A2 Modal Verbs 4 min read آسان

فعل توانایی 'Dai' (توانستن)

The word dai is your universal 'can' in Thai, needing no conjugation or changes based on the subject.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'dai' after a verb to express ability or permission, meaning 'can' or 'able to'.

  • Place 'dai' after the main verb: 'kin dai' (can eat).
  • For negatives, put 'mai' before 'dai': 'mai dai' (cannot).
  • For questions, add 'mai' at the end: 'kin dai mai?' (can you eat?).
Subject + Verb + ได้ (dai)

مرور کلی

بررسی اجمالی
آیا تا به حال سعی کرده‌اید به دوست تایلندی خود بگویید که می‌توانید چالش نودل تند را انجام دهید، اما نمی‌دانستید چطور بگویید 'من می‌توانم'؟ کلمه جادویی dai است...

Dai Sentence Structure

Type Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb + Dai
Chan pai dai
Negative
Subject + Verb + Mai Dai
Chan pai mai dai
Question
Subject + Verb + Dai + Mai?
Chan pai dai mai?
Short Yes
Dai
Dai
Short No
Mai Dai
Mai Dai
Ability
Subject + Verb + Dai
Chan kin dai

Meanings

The word 'dai' acts as a modal verb indicating physical ability, learned skill, or permission to perform an action.

1

Physical Ability

Possessing the physical capacity to do something.

“เขาวิ่งได้เร็ว (He can run fast)”

“ฉันยกของหนักได้ (I can lift heavy things)”

2

Learned Skill

Having acquired the knowledge to perform a task.

“ผมขับรถได้ (I can drive)”

“เธอทำอาหารไทยได้ (She can cook Thai food)”

3

Permission

Being allowed to do something.

“ที่นี่จอดรถได้ (You can park here)”

“เข้าได้ไหม (Can I enter?)”

Reference Table

Reference table for فعل توانایی 'Dai' (توانستن)
Subject Ability Verb Meaning
Chan
dai
pai
I can go
Khun
dai
kin
You can eat
Khao
dai
tham
He/She can do
Puen
dai
len
Friends can play
Chan
dai
sue
I can buy
Khun
dai
fang
You can listen

طیف رسمیت

رسمی
ไปได้ไหมครับ

ไปได้ไหมครับ (Asking for permission)

خنثی
ไปได้ไหม

ไปได้ไหม (Asking for permission)

غیر رسمی
ไปได้ป่ะ

ไปได้ป่ะ (Asking for permission)

عامیانه
ไปได้ป่ะแก

ไปได้ป่ะแก (Asking for permission)

The World of 'Can' in Thai

Ability

Usage

  • Possibility It is possible
  • Permission You may do it

Dai vs Pen

Dai (General Can)
Can go pai dai
Pen (Learned Skill)
Can swim wai nam pen

How to form a sentence

1

Is it a learned skill?

YES
Use 'pen'
NO
Use 'dai'
2

Is it a question?

YES
Add 'mai' at the end
NO ↓

Common `dai` Phrases

Daily

  • pai dai (can go)
  • kin dai (can eat)
  • ma dai (can come)

مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

1

ฉันกินได้

I can eat.

2

ไปได้

Can go.

3

ทำได้

Can do.

4

ดูได้

Can watch.

1

คุณไปได้ไหม

Can you go?

2

ฉันไปไม่ได้

I cannot go.

3

ที่นี่จอดรถได้

You can park here.

4

ฉันพูดไทยได้นิดหน่อย

I can speak a little Thai.

1

ถ้าว่าง ฉันไปได้

If I am free, I can go.

2

เขาบอกว่าทำได้

He said he can do it.

3

คุณช่วยฉันได้ไหม

Can you help me?

4

ฉันไม่คิดว่าทำได้

I don't think I can do it.

1

รบกวนช่วยเปิดประตูให้ได้ไหม

Could you please open the door for me?

2

เราสามารถตกลงกันได้

We can reach an agreement.

3

ไม่ว่าอย่างไร ฉันก็ไปไม่ได้

No matter what, I cannot go.

4

คุณพอจะบอกทางได้ไหม

Could you tell me the way?

1

หากคุณต้องการ ฉันก็จัดหาให้ได้

If you wish, I can provide it.

2

ไม่มีใครทำได้ดีเท่าเขา

No one can do it as well as him.

3

ฉันเกรงว่าจะทำไม่ได้

I am afraid I cannot do it.

4

คุณจะทำอย่างไรก็ได้ตามใจ

You can do whatever you like.

1

การที่เขาทำเช่นนั้นได้ ถือเป็นเรื่องน่าประหลาดใจ

The fact that he could do such a thing is surprising.

2

หากปราศจากความช่วยเหลือนี้ ฉันคงทำไม่ได้

Without this help, I could not have done it.

3

เขาทำได้ทุกอย่างที่ต้องการ

He can do everything he wants.

4

คุณจะให้ฉันทำอย่างไรได้

What can you expect me to do?

به‌راحتی اشتباه گرفته می‌شود

Ability 'Dai' (Can/Able) در مقابل Dai vs Pen

Both mean 'can'.

Ability 'Dai' (Can/Able) در مقابل Dai vs Aht-ja

Both relate to possibility.

Ability 'Dai' (Can/Able) در مقابل Dai vs Tong

Both are modals.

اشتباهات رایج

Dai kin

Kin dai

Wrong word order.

Kin dai?

Kin dai mai?

Missing question particle.

Chan dai kin

Chan kin dai

Subject placement error.

Mai kin dai

Kin mai dai

Negative placement error.

