Is Thai an SVO language like English? Or maybe an SOV language? 

Yes, you guessed it correctly. This lesson is about sentence structure in Thai. 

As a Thai learner, it’s important to know how to use proper Thai word order in sentences so that you can communicate like a native. Whether you’re a beginner or have been learning Thai for some time now, this is the perfect beginner guide to Thai sentence structure.

In this lesson, you’ll learn about word order in Thai and how to form sentences. We’ll start with basic information about how words are ordered, followed by four types of sentence structures in Thai grammar. You’ll also get to learn about Thai language word order with modifiers and how to transform sentences into yes-or-no questions. And at the end of this lesson, to ensure that you understand everything, we’ve included some word order practice for you.  

Let’s start!

Table of Contents

1. Overview of Thai Word Order
2. ประโยคประธาน
3. ประโยคกริยา
4. ประโยคกรรม
5. ประโยคการิต
6. Word Order with Modifiers
7. Yes-No Questions
8. Sentence Structure in Thai Tutorial
9. Conclusion

1. Overview of Thai Word Order

Let’s start the lesson by learning about the very basics of Thai language word order. Basically, the pattern is subject + verb + object.  However, there are also exceptions, and it would be easier to learn the four types of sentences.

1 – Types of Thai Sentence Structures

There are four types of Thai sentence structures, categorized by word order as shown below:

1. ประโยคประธาน (bprà-yòok-bprà-thaan) — sentence that starts with the subject

2. ประโยคกริยา (bprà-yòok-gà-rí-yaa) — sentence that starts with the verb

3. ประโยคกรรม (bprà-yòok-gam) — sentence that starts with the object

4. ประโยคการิต (bprà-yòok-gaa-rít) — sentence with relative clause of the object

We’ll explain these Thai language sentence structure variations in more detail a little bit later.

2 – Difference Between Thai Word Order and English Word Order

Now we’ll discuss the difference between Thai language word order and that of English. There are a few key differences that you should know.

• Word order in questions: For questions, you have to change the order of the subject and verb in English. However, the sentence structure for Thai questions is pretty much the same as that of affirmative sentences.  
• Auxiliary verb: In English sentence structure, an auxiliary verb is always put in front of the verb. But in Thai, the auxiliary verb can be put either before or after the verb.  
• Modifier: Modifiers in Thai are often put after the noun that’s modified.

Because of these differences, you can’t directly translate Thai to English or vice-versa.

2. ประโยคประธาน

Explanation: ประโยคประธาน (bprà-yòok-bprà-thaan) is the type of sentence that starts with the subject.  

Thai affirmative sentence structure: subject + verb + object (if any)

Thai negative sentence structure: subject + ไม่ (mâi) + verb + object (if any)

Compared to English: This type of sentence is the same as the active form of sentences in English.  

Example 1:  

น้องสาวของฉันเล่นเปียโนทุกวัน

náawng-sǎao-khǎawng-chǎn-lên-bpiia-noo-thúk-wan“My younger sister plays piano everyday.”

Subject	Verb	Object
พี่สาวของฉัน  (phîi-sǎao-khǎawng-chǎn) My older sister	เล่น (lên) plays	เปียโน (bpiia-noo) piano

Example 2:  

นักฟุตบอลคนนั้นวิ่งเร็วมาก

nák-fút-baawn-khon-nán-wîng-reo-mâak“That football player runs very fast.”

Subject	Verb	Object
นักฟุตบอล  (nák-fút-baawn) Football player	วิ่ง (wîng) runs	–

Example 3:  

คุณครูไม่ตรวจการบ้านตอนเช้า

khun-khruu-mâi-dtrùuat-gaan-bâan-dtaawn-cháo“The teacher doesn’t check the homework in the morning.”

Subject	Verb	Object
คุณครู  (khun-khruu) Teacher	ไม่ตรวจ (mâi-dtrùuat) doesn’t check	การบ้าน (gaan-bâan) homework

3. ประโยคกริยา

Explanation: ประโยคกริยา (bprà-yòok-gà-rí-yaa) is the type of sentence that starts with the verb. In Thai, there are only three verbs that can be used to start a sentence. Those verbs are มี (mii), เกิด (gòoet), and ปรากฏ (bpraa-gòt), which mean “there is” or “there are” in Thai. However, nowadays, Thai people rarely use ปรากฎ (bpraa-gòt), and you’re likely to only see it in literature.  

Thai affirmative sentence structure: มี (mii) / เกิด (gòoet) / ปรากฏ (bpraa-gòt) + noun + place

Thai negative sentence structure: ไม่ (mâi) + มี (mii) / เกิด (gòoet) / ปรากฏ (bpraa-gòt) + noun + place

Compared to English: This type of sentence is the same as a “There is …” or “There are …” sentence in English.  

Example 1:  

มีสัตว์มากมายอยู่ในป่า

mii-sàt-mâak-maai-yùu-nai-bpàa“There are a lot of animals in the forest.”

มี (mii) / เกิด (gòoet) / ปรากฏ (bpraa-gòt)	Noun	Place
มี  (mii) There are	สัตว์ (sàt) animal	ป่า (bpàa) forest

Example 2:  

เกิดอุบัติเหตุบริเวณนี้บ่อยครั้ง

gòoet-ù-bàt-dtì-hèet-baaw-rí-ween-níi-bòi-khráng“There have been many accidents in this area.”

