Language/Thai/Grammar/Adverbs-of-Time

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Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on Thai Grammar! In this lesson, we will explore the topic of adverbs, specifically focusing on adverbs of time. Adverbs play an essential role in Thai sentences as they provide additional information about the verb, such as when an action takes place. Understanding how to use adverbs of time correctly will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Thai.

Throughout this lesson, we will delve into the details of adverbs of time, including their usage, placement, and common examples. We will also explore any regional variations or historical reasons that may influence the usage of adverbs of time in different contexts. Additionally, we will provide you with a variety of exercises and practice scenarios to help reinforce your learning.

Let's get started!

What are Adverbs of Time?

Adverbs of time are words or phrases that provide information about when an action occurs. They help to establish the timing or frequency of an event in a sentence. In Thai, adverbs of time can be used to answer questions such as "when?" or "how often?"

Adverbs of time can be further categorized into specific time periods, such as days, months, seasons, or years. They can also indicate general time frames, such as "today," "tomorrow," or "yesterday."

Now, let's explore the different types of adverbs of time and how to use them in Thai sentences.

Days of the Week

One essential aspect of adverbs of time in Thai is the days of the week. Knowing the names of the days will greatly assist you in expressing events or actions within specific time frames.

Here are the days of the week in Thai:

Thai	Pronunciation	English
วันจันทร์	wan jan	Monday
วันอังคาร	wan ang-khan	Tuesday
วันพุธ	wan phut	Wednesday
วันพฤหัสบดี	wan phreu-hat	Thursday
วันศุกร์	wan suk	Friday
วันเสาร์	wan sao	Saturday
วันอาทิตย์	wan a-thi-ti	Sunday

To use the days of the week as adverbs of time, you simply need to add the word "วัน" (wan) before the day's name. For example:

• เขาเรียนวันจันทร์ (khao rian wan jan) - "He/She studies on Monday."
• พรุ่งนี้คือวันอังคาร (phrung ni khue wan ang-khan) - "Tomorrow is Tuesday."

Months of the Year

Similar to the days of the week, knowing the names of the months in Thai will be beneficial when discussing events or actions over specific time periods.

Here are the months of the year in Thai:

Thai	Pronunciation	English
มกราคม	mokara-khom	January
กุมภาพันธ์	kumpha-phan	February
มีนาคม	mina-khom	March
เมษายน	maesa-yon	April
พฤษภาคม	phruet-sa-phan	May
มิถุนายน	mi-thu-na-yon	June
กรกฎาคม	karakada-khom	July
สิงหาคม	singha-khom	August
กันยายน	kan-yon	September
ตุลาคม	thula-khom	October
พฤศจิกายน	phruet-sa-ji-ka-yon	November
ธันวาคม	thana-wa-khom	December

To use the months of the year as adverbs of time, you can add the word "เดือน" (deuan) before the month's name. For example:

• วันเกิดของฉันอยู่ในเดือนมกราคม (wan koet kong chan yu nai deuan mokara-khom) - "My birthday is in January."
• เราจะไปเที่ยวเมืองเชียงใหม่ในเดือนธันวาคม (rao ja pai thiao mueang chang mai nai deuan thana-wa-khom) - "We will travel to Chiang Mai in December."

Time Expressions

In addition to specific days and months, Thai also has various time expressions that can function as adverbs of time. These expressions help to indicate the time of day or general time frames. Let's explore some common time expressions in Thai:

• ตอนเช้า (ton chao) - "morning"
• ตอนกลางวัน (ton klang wan) - "midday"
• ตอนบ่าย (ton bai) - "afternoon"
• ตอนเย็น (ton yen) - "evening"
• ตอนดึก (ton deuk) - "night"
• เช้า (chao) - "morning" (informal)
• กลางวัน (klang wan) - "midday" (informal)
• เย็น (yen) - "evening" (informal)
• ดึก (deuk) - "night" (informal)

To use these time expressions as adverbs of time, you can simply include them in your sentence to indicate when an action occurs. Here are a few examples:

• เขาตื่นตอนเช้า (khao deun ton chao) - "He/She wakes up in the morning."
• เราจะเดินทางตอนกลางวัน (rao ja dern thang ton klang wan) - "We will travel at midday."
• เขากลับบ้านตอนดึก (khao glap ban ton deuk) - "He/She returns home at night."

Seasons

Another category of adverbs of time in Thai is seasons. Although Thailand does not experience distinct seasons like some other countries, the concept of seasons is still present in the Thai language.

