Language/Thai/Grammar/Negative-Sentences

◀️ Subject and Verb — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Questions ▶️

Thai Grammar → Basic Sentence Structure → Negative Sentences

Negative sentences are a crucial part of any language, and in Thai, they are formed by using specific negative particles. In this lesson, we will be looking at how to form negative sentences in Thai, an essential skill for beginners to grasp if they want to achieve fluency.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Adverbs of Manner & Negation.

Basic Structure

Negative sentences in Thai are formed by adding negative particles to the end of a sentence. Unlike in English, where we add the word "not", Thai has specific particles that are used to negate a sentence. There are four negative particles in Thai language:

• ไม่ /mâi/
• หมด /mòt/
• ไม่เคย /mâi-keoi/
• ไม่ว่า /mâi-wâ/

The most commonly used negative particle is "ไม่" (mâi). It is added to the end of a verb to create a negative sentence. To negate a noun or an adjective, "ไม่" is placed before it.

Here is the basic structure for forming a simple negative sentence:

Subject + (ไม่) + Verb + Object

For example, let's take the sentence "I eat rice" in Thai, which would be "ผมกินข้าว" (pǒm kin khâao). To make it negative, we would add "ไม่" at the end of the sentence, as shown below:

ผมกินข้าวไม่ /pǒm kin khâao mâi/ (I don't eat rice)

To negate an adjective, we can use the same structure, but we need to put the "ไม่" before the adjective:

ผมไม่อ้วน /pǒm mâi ûan/ (I am not fat)

And if we want to negate a noun, we can just use the "ไม่" before the noun:

ผมไม่กินสับปะรด /pǒm mâi kin sàp-bpà-rot/ (I don't eat pineapple)

Other Negative Particles

While "ไม่" is the most commonly used negative particle in Thai, there are three more negative particles that are not as frequently used, but still important to know.

The negative particle "หมด" (mòt) is used to express the idea of finishing or running out of something.

For example:

ตำรวจหมดตังค์ /tam-rùat mòt dtang/ (The police ran out of money)

The negative particle "ไม่เคย" (mâi-keoi) is used to describe an action that has never been done before.

For example:

ฉันไม่เคยไปต่างประเทศ /chăn mâi-keoi bpai dtàang bprà-têet/ (I have never been abroad)

The last negative particle, "ไม่ว่า" (mâi-wâ) is used to negate the word "ว่า" (wâ), which is equivalent to the English word "that".

For example:

เขาไม่ว่างทำงาน /kăo mâi-wâng tam-ngaan/ (He is not free to work)

Using Negation with Adverbs and Time Phrases

When using negative sentences with adverbs and time phrases, it is essential to place the negative particle before these phrases. For example:

ผมไม่ได้กินข้าวเช้า /pǒm mâi-dâi kin khâao cháo/ (I don't eat rice in the morning)

Here, we used the negative particle "ไม่" before the adverb "in the morning".

Using Double Negation

In Thai language, it is common to use double negation in some cases. This happens when "ไม่" is used with another negative particle. For example:

ไม่มีใครไม่เป็นคนจริง /mâi-mee krai mâi bpen kon jing/ (Everyone is a real person)

In this sentence, we have used "ไม่" and "ไม่เป็น" together, which means "not not real".

Examples

Here are some examples of negative sentences in Thai:

Thai	Pronunciation	English
ฉันไม่รู้ /chăn mâi róo/	chan mai roo	I don't know
เขาไม่ตอบโทรศัพท์ /kăo mâi dtòp toh-sàp/	kao mai dtob tohsap	He doesn't answer the phone
ฉันไม่เคยเห็นเขา /chăn mâi-keoi hĕn kăo/	chan mai keoi hen kao	I haven't seen him
เขาไม่มีเวลา /kăo mâi mee wa-laa/	kao mai mee welaa	He doesn't have time

Practice

Now that we have learned the basic structure of negative sentences in Thai, it's time to practice. Below are some exercises to help you master the skill.

1. Translate the following sentences into Thai:

• I don't speak Thai
• She doesn't like spicy food
• They have never been to Bangkok

1. Translate the following Thai sentences into English:

• เขาไม่ชอบกินผัก
• ฉันไม่เคยเห็นปลาช่อน
• เขาไม่ได้ยินเสียงของฉัน

Sources

• Thai Negation: Learn How to Form Negative Sentences
• Thai Sentence Structure: 7 Useful Grammar Tips - Ling App
• Negative Markers in Dialects of Northern Thai

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

• Adverbs of Manner
• Possessive Pronouns
• Verb 'To Be'
• Irregular Verbs
• Subject and Verb
• Plurals
• Questions
• Adjectives
• How to Use Be

◀️ Subject and Verb — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Questions ▶️