANT:
L I SA : There isn't pale blue in large, would you like grey?
ASSISTANT:
Yes.
LI SA:
Would you like fO fry it on'!
A SS ISTA.NT: Yes.
L ISA: Come fhi.I' way, please. Try the blouse on here.
ASS ISTANT:
Oil, this she is really big. I'd"mther have Ihe old one.

Yes. Wail a momelll. I'll sew u button on for you.
It 's ready. Plea.w! come again.

English translations of dialogues, Units 6- 15 285

Dialogue 3

JOE: Is my car ready yet? 1 brought it in for a service
this morning.
M ECHANIC: It's not ready yet. The mechanic is repairing il.

JOE: Oh! What's the mailer with it? This morning it was

M ECHAN IC: running fine. Th ere weren't any problems wilh it.
The brake light is broken. The clutch is loose. And
JOB: the banery is nOI good. You must change il. J
suspect you don 't lake your car in for a service
M ECHAN IC:
often·
JOE: What is the cost of the repairs?
Altogether seve" thousand baht.
MECHAN IC: When. wil1 il be ready?
Is it urgent?
JOE: J have to use it tonight. What lime does the garage
close?
MECHANIC: Eight o'clock. I think it will be ready at ,\'evell
Ihirly.

Dialogue 5

MAALEE: Happy New Year.'
ANN: Thank you.
MAALEE: You don't look happy. Is something the matter?
A NN: I lost my handbag.
M AALEE: How did you lose it?
AN N: I left il in the car. II was on the back seat.
M AALEE: Was there a lot in the bag?
ANN: My house keys, a ring, a goLd necklace; some silk
pyjamas. There were some socks and a bell I'd boughl
MAALEE: as a birthday present for my husband. The belt was
ANN:
MAALEE: leather, made in Italy. I cried.

ANN: Did y ou lock your car?
MAALBE: No, I didn't. I just went for a moment.
ANN: What! You didn't lock the car? Nowadays there are
lots of thieves. Why are yolt (so) forgetful?
Hav e you reported it at the police statio,,?
Yes.
Whot did the police say?
They said 1 am forgetful.

286 English translations of dialogues, Units 6-15

Unit 12

Dialogue 1

OWNER: Where did you go yesterday?
We went fQ the zoo.
KEN, Did you see the elephants?
OWNER: No, there wasn 'f time.
There's a baby elepham just been born. Have you hetlrd
K EN: fhe ne.w.v about it?
OWNER: No. Thai people love elephants very much, don 'l fhey?
Yes. They 're strong animaL\", They 're good at working.
K EN: They are intelligent as well. Have you ridden an
ele.p ham ?
OWNER: Yes.
Wh en?
K EN: Two years ago. When 1 was living in Chiang Mai. I
rode jim once.
OWNER: Did YO II enjoy it?
K E N: No, I was frightened. Since then I'm not interested in
riding an elephant ever again.
OWNER :
KEN:

Dialogue 3

OWNEfC What /lave you beel! doing?
We were going up the mountain and we lost our way.
SUE: Did you reach the hill tribes village?
No. We walked nearly three hours. It was about to rain.
O WNER: Fortunately a man driving a pick-up found us. He gave

SUE: liS a lift back,

OWN ER: Did you see a lor of cabbages?
Cabb ages?
SUE: Previuusly the hill tribes plamed opium, Now they can'I
plam opium. I rs illegal. They have had /0 change
OWNER: and plam cabbagej,' instead. The government helped
them.
SUE: W e didn 't see any. We walked a long time but we didn 't
see any jield.\·. We didn ', meet anybody, I'm very
OWNER: tired.
The weather's hal. 1 suspect you 're not wJed to it yet.
SUE: Wh en will I ever get lIsed to it?

English translations of dialogues, Units 6-15 287

Dialogue 5

NOK; Have you been ill Thailand long?
Two years.
J ASON: Two years? Will YOlt stay much longer?
Why?
NO K: It's [00 bad we didn 't Ililve a chance to m eet before.
Never mimi. In the future we 'll have many opportunities
J ASON:
ro meet.
NOK: / hope so but in two months I'm going to Canada. I'm
going to teach Thai in the university.
J ASON: Are you going for long?
Six months. I'm coming back in Novemher. We'll be able
NOK:
to meet then.
JASON: Oh, in October I'm going back home 10 Australia. I
haven 't been back jor 1I long time.
NOK: October? Will you stay in Au.\'tralia for long?

