The Past Marker 'laew' (Already)
laew after a verb to signal that an action is finished, just like saying 'already'.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'laew' (แล้ว) after a verb to indicate that an action is completed or has already happened.
- Place 'laew' after the main verb: 'kin laew' (ate already).
- Use 'yang mai' + verb to negate: 'yang mai kin' (haven't eaten yet).
- Combine with 'mai' for questions: 'kin laew mai?' (have you eaten yet?).
Overview
laew. Think of laew as a digital timestamp you add to your sentence to tell the listener, "Hey, this is already done!" It’s the ultimate shortcut for anyone who hates memorizing irregular verb charts.How This Grammar Works
laew acts like an adverb of completion. You place it after the main verb to signal that the action is finished or that a state has been achieved. It’s like hitting 'post' on an Instagram story—the moment is captured and sealed. If you forget it, people might think you are talking about something you do habitually, not something you just finished.
Formation Pattern
kin for eat).
laew directly after the verb.
a-rai or an object to finish the thought.
chan (I) + kin (eat) + laew (already) = chan kin laew (I ate already).
When To Use It
laew whenever you need to confirm completion. Are you done with your homework? tam laew. Did you watch the new Netflix show? doo laew. It is perfect for responding to questions or confirming that a task is off your to-do list. It’s essentially your linguistic 'Done' button. Use it when you want to emphasize that you've moved past a specific event.
Common Mistakes
laew at the very end of every sentence just because it feels like a period. Don't do that! It specifically marks the completion of the verb. Also, beginners sometimes confuse laew with 'already' in English, trying to use it for future events. Remember: laew is for the past or completed actions only. Don't say "I will go already"—that just sounds like a glitch in the Matrix.Contrast With Similar Patterns
laew with gam-lang (the progressive marker). gam-lang is your 'loading' bar—it means something is happening right now. laew is your 'completed' notification. If you say kin gam-lang, people will be very confused. It’s like saying "I am eating done." That makes zero sense! Stick to laew for the past and gam-lang for the 'right now'.Quick FAQ
Can I use laew with every verb? A: Almost all of them! It’s super versatile.
Does it change if I’m a guy or girl? A: Nope, laew is gender-neutral. It doesn't care who you are, just that you finished your coffee.
Laew Formation
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + แล้ว
|
กินแล้ว (Ate)
|
|
Negative
|
ยัง + ไม่ + Verb
|
ยังไม่กิน (Not yet)
|
|
Question
|
Verb + แล้ว + ไหม
|
กินแล้วไหม (Ate yet?)
|
|
State Change
|
Adjective + แล้ว
|
ร้อนแล้ว (It's hot)
|
|
Past Perfect
|
Verb + ไปแล้ว
|
ไปแล้ว (Already went)
|
|
Future Completion
|
จะ + Verb + แล้ว
|
จะไปแล้ว (About to go)
|
Meanings
The particle 'laew' functions as a perfective aspect marker, signaling that an action has been completed or a state has been reached.
Completion
Action is finished.
“เขาไปแล้ว (Khao pai laew - He has gone)”
“ฝนตกแล้ว (Fon tok laew - It has started raining)”
Change of State
A new situation has begun.
“มืดแล้ว (Meud laew - It's dark now)”
“สายแล้ว (Sai laew - It's late now)”
Reference Table
| Function | Thai | English |
|---|---|---|
|
Completion
|
kin laew
|
ate already
|
|
Completion
|
pai laew
|
went already
|
|
Completion
|
doo laew
|
watched already
|
|
Completion
|
tam laew
|
did already
|
|
Completion
|
suu laew
|
bought already
|
|
Completion
|
rian laew
|
studied already
|
Formality Spectrum
ดิฉันรับประทานอาหารเรียบร้อยแล้ว (Daily life)
ฉันกินข้าวแล้ว (Daily life)
กินแล้ว (Daily life)
กินละ (Daily life)
The Laew Universe
Post-Verb Marker
- laew already
Laew vs. Future vs. Present
Is it finished?
Did it happen?
Common Verbs with Laew
Actions
- • kin (eat)
- • pai (go)
- • doo (watch)
Examples by Level
ฉันกินข้าวแล้ว
I have eaten.
เขาไปแล้ว
He has gone.
นอนแล้ว
Already sleeping.
ดูแล้ว
Already watched.
คุณทำการบ้านแล้วหรือยัง
Have you finished your homework yet?
ฝนตกแล้ว
It has started raining.
ฉันยังไม่ได้กินข้าว
I haven't eaten yet.
เขามาถึงแล้ว
He has arrived.
งานเสร็จแล้วครับ
The work is finished.
สายแล้ว ไปกันเถอะ
It's late, let's go.
ฉันอ่านหนังสือเล่มนี้จบแล้ว
I have finished reading this book.
เขาบอกฉันแล้วว่าจะมา
He already told me he would come.
เมื่อถึงเวลาห้าโมงเย็น ร้านก็ปิดแล้ว
By 5 PM, the shop was already closed.
แม้จะพยายามอธิบาย แต่เขาก็เข้าใจผิดไปแล้ว
Even though I tried to explain, he had already misunderstood.