มี (mii) / เกิด (gòoet) / ปรากฏ (bpraa-gòt)	Noun	Place
เกิด  (gòoet) There have been	อุบัติเหตุ (ù-bàt-dtì-hèet) accidents	บริเวณนี้ (baaw-rí-ween-níi) this area

Example 3:  

ไม่ปรากฎวัตถุอันตรายในทะเลสาบ

mâi-bpraa-gòt-wát-thù-an-dtà-laai-nai-thá-lee-sàap

“There is no dangerous object in the lake.”

มี (mii) / เกิด (gòoet) / ปรากฏ (bpraa-gòt)	Noun	Place
ไม่ปรากฏ  (bpraa-gòt) There is no	วัตถุ (wát-thù) object	ทะเลสาบ (thá-lee-sàap) lake

4. ประโยคกรรม

Explanation: ประโยคกรรม (bprà-yòok-gam) is the type of sentence that starts with the object.  

Thai affirmative sentence structure: object + ถูก (thùuk) + subject (if any) + verb

Thai negative sentence structure: object + ไม่ถูก (mâi-thùuk) + subject (if any) + verb

Compared to English: This type of sentence is the same as the passive form of sentences in English.  

Example 1:  

แก้วถูกดุที่ไม่อ่านหนังสือก่อนสอบ

kâaeo-thùuk-dù-thîi-mâi-àan-nǎng-sǔue-gàawn-sâawp“Kaew is scolded for not reading the book before the exam.”

Object	ถูก (thùuk)	Subject	Verb
แก้ว  (kâaeo) Kaew		–	ดุ (dù) is scolded

Example 2:  

ตฤณเกือบถูกรถชน

dtrin-gùueap-thùuk-rót-chon“Trin is almost hit by the car.”

Object	ถูก (thùuk)	Subject	Verb
ตฤณ (dtrin) Trin		รถ (rót) car	ชน (chon) is hit

Example 3:  

เมื่อวานมีโจรขึ้นบ้าน แต่เงินไม่ถูกขโมยไป

mûuea-waan-mii-joon-khûen-bâan dtàae-ngooen-mâi-thùuk-khà-mooi“There is a thief who broke into my house yesterday, but my money was not stolen.”

Object	ไม่ถูก (mâi-thùuk)	Subject	Verb
เงิน (ngooen) money		–	ขโมย (khà-mooi) is not stolen

5. ประโยคการิต

Explanation: ประโยคการิต (bprà-yòok-gaa-rít) is the type of sentence with a relative clause of the object. It represents the word order in a complex Thai sentence. Basically, it’s like combining two ประโยคประธาน (bprà-yòok-bprà- thaan), where the object of the first sentence is the subject of the second sentence.

Thai affirmative sentence structure: subject + verb + object A + verb of object A + object (if any)

Thai negative sentence structure: subject + ไม่ (mâi) + verb + object A + verb of object A + object (if any)

Compared to English: This type of sentence is the same as sentences with relative clauses of an object in English.  

Example 1:  

แม่บอกให้พ่อหยิบหนังสือให้หน่อย

mâae-bàawk-hâi-phâaw-yìp-nǎng-sǔue-hâi-nhòi“Mom asked Dad to bring her a book.”

Subject	Verb	Object
แม่ (mâae) Mom	บอก (bàawk) asked	พ่อ (phâaw) dad
พ่อ (phâaw) dad	หยิบ (yìp) bring	หนังสือ (nǎng-sǔue) book

Example 2:  

ฉันไม่ขอให้เธอช่วยฉัน

chǎn-mâi-khǎaw-hâi-thooe-chûuai-chǎn“I didn’t ask you to help me.”

Subject	Verb	Object
ฉัน (chǎn) I	ไม่ขอ (mâi-khǎaw) didn’t ask	เธอ (thooe) you
เธอ (thooe) you	ช่วย (chûuai) help	ฉัน (chǎn) I (me)

Example 3:  

ย่าชวนฉันให้ไปตลาดเป็นเพื่อน

yâa-chuuan-chǎn-hâi-bpai-dtà-làat-bpen-phûuean“My grandma asked me to go to the market with her.”

Subject	Verb	Object
ย่า (yâa) Grandma	ชวน (chuuan) ask	ฉัน (chǎn) I
ฉัน (chǎn) I	ไป (bpai) go	ตลาด (dtà-làat) market

6. Word Order with Modifiers

To be able to communicate in more detail, you should learn about sentence structure with modifiers. ส่วนขยาย (sùuan-khà-yǎai) is “modifiers” in Thai. 

So how do you form sentences in Thai using modifiers? Look at the examples below:

1 – V-ing

Thai modifier: กำลัง (gam-lang)   

Thai affirmative sentence structure: กำลัง (gam-lang) + verb 

Thai negative sentence structure: ไม่ได้ (mâi-dâi) + กำลัง (gam-lang) + verb

Example 1:  

เขากำลังเดินทางมาที่นี่อยู่

khǎo-gam-lang-dooen-thaang-maa-thîi-nîi-yùu

“He is coming here now.”

Example 2:  

ตาลไม่ได้กำลังทำงานอยู่

dtaan-mâi-dâi-gam-lang-tham-ngaan-yùu

“Tