B1 · Intermediate Chapter 31

Passive Voice and Reported Speech

4 Total Rules
19 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Shift your perspective and report news like a local pro.

  • Express when something happens to you using 'Thuk' and 'Dai-rab'.
  • Connect sentences to report what others said using 'Wa'.
  • Master reporting verbs to clarify commands, questions, and statements.
From being the actor to sharing the story.

What You'll Learn

Understanding the use of 'thuk' for negative passive and 'dai-rab' for positive. Reporting what others said.

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to describe negative experiences using the adversative passive 'Thuk'.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to distinguish between positive and negative passive markers.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to report a conversation to a third party using 'Wa' and specific speech markers.

Key Examples (6)

1

ฉันได้รับกำลังใจ

I received encouragement.

Thai Passive Voice: How to use `dai-rab`
2

เขาได้รับรางวัล

He received an award.

Thai Passive Voice: How to use `dai-rab`
3

Phom khit wa raan nee aroi

I think that this restaurant is delicious.

Reported Speech with 'Wa' (ว่า)
4

Khao bawk wa khao mai waang

He said that he is busy.

Reported Speech with 'Wa' (ว่า)
5

Khao bok wa hiw khao.

He said that he is hungry.

Reporting Speech in Thai (`wa`)
6

Mae bok wa hai glab baan.

Mom said to go home.

Reporting Speech in Thai (`wa`)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Check the nuance

Always ask: is this a bad thing? If yes, use 'thuk'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive 'Thuk'
💡

Neutral tone

Use dai-rab for neutral things like receiving emails or packages.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Thai Passive Voice: How to use `dai-rab`
🎯

Use 'wa' for clarity

Always include 'wa' when reporting to avoid ambiguity in your sentences.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech with 'Wa' (ว่า)
🎯

Keep it simple

Don't worry about changing pronouns or tenses; focus on the message.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Speech in Thai (`wa`)

Key Vocabulary (7)

ถูก (thùuk) to be (passive, negative) ได้รับ (dâai-ráp) to receive / to be (passive, positive) ว่า (wâa) that (reporting particle) บอก (bòok) to tell ถาม (thǎam) to ask ชม (chom) to praise / to compliment สั่ง (sàng) to order

Real-World Preview

briefcase

At the Office

Review Summary

  • Subject + ถูก (thùuk) + (Doer) + Verb
  • Subject + ได้รับ (dâai-ráp) + (Noun/Verb)
  • Speaker + Verb (say/tell) + ว่า (wâa) + Sentence

Common Mistakes

Using 'thuk' for a compliment sounds like you were 'punished' with a compliment. Use 'dai-rab' for positive things.

Wrong: ฉันถูกชม (Chan thuk chom)
Correct: ฉันได้รับคำชม (Chan dai-rab kham-chom)

In Thai, you almost always need 'wa' after 'bok' to introduce the reported clause.

Wrong: เขาบอกฉันชอบส้ม (Khao bok chan chop som)
Correct: เขาบอกว่าฉันชอบส้ม (Khao bok wa chan chop som)

When reporting a 'yes/no' question, 'rue plao' is more natural than simply using 'mai'.

Wrong: เขาถามว่าไปไหนไหม (Khao tham wa pai nai mai)
Correct: เขาถามว่าไปไหนหรือเปล่า (Khao tham wa pai nai rue plao)

Next Steps

You've just unlocked a major level of Thai fluency. Reporting and passive voice allow you to participate in adult conversations with depth and nuance. Keep practicing!

Watch a Thai news clip and try to write down three 'Khao bok wa...' sentences.

Continue to: Advanced Verb Aspects

Quick Practice (10)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

เขาถูกดีใจมาก

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: เขารู้สึกดีใจมาก
Thuk is for actions, not feelings.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive 'Thuk'

Fill in the blank with the correct reporting word.

Khao ___ wa khao cha ma.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: khit
You need a verb of thought or speech before 'wa'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech with 'Wa' (ว่า)

Fill in the blank.

ฉัน ___ ดุโดยเจ้านาย

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ถูก
Thuk is the correct passive marker.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive 'Thuk'

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ฉันได้รับรางวัล
Winning is positive, so use dai-rap.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive 'Thuk'

Fill in the blank with the correct connector.

เขาบอก ___ เขาจะมาพรุ่งนี้

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wa
wa is the standard connector for reported speech.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Speech in Thai (`wa`)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: เขาคิดว่าฝนจะตก
You need wa to connect the thought to the statement.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Speech in Thai (`wa`)

Fill in the blank with the correct passive marker.

Chan ___ rang-wan yai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dai-rab
Since receiving a prize is a positive event, use dai-rab.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Thai Passive Voice: How to use `dai-rab`

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Phom bawk wa khao ma.
You must include 'wa' to connect the verb 'bawk' to the clause.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech with 'Wa' (ว่า)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan dai-rab rang-wan.
Dai-rab is used for receiving awards.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Thai Passive Voice: How to use `dai-rab`

Find and fix the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Chan dai-rab ma gad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chan doan ma gad.
Getting bitten is negative, so you must use doan.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Thai Passive Voice: How to use `dai-rab`

Score: /10

Common Questions (4)

No, only for negative or neutral events.
'Thuk' is standard, 'don' is slang.
Usually no. Keep them as they were in the original context.
Yes, use tham wa to report that someone asked something.
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Conditional Sentences
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Advanced Verb Aspects
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