โครงการนี้ดำเนินการเสร็จสิ้นแล้ว
This project has been completed.
เธอกลายเป็นผู้ใหญ่แล้ว
She has become an adult.
เขาได้ตกลงเซ็นสัญญาไปแล้วก่อนที่ผมจะมาถึง
He had already signed the contract before I arrived.
นับเป็นความสำเร็จที่น่าจดจำอย่างยิ่งแล้ว
It is truly a memorable success.
ถึงแม้จะสายเกินไปแล้ว แต่เราก็ยังต้องพยายาม
Even though it is too late, we must still try.
ความเชื่อมั่นในตัวเขาได้สูญสิ้นไปแล้ว
Confidence in him has been lost.
กระบวนการทางประวัติศาสตร์ได้ดำเนินไปถึงจุดเปลี่ยนแล้ว
The historical process has reached a turning point.
การตัดสินใจครั้งนี้ถือเป็นที่สิ้นสุดแล้ว
This decision is considered final.
เขาก้าวข้ามขีดจำกัดของตนเองไปแล้ว
He has transcended his own limits.
ทุกอย่างได้ถูกจัดเตรียมไว้เรียบร้อยแล้ว
Everything has been prepared accordingly.
Easily Confused
Both relate to past, but 'dai' is for ability or past experience.
Both relate to time, but 'peung' means 'just now'.
One is finished, one is ongoing.
Common Mistakes
กินแล้วข้าว
กินข้าวแล้ว
ไม่แล้วกิน
ยังไม่กิน
ฉันแล้วกิน
ฉันกินแล้ว
กินแล้วเมื่อวาน
เมื่อวานกินแล้ว
ไปแล้วไหม
ไปแล้วหรือยัง
หิวแล้วไหม
หิวหรือยัง
จะกินแล้ว
กำลังจะกิน
เขาไปแล้วเมื่อกี้
เขาเพิ่งไป
เสร็จแล้วงาน
งานเสร็จแล้ว
เขาทำแล้ว
เขาทำไปแล้ว
เขาได้ทำแล้ว
เขาทำไปแล้ว
มันเป็นแล้ว
มันกลายเป็น...
ฉันกินแล้วอาหาร
ฉันกินอาหารแล้ว
Sentence Patterns
ฉัน ___ แล้ว
___ แล้วหรือยัง?
อากาศ ___ แล้ว
ฉัน ___ ไปแล้ว
Real World Usage
กินข้าวละ
ส่งงานแล้วครับ
ถึงแล้ว
ได้รับอาหารแล้ว
ดูแล้วจ้า
ผมได้ศึกษาข้อมูลบริษัทแล้ว
Context is King
Don't Overuse
laew is perfect for 99% of daily speaking.The 'Finished' Check
Smart Tips
Just add 'laew' at the end of your verb phrase.
Use 'reu yang' instead of just 'mai'.
Attach 'laew' to the adjective.
Use 'pai laew' for extra emphasis.
Pronunciation
Tone
Laew has a falling tone.
Falling
แล้ว↘
Finality
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Laew' as a 'Done' stamp on a document.
Visual Association
Imagine a waiter putting a 'Done' stamp on your empty plate.
Rhyme
When the action is through, add 'laew' to you.
Story
I was hungry. I ate. I said 'kin laew'. Now I am full. The 'laew' shows the eating is over.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 things you have already done today using 'laew'.
Cultural Notes
Thais use 'kin khao laew reu yang' (have you eaten yet?) as a greeting similar to 'how are you'.
Derived from the verb 'to finish'.
Conversation Starters
คุณกินข้าวหรือยัง?
คุณทำการบ้านเสร็จหรือยัง?
คุณไปที่นั่นมาหรือยัง?
คุณได้เตรียมตัวสำหรับงานนี้หรือยัง?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Chan ___ (ate) laew.
kin is the verb for eat.Choose the grammatically correct one:
laew always follows the verb.Find and fix the mistake:
Chan laew kin.
laew must come after the verb.Score: /3
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesฉันกินข้าว___
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
ฉันไม่กินแล้ว (I haven't eaten yet)
แล้ว / ไป / เขา
I have finished.
Match 'laew' usage.
Make 'pai' (go) completed.
Use 'laew' with 'read'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesKhao ___ (went) laew.
Which implies completion?
laew / kin / chan
I bought it already.
Pai laew khao.
Phom ___ (watched) laew.
Which word indicates past?
Match: kin, pai, doo
Chan kin laew tomorrow.
She studied already.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, it means 'already'. Thai doesn't have tense conjugation.
Only for completed actions or state changes.
'Yang mai' (not yet).
After the verb or adjective.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Add 'mai' or 'reu yang' at the end.
It's a common greeting, not a literal question.
No, that's a common mistake.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ya
Spanish 'ya' is an adverb, 'laew' is a particle.
déjà
French 'déjà' is optional, 'laew' is more structural.
schon
German uses tense conjugation, Thai does not.
mou
Japanese 'mou' is an adverb, 'laew' is a particle.
qad
Arabic 'qad' is a prefix/particle, 'laew' is a suffix particle.
le
Chinese 'le' can be sentence-final or verb-final.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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