Mastering Thai Grammar and Tenses with lɛ́ɛu แล้ว – Book I: Words of Wisdom

The English tense system is complicated, and it may not help you in understanding how Thai people talk about the present, past and future time. So, if you ignore the names of English tenses altogether, it is fine. We have used English tenses here just to stay in the course. However, some people may find it helpful if the names of English tenses are included. Actually, the Thai language does not have any tenses at all; the verbs do not change forms as they do in English. Normally, when we talk about tenses in this book, we refer to English tenses. When we are talking about the Thai time aspect, we refer directly to the present, past or future time.

In this book, we have introduced the term natural time aspect. That means how the Thai people understand whether the sentence refers to the present time or completed actions in the past. The main verbs are normally either non-action verbs or action verbs. We have divided them into five groups. Together with lɛ́ɛu แล้ว, these verb groups play an important role in how Thai people understand the meaning and the time aspect from the context. All this becomes more clear later.

To understand how words are positioned in a sentence is important. It is the basis for the successful Thai language learning since everything in Thai is in basic form. You may call it the grammar, structure or the Thai way, but you need to learn how Thai people use the language intuitively. Make clear to yourself what the term natural time aspect means. With lɛ́ɛu แล้ว, the natural time aspect normally becomes clear. The time aspect can be changed or emphasised by the time words and tense markers. Normally, the natural time refers to the present time or completed actions in the past. However, since there is not any direct natural time aspect for the future, the future tense marker tsà จะ will is often used to make the future time clear.

In fact, Thai people do not think in terms of tenses at all. It would make more sense to understand the role that lɛ́ ɛu แล้ว plays for Thai people in different situations. lɛ́ ɛu แล้ว expresses meanings such as a state reached or a condition obtained; it is already the case. These sentences have a strong connection to the present time, even if the action has taken place before now. In Book II (Secrets 8–11), where lɛ́ɛu แล้ว is used as conjunction word, there will be many more interesting expressions with lɛ́ɛu แล้ว. Do not miss it!