Language/Thai/Grammar/Adverbs-of-Frequency

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Thai Grammar → Adverbs → Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs are words that modify the meaning of a verb, adjective, or other adverb in a sentence. In Thai, adverbs are an essential part of speech, and there are many different types. In this lesson, we will focus on adverbs of frequency and how to use them correctly in Thai sentences.

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: 0 to A1 Course & Nouns.

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency are used to indicate how often an action occurs or is repeated. They can help us describe our daily routine, habits, and hobbies. There are a few common adverbs of frequency in Thai, including:

• บ่อยๆ (bày bày) - often
• เป็นประจำ (bpen bprà-jam) - regularly
• ไม่ค่อย (mâi kòi) - not often
• ไม่เคย (mâi keuy) - never

It's important to remember that adverbs of frequency are used before the verb in Thai sentences. Here are a few examples:

Thai	Pronunciation	English
ฉัน ออกไป กอด เพื่อน บ่อยๆ	chǎn òk-bpai gòt pêuan bày-bày	I often go out to hug my friends.
เขา เล่นกีฬา ประจำ วันศุกร์	kǎo lên-gì-laă prà-jam wansook	He plays sports regularly on Friday.
ฉัน ไปหาแม่ฉัน ไม่ค่อย บ่อย	chǎn bpai hăa mâe chǎn mâi-kòi bày-bày	I don’t often go to see my mother.
พ่อฉัน ไม่เคย พูดว่ารัก แม่	ph̄̀ā-chǎn mâi-keuy pûut wâa rák mâe	My dad never said he loved my mom.

Notice that the word บ่อยๆ (bày-bày) is repeated twice in the first example to emphasize how often the action occurs.

We can also use adverbs of frequency with the verb เคย (keuy) to indicate whether or not we have done something before. For example:

• เคย (keuy) - have ever
• ไม่เคย (mâi keuy) - have never

Here are some examples:

• ฉัน เคย ไปเที่ยว เชียงใหม่ ก่อน || chǎn keuy bpai tîao Chiăng-mài gòn || I have been to Chiang Mai before.
• เขา ไม่เคย ไปญี่ปุ่น มาก่อน || kǎo mâi-keuy bpai yîipùn maa-gòn || He has never been to Japan before.

Remember that เคย (keuy) is always placed after the subject, just like in the examples above.

Practice Exercises

Now that you’ve learned how to use adverbs of frequency in Thai sentences, try these exercises to practice:

1. ฉัน ______________ ไปคลายตัวที่สวนสาธารณะ ทุกเดือน (chǎn ____ bpai klāai dtua tîi sǔan-săa-thaá-rá-ná thúk deuan)

a) เคย (keuy)

b) ไม่เคย (mâi keuy)

c) เป็นประจำ (bpen bprà-jam)

d) บ่อยๆ (bày-bày)

2. เขาหายใจอากาศบริสุทธิ์ ______________ (kǎo hǎai jai aa-gàat borísùt ______________)

a) บ่อยๆ (bày-bày)

b) เป็นประจำ (bpen bprà-jam)

c) ไม่เคย (mâi keuy)

d) เคย (keuy)

3. ฉันไม่ชอบกินขนม ______________ (chǎn mâi-chôrp gin khà-nŏm ______________)

a) บ่อยๆ (bày-bày)

b) ไม่เคย (mâi keuy)

c) เป็นประจำ (bpen bprà-jam)

d) เคย (keuy)

Answers: 1) a, 2) a, 3) b

Tips

To make sentences sound more natural, try using adverbs of frequency with time phrases, like ทุกวัน (thúk wan) - every day or หลายครั้ง (lăai khráng) - several times. For example:

• เขา เล่นเกม ออนไลน์ ทุกวัน เช้า || kǎo lên-gèm ɔɔn-lai thúk-wan cháo || He plays online games every morning.

• ฉัน ไปซื้อของกิน หลายครั้ง ในแผ่นดินฮอด || chǎn bpai súe khǎawng-kin lăai-khráng nai pàen-din Hôt || I’ve bought food several times in Hord.

By combining different types of adverbs in sentences, we can create more interesting and precise meanings.

Sources

• The 100 Most Common Thai Adverbs & How to Use Them

Table of Contents - Thai Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings & Introductions

• Saying Hello
• Asking for Name and Nationality
• Introducing Family Members

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject and Verb
• Negative Sentences
• Questions
• Adjectives

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Numbers 1-10
• Numbers 11-100
• Ordinal Numbers
• Telephone Numbers

  ---

Present Tense Verbs

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Verb 'To Be'

  ---

Thai Culture and Customs

• Thai Greetings
• Thai Food and Dining Etiquette
• Thai Festivals

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Time Expressions
• Days of the Week and Months

  ---

Adverbs

• Adverbs of Time
• Adverbs of Frequency
• Adverbs of Manner
• Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

  ---

Colors

• Basic Colors
• Describing Colors
• Fruit and Vegetables

  ---

Pronouns

• Subject Pronouns
• Object Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Thai Geography and Places

• Thai Provinces and Capitals
• Tourist Attractions in Thailand

  ---

Animals

• Common Animals
• Pet Animals
• Wild Animals

  ---

Prepositions

• Basic Prepositions
• Prepositions of Movement

Other Lessons

• How to Use Be
• Plurals
• Adjectives
• 0 to A1 Course
• Adverbs of Time
• Regular Verbs
• Object Pronouns
• Nouns
• Irregular Verbs
• Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

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