JASON: I'm not sure. I mighl slay a long tim e. Maybe / '1/ do a

N6K: degree.
In that case, when will we m eet again? In our nexl life?
JASON:

NOK:

Unit 13

Dialogue 1

LISA: What are you Looking for?
SU PHAC HA I: I'm looking for the dler/ona ry.
L i SA: Can you sp eak slowly? If you speak fasl, I can 'r
understand.
SilPHACllAl: I'm looking for the (lictionary.
L I SA: What is 'phOtjdnuanukrom '?
$UPHAClW: It's a book to do with translation.
L I SA: What does 'plae' mean?
$UPHACJiAl: 'p/ue' meam 'to change the language'. I'm nol
explaining right.
LISA: Whllf does 'a thibal' m ean ~
$UPHACHAI: You m ust look in the dictionary.
LISA: 'ph6tjanaanukrom' , ..
SiJrHACHAl : There's no need to ask. I've found iL This (book)
is a dictionary.

288 English translations of dialogues. Un fts 6-15

LISA: I understand. Why were you looking for a diction-
ary?
SUPHACHAl : I wus looking for the meaning of a word.
L I SA: T don 'f understand.
SUPHACHAI: Why is it (so) difficult for us to undemond each
other today?

Dialogue 2

ANN: What is this cafled?
It's called 'tattoo'. Why do you ask?
y At: I'm just asking. Most men wJw have 101100.\' are criminals,
rig ht?
ANN: No. They are popular Wilh boxers. They're a/~'o popular
wilh students.
Y AI: What's this?
It's an old tool.
ANN: What was it used for?
This notice says. Can you read it?
VAl: No, I call't. J can ollly read a few words. What does it say?
It says it was used fO make tattoos.
ANN: To make tattoos? Really?
1 was joking. It's a 100/ that farmers used to use to fann
YAI: lhe fields. You should ask your leacher to reach YU II to read
and write Thai.
A NN: I don't have a teacher. I 'm studying by myself
Really?
VAl: But I don 't think reading Thai is very useful. Most of the
time, important signs are written in English.
ANN: What does (h is notice say?
1 don 't kllow.
VAl:
If says ' Please take affyour sJwes' and this sign says 'No
ANN:
touching. 500 baht fine'. Sometimes reading Thai is useful,
Y AI: isn't it?

ANN:

YA I:

ANN:

YAI:

Dialogue 4

StWHACHAl : Today I'll take you to the temple, Lisa.
Can I wear shorts?
U SA: No. If you enter u temple you must dress politely.
Do I need to wear a 10llg-sleeved b/otlSe?
SUPH ACHA I:

LI SA:

English translations of dialogues, Units 6- 15 289

SUPHACHAl: It's not essential, but ifyou do it will be more polite.
LISA: Do I need to wear a hat in the temple?
SUPHACHAl: You can wear aile or not wear one. It's lip to you.
LISA: Can I take phOIOIVaphs?
SUPHACHAI : Ye~:, as long a~' there im 't a sign forbidding it.
L I SA: You're a Buddhisl (worship the Buddhist religion)
aren 'f you?
SUPHA CHAI: Yes.
Do YOIl often go the temple?
LI SA: I go on holy days. Four days a mOllth. Then every
week J give food 10 monks.
SUPH AClIAI: For Buddhists making merit is important is/! 't it?
Very important. Buddhists must be generous.
LISA: Buddhism forbids people to kill animals, doesn't
SUPHACHAI: it?
Yes.
LISA: Wh y are there a lot of people who hun! animals
then?
SUPHACHA I: You ask too many questions!

LISA:

SirPHACHAI:

Unit 14

Dialogue 1

FAA: A Western man tailed yOll Ihi.~ morning.

KATE: Did he give his name?
No. Ht: didn't speak Thai very clearly.
FAA:
K ATE : Did he say he knew me?
He asked 'Is Kate in?' I think it's one of your colleagues.
FA A: , don't know who it i..,·. Did lie leave a message?

KATE!: H e said he would call again.
Did he say what lime he would call?
FAA: No, he didn 't say.
K ATE: He didn't say anything else~
FAA: I'm not sure. It was a bad line. I guess he was calli"g
KATE: from another province or from a call box, I elml '/
know. He said something very strange but I didn ', hear
FAA:
it clearly.
KATE: What was that?
Somelhing to do with {lit orange elephanL
FAA:

290 English translations 01 dialogues, Units 6-15

KATE: An orange elephant? I don 't tmderstand what litis is
aboui.
FAA: Oh, I understand. He meant the technician who is going
to come (lnd repair the washing machine.
Incredible! I though! 'this Westerner U· really strange'.

Dialogue 2

R ECEPTIONIST: Thai Military Blink. Good morning.

J OE: Extension 13 please.

RECEPTIONIST: Hold on a moment. There 's no am-wer. Who do

you IVtlnt to speak to?

JOE: I want to speak to Mr S6mboon.