Here are the seasons in Thai:

Thai	Pronunciation	English
ฤดูใบไม้ผลิ	ru-du bai mai phli	spring
ฤดูร้อน	ru-du ron	summer
ฤดูใบไม้ร่วง	ru-du bai mai ruang	autumn
ฤดูหนาว	ru-du nao	winter

To use seasons as adverbs of time, you can add the word "ใน" (nai) before the season's name. For example:

• เดือนธันวาคมเป็นฤดูหนาวในประเทศไทย (deuan thana-wa-khom pen ru-du nao nai prathet thai) - "December is winter in Thailand."
• เขาชอบออกไปเที่ยวในฤดูใบไม้ผลิ (khao chop ok pai thiao nai ru-du bai mai phli) - "He/She enjoys going out during the spring."

Usage of Adverbs of Time

Now that we have explored the different types of adverbs of time in Thai, let's discuss how to use them correctly in sentences. Understanding the proper placement and usage of adverbs of time is crucial for effective communication.

In Thai, adverbs of time are commonly placed before the verb they modify. However, they can also be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence for emphasis or stylistic purposes. The placement will depend on the context and the speaker's intent.

Let's examine some examples to illustrate the usage of adverbs of time in Thai sentences:

• เขาจะไปเที่ยวที่ชลบุรีในวันอาทิตย์ (khao ja pai thiao thi Chon Buri nai wan a-thi-ti) - "He/She will go sightseeing in Chon Buri on Sunday."
• วันนี้ฉันไปเที่ยวหลายสถานที่ (wan ni chan pai thiao lai than thi) - "Today, I went sightseeing to various places."
• เมื่อวานนี้เขาไปเที่ยวทะเล (meuan wan ni khao pai thiao thale) - "Yesterday, he/she went to the beach for a vacation."

As you can see from these examples, the adverbs of time are placed before the verb "ไป" (pai), which means "to go." This placement provides clarity about when the action occurred.

Remember that the placement of adverbs of time can vary depending on the sentence structure and emphasis desired. Practice using different placements to become comfortable with the flexibility of Thai sentence construction.

Cultural Insights

Thai culture greatly values punctuality and being mindful of time. It is considered polite and respectful to arrive on time for appointments, meetings, or social gatherings. Thai people appreciate others who are punctual as it demonstrates responsibility and consideration for others.

Additionally, Thai people often use time-related adverbs to describe the weather or conditions during certain seasons. For example, the rainy season is referred to as "ฤดูฝน" (ru-du fon), which literally means "season of rain." This term is commonly used in everyday conversations, and it helps to create a shared understanding of the weather conditions during that time of year.

Understanding the cultural significance of time-related adverbs in Thai will not only enhance your language skills but also help you navigate social situations more effectively.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of adverbs of time in Thai sentences. Choose the correct adverb of time to complete each sentence:

1. เขาเกิดวัน... (wan suk) (He/She was born on Friday.) 2. เมื่อคืนเขากลับบ้านตอน... (ton deuk) (Last night, he/she returned home.) 3. พรุ่งนี้เราจะไปเที่ยวเมืองภูเก็ตตอน... (ton yen) (Tomorrow, we will go sightseeing in Phuket.) 4. ฤดูใบไม้ผลิเป็นฤดู... (ru-du ron) (Summer is the season of heat.) 5. เขาตื่นตอนเช้าและไปเรียนตอน... (ton klang wan) (He/She wakes up in the morning and goes to school in the afternoon.)

Solution: 1. เขาเกิดวันศุกร์ (wan suk) 2. เมื่อคืนเขากลับบ้านตอนดึก (ton deuk) 3. พรุ่งนี้เราจะไปเที่ยวเมืองภูเก็ตตอนเย็น (ton yen) 4. ฤดูใบไม้ผลิเป็นฤดูร้อน (ru-du ron) 5. เขาตื่นตอนเช้าและไปเรียนตอนบ่าย (ton bai)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now learned how to use adverbs of time in Thai sentences. Adverbs of time provide crucial information about when an action occurs and are essential for effective communication in Thai.

In this lesson, we explored the different types of adverbs of time, including the days of the week, months of the year, time expressions, and seasons. We discussed the correct placement of adverbs of time in sentences and provided cultural insights related to time in Thai culture.

Continue practicing and applying your knowledge of adverbs of time to enhance your Thai language skills. In the next lesson, we will explore adverbs of frequency. Keep up the great work!

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

Sources

• The 100 Most Common Thai Adverbs & How to Use Them
• Forums - Question about adverbs of time - thai-language.com
• Learn Thai Grammar | Adverb of degree | Scale or level of

Other Lessons

• Negation
• Negative Sentences
• Conditional Mood
• Gender
• Adjectives
• Subject Pronouns
• Prepositions of Movement
• Adverbs of Manner
• Give your Opinion
• Subject and Verb

◀️ Days of the Week and Months — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Adverbs of Frequency ▶️