A2 · Élémentaire Chapitre 22

Modality: Can, Should, Must

4 Règles totales
35 exemples
1 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of expressing what you can do, must do, and want to do in Thai.

  • Identify the correct placement of modal verbs.
  • Formulate polite requests for permission.
  • Express personal desires and social requirements clearly.
Unlock your potential with Thai modal verbs.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Expressing ability, obligation, and permission using modal verbs. Navigating social expectations.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: express basic ability, obligation, permission, and desire in daily conversations.

Exemples clés (8)

1

Chan dai pai.

I can go.

Le verbe de capacité 'Dai' (pouvoir)
2

Khun dai kin phet.

You can eat spicy food.

Le verbe de capacité 'Dai' (pouvoir)
3

Chan tong pai tham ngaan.

I have to go to work.

Thai Obligation: How to use 'tong' (ต้อง)
4

Mai tong gin phed kor dai.

You don't have to eat spicy food.

Thai Obligation: How to use 'tong' (ต้อง)
5

Nang dai mai khrap?

Can I sit here?

Demander la permission en thaï (dai)
6

Tai ruup dai mai kha?

Can I take a photo?

Demander la permission en thaï (dai)
7

Phom yak gin pizza.

I want to eat pizza.

Exprimer ses envies en thaï (`yak`)
8

Chan yak pai thiao.

I want to go traveling.

Exprimer ses envies en thaï (`yak`)

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

Context is King

If you are unsure between 'dai' and 'pen', native speakers will still understand you. Don't stress too much!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le verbe de capacité 'Dai' (pouvoir)
💡

Placement

Always keep it before the action verb.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Thai Obligation: How to use 'tong' (ต้อง)
💡

Don't overthink

Keep it simple. Verb + dai mai is all you need.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander la permission en thaï (dai)
💡

Drop the Subject

In casual Thai, you can often drop the subject (like 'I' or 'you') if it is clear who you are talking about.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Exprimer ses envies en thaï (`yak`)

Vocabulaire clé (6)

ได้ (dai) can/able to ต้อง (tong) must/have to อยาก (yak) want to ไป (pai) go กิน (gin) eat ทำ (tam) do

Real-World Preview

shopping-bag

At the Local Market

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb + ได้
  • Subject + ต้อง + Verb
  • Verb + ได้ + ไหม
  • Subject + อยาก + Verb

Erreurs courantes

Ability 'dai' must follow the verb, not precede it.

Wrong: ฉันได้ไป (I can go)
Correct: ฉันไปได้ (I can go)

'Tong' acts as a modal auxiliary and must come before the main verb.

Wrong: ฉันไปต้อง (I must go)
Correct: ฉันต้องไป (I must go)

You don't need 'dai' when using 'yak'; 'yak' already carries the desire to perform the action.

Wrong: ฉันอยากได้ไป (I want to go)
Correct: ฉันอยากไป (I want to go)

Next Steps

You're doing fantastic! Keep building those sentences.

Practice saying sentences aloud to native speakers.

Continue to: Location and Direction

Pratique rapide (10)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the correct permission request:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nang dai mai?
Adding 'mai' makes it a question.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander la permission en thaï (dai)

Fill in the blank

___ (take a photo) dai mai?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tai ruup
Tai ruup means to take a photo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander la permission en thaï (dai)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai kin.
The structure is Subject + dai + Verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le verbe de capacité 'Dai' (pouvoir)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the most natural sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Phom yak gin khao.
The word yak must come before the verb 'to eat' (gin).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Exprimer ses envies en thaï (`yak`)

Fill in the blank with the correct word.

Chan ___ pai thiao.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yak
yak is used to express the desire to do an action.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Exprimer ses envies en thaï (`yak`)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ฉันต้องกินข้าว
Tong must precede the verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Thai Obligation: How to use 'tong' (ต้อง)

Fill in the blank

ผม ___ ไปโรงเรียน (I have to go to school).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ต้อง
Must is translated as 'tong'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Thai Obligation: How to use 'tong' (ต้อง)

Fix the mistake

Find and fix the mistake:

Nang dai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nang dai mai?
You need the question marker for permission.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demander la permission en thaï (dai)

Find and fix the mistake

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).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le verbe de capacité 'Dai' (pouvoir)

Find and fix the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Chan yak telefon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan yak dai telefon.
When you want an object, you must use yak dai (want to get).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Exprimer ses envies en thaï (`yak`)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

Mostly yes! It covers possibility and permission.
Just put mai before dai. Example: mai dai (cannot).
It means 'must' or 'have to' in Thai.
It's a modal verb for permission.
It's neutral. Use it with anyone.
It is the Thai word for 'want to' or 'would like to' when referring to actions.
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