ReCEPTIONlST: Hold the line.

SECRETARY: Hello.

J OE: Can you put me through to Mr Somboon please?

SECRETARY: Who 's calling?

JOE: My name is Joe.

SECRETARY: What do YOIi want to speak 10 Mr Somboon

about?

JOE: I want 10 know if Mr Sombool! will come on hi.t

own.

Yesterday J asked him ro rellim my coli bUI he

didn 't phone.

SE.CRETARY: Mr Sombooll i.\"n't here althe moment. Can I gille

him lJ message?

JOE: Please tell him I'll call him again this evenillg.

SeCRETARY : But he won't be here thi.t evening.

JOE: Do YOIl know what time he will he back?

SECRETARY: He's not coming back today. He'll be back tlte day

after tomorrow.

JOE: Olt, hut we have an appointrneflf for lOday.

SeCR.ETARY: With Mr Somboon? Where did you arrange (0

meet?

JOE: Al my company.

SECRETA~Y : That'.~ not possible. Mr Somhoon is at a meeting ill

Australia.

JOE: I don't understand. This is the Knmg Thai hank,

i.m 't it?

SECRETARY : No, Ihis is the Thai Miliwry Bank.

J OE: I'm sorry. J gal the wrong nllmber.

English tr8nsiations of dialogues, Units 6-15 291

Unit 15

Dialogue 1

OAO: I'm sorry I'm a bit late. L missed the blls. J worked late
today.
T ONY: That 's aLI right.
DAO: I hurried home to cook for my mother lind I did,,'t have
enough time.
T O NY: That's all right. I'lle only just arrived.
DAO: Thank you very much for coming 10 help me.
ToNY: No problem.
Did r tell you that my younger sister got a new job?
DAO: No.
She has to come back home late. I want to buy her a
TONY: motorhike as I don 't want her to walk back late on her
own.
DAO: Right. You have to be careful nowllllllYs. There are lots
of badly behaved teenagers.
T oNY: My bank. book is lost. I can't withdraw mOlley_ Can 1
Irouble YOlI and borrow some money from you?
D AO: How much?
I'd like thirty thOlL'iand bahl. I do,, 't walll to bother
T ON Y: YOIl but I cloll'( know anybody. Thank you for your
DAO: generosity.
When will YOil give it back?
TONY: Next month.
DAO: For sure?
ToNY: Slire.
DAO:

Dialogue 2

JOE: Did you watch the news last night?
FAA: No, I'm bored with watching the news. There 's only bad
news. The economy is 1101 good, lots of criminals, lots of
J OE: drug addicts, lots of people with Aid,l", It 's very boring.
FAA: That's right. I agree.
JOE: Why do you ask? Did something happen?
FAA: There was a Westerner got kifled in PIll/ker,
JOE: Really?
The criminals gOI in the house. The foreigner had a lot of
rhitlgs stolen.

II English translations of dialogues, Units 6-15

292

FAA: Did he have a family?
T/le news didn't say whether he had a family in Thailand
J OE: Of not.
And yesterday a politician was arrested by the police.
FAA: For cormption?

JOE: 1 expect so. But There's one piece of good news.
What's that?
FAA; The Thai national team beat Malaysia two nil.
Incredible!
JOE:

F AA:

Dialogue 3

TONY: Have you been in the traditional massage profession
MASSEUSE:
TONY; fang?
M ASSEUSE:
Six years. Since / came to Chiang Mai.
TONY: What are your opinions about the work? Do you like
MASSEUSE: it?
TONY:
M A SSEUSE: Do 1 like it? Well, I have to like it. J don't have an
alternative, do T? ! don't have any edllcalion (know -
TON Y: ledge). If J go and do some other work I'll have to
MASSEUSE: work hard and J won 't gel much money.
What other work have you done apart from mas~·age?
TONY: J used to sell noodles.
MASSEUSE: Is Ihe work hard?
What was that? Selling noodles? You have to have
someOne to help you. Because selling noodles involves
a lor of work and working on your own you can 't
manage. You have to get up early to go to the market,
you have to pay for the tramport yourself When
you're back you have to make them yourself and go
and sell them yourself, right? J couldn't manage.
Massage work isn't !iO hard.
How many hours do YOlt work a day?
I go to work at ten o'clock and finish at midnight. Bu!
if a client comes at m idnight I have to massage them
until two am. Every day 1 go back to my lodgings late.
I go to bed at two or fhree am as I have to have a
$hower and say my prayers before J go to bed.
How many days do you work in a moflth?
In a month? Usually I don't have a day off unles,\' I
have some essential business or I'm not well then
1 lake (l day off