Phuut thai dai

Phuut thai pen

Confusing skill with possibility.

Dai mai?

Pai dai mai?

Missing verb.

Chan dai pai

Chan pai dai

Word order.

Dai pai mai

Pai dai mai

Word order.

Kin dai pen

Kin dai

Redundant modal.

Mai dai kin

Kin mai dai

Negative placement.

Dai pai

Pai dai

Word order.

Pai pen

Pai dai

Wrong modal.

Mai pai dai

Pai mai dai

Negative placement.

الگوهای جمله‌سازی

Subject + ___ + dai

Subject + ___ + dai + mai?

Subject + ___ + mai + dai

Subject + ___ + dai + nit-noi

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

Sang ahaan dai mai?

Texting very common

Pai dai!

Job interview common

Chan tham dai.

Travel very common

Pai thii nii dai yangrai?

Food delivery app common

Song dai mai?

Social media common

Tham dai!

💡

Context is King

If you are unsure between 'dai' and 'pen', native speakers will still understand you. Don't stress too much!
⚠️

Don't over-use

Don't use 'dai' for every single 'can' if it's a learned skill like driving or playing an instrument.
💬

Politeness Matters

Always add 'krub' (for men) or 'ka' (for women) at the end of your sentence to sound polite.

Smart Tips

Use 'mai dai' after the verb.

Mai kin. Kin mai dai.

Use 'dai mai' at the end.

Pai? Pai dai mai?

Use 'pen' instead of 'dai'.

Phuut thai dai. Phuut thai pen.

Keep it simple with 'dai'.

Aht-ja pai. Pai dai.

تلفظ

dai (mid)

Tone

Dai is a mid-tone word, keep it flat.

Question

Pai dai mai? ↑

Rising intonation at the end for questions.

حفظ کنید

روش یادسپاری

Dai is like a 'Die' (pronounced similarly) — if you can't do it, you might as well die!

تداعی تصویری

Imagine a person trying to lift a heavy box. They succeed and shout 'Dai!' while holding it up.

Rhyme

For ability, use Dai, put it after the verb, don't be shy!

Story

Somchai wanted to swim. He practiced hard. Now he can swim. He says 'Wai nam dai!' to his friends. They are happy.

شبکه واژگان

KinPaiThamPhuutChaiWaiDai

چالش

Spend 5 minutes today saying 5 things you can do using 'Verb + Dai'.

نکات فرهنگی

In Bangkok, 'dai' is used very frequently in daily life.

Northern speakers might use 'dai' differently or use local particles.

Southern speakers have a distinct accent but use 'dai' similarly.

Dai is a Proto-Tai word meaning 'to get' or 'to obtain'.

شروع‌کننده‌های مکالمه

วันนี้คุณไปที่ไหนได้บ้าง?

คุณกินอาหารเผ็ดได้ไหม?

คุณทำอาหารไทยได้ไหม?

ที่นี่ใช้บัตรเครดิตได้ไหม?

موضوعات نگارش

Write 5 things you can do today.
Write about a place you can visit.
Write about what you can't do.
Write about a skill you can learn.

اشتباهات رایج

Incorrect

صحیح


Incorrect

صحیح


Incorrect

صحیح


Incorrect

صحیح

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank

Chan ___ pai suea.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dai
Use 'dai' to express the ability or possibility to go.
Which sentence is correct? چند گزینه‌ای

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai kin.
The structure is Subject + dai + Verb.
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Chan dai speak Thai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai phut Thai.
You must use the Thai verb for 'speak' (phut).

Score: /3

تمرین‌های عملی

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Chan pai ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Dai is the correct modal.
Choose the correct sentence. چند گزینه‌ای

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Dai follows the verb.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Dai kin?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Needs verb and question particle.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

dai / pai / chan

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Subject + Verb + Dai.
Translate to Thai. ترجمه

I can go.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Dai means can.
Match the meaning. جفت کردن

Kin dai

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Kin means eat.
Which is for skill? چند گزینه‌ای

I can speak Thai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Pen is for skills.
Fill in the blank.

Chan pai mai ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Mai dai means cannot.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank پر کردن جای خالی

Khun ___ len game?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dai
Fix the sentence Error Correction

Khao dai ma mai?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khao ma dai mai?
Translate to Thai ترجمه

I can eat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai kin.
Select the correct negative form چند گزینه‌ای

How to say 'I cannot go'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan mai dai pai.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

dai / pai / chan / ? / mai

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai pai mai?
Match the English to Thai جفت کردن

Match: I can come | I can go

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai ma | Chan dai pai
Fill in the blank پر کردن جای خالی

Puen ___ pai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dai
Fix the grammar Error Correction

Chan dai phut phet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai kin phet.
Translate to Thai ترجمه

Can you come?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Khun ma dai mai?
Correct usage چند گزینه‌ای

Which is better for 'I can swim'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan pen wai nam.

Score: /10

سوالات متداول (8)

Always after the verb.

No, 'pen' is for skills.

Use 'mai dai'.

Add 'mai' at the end.

No, it is invariant.

Yes, it is very common.

The sentence will be incomplete.

It is neutral.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Poder

Thai does not conjugate.

French high

Pouvoir

Thai is invariant.

German high

Können

Thai word order is fixed after the verb.

Japanese moderate

Dekiru

Japanese uses particles like 'ga'.

Arabic moderate

Istata'a

Thai is isolating.

Chinese high

Néng

Thai puts it after.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?
هنوز نظری وجود ندارد. اولین نفری باشید که افکار خود را به اشتراک می‌گذارد!