English translations of dialogues, Units 6--15 293

TONY: Is your salary reasonable?
MASSEUSE: I don't get a mlary! If there 's work to do [ get money.
ff no clients come there's no work and I don't get any
TONY: money. A masseur gets 40 b(lht an hour and usually
MASSEUSE: we work two or four hours a day.
TONY: Do clients give tips?
MASSEUSE: Usually, yes.
How much do they give?
TONY: Well, it depends on the clien/. Usually 50 to 100 bahl.,
MASSEUS E: Sometimes more.
If there aren't any clients, what do you do?
ToNY: We have to sit and wait. J bring a book to read to stop
myself feeling lonely.
MASSEUSE: Have you ever had problems with clients?
TONY: Never. The clients mostly behave well.
MASSEUSE: What is a 'well behaved' client for you?
TONY: Polite. One who is generous.
MASSEUSE: And are there clients you don 't like?
TONY: Ones who like complaining and are stingy,
MASSEUS E: What are your essential expenses?
Everything is essential! When you do this job you
ToNY: have to dress (well) . And I have to send money to my
parents.
MASSEUSE: Do you have any health problems related 10 your
work?
My hands hurt all the time. They hurl all the time and
never get betler. Some days I haven't the strength to
massage. Then clients will complain to the manager.
Before, when they first started hurting I took medicine
but the medicine was bad for my stomach. The doctor
asked 'What's your job?' 'Traditional massage' 'In that
case (your hands) will ache, how do you expect not
to ache? If YOlt stop working they won ', hurt. If they
hurt come and have an injection because it's an illness
related to this job'. The doctor said having injections
ofien is also dangerous. He advised me 10 give up the
profession of traditional massage.

,I

Key to exerCi•ses

Unit 1

Exercise 1
2 aJbj khrap (kh§.). 3 mai arbi khii.. 4 phCl kba. 5 mai salluk kh§..
6 mui chflwp kha. 7 chawp kha. 8 mai ao kM.

Exercise 2 (examp les)

2 5anuk rna; kh nip? 3 phet mai kha? 4 sanlik rnai kha? 5 arbi mai
khnip? 6 ao (phonlamai) mai kha.? 7 chawp (phOnlamai) m:ii kha?
8 ao (ph3nJamai) rnai kha ?

Exercise 3 (examp le)

D ustr: aaMan aroi mai khrap?
A NN: rnlii arbi kna ,
D uslT:
ANN: phet mai khrap?
Du,slT: plle t mlla k kha.
ao pMlllamai mai khrap?
A NN: mai ao khii. kh awpkhun kha. chan mai chiiwp phOnlamai
kha .

Exercise 4 (examp les)

1 2
ao bi a mili kha? mai ao khti. mai ch:1wp bia kha.
ao chaa rnai kha ? ao khnip.
ao khnip.
ao naam mru kha? rnai ao kM. mai chawp nom kha.
ao nom mai kha.?

Key to exercises 295

Exercise 5 (examples)

2 cMwp aaMan thai. 3 chilwp phOnlamai thai . 4 mai chawp chaa.
S chawp kaafae. 6 mill chawp kaafae yen. 7 cbawp chaa yen.
8 chawp bia yen. 9 chawp nom.

Exercise 6

2 suey maak khrltp. 3 chawp miiak khrl'ip. 4 dee jai rnaak khnip.
5 arbi maak khn'ip. 6 niwn maa k khnip. 7 jai dee maak khrap.
8 suey maak khnip.

Exercise 7

1 khun chi1wp khuo: phi'll Hi rnai kha?
A chfiwp khrap.
thi!e nee arbi.
R

A:

2 A: ao phiH pbak mai kM?
phOm rnai chfiwp phi'll phi'lk khrap.
B: khun chllwp khfio: phi'll mai kha?
chawp khrap.
A: thee nee arOi.
B:

A:

3 A: ao khao: ph~H moo mai kha?
B: phOm rnai cbawp khfio: phiH moo khn1p.
A: khuD chfiwp khao: phi'll kOng rnai kha'!
ch§.wp khni p.
B: thee nee aroi.

A:

Exercise 8

1 dee good 2 maak very 3 jai dee kil1d 4 thai Thai 5 khon people
6 nom milk 7 mil; no! H klli chicken 9 tMe nee here

Exercise 9

1 I'l\j IW! khon dee a good person (good peoplc)
2 fl'U/l't1U khon thai Thai people
3 ~1!JJlf1 dee maak very good
4 1 'J1i1/JJlfl jai dee maak very kind
5 G\I~'il/1J1fl dee jai maak very happy
6 'iiil/flUll~/iI tbee nee khan mili dee The people here tire bad

7 flwhmtl:vf\!mfl khon thai jai dee mliak Thai people are very

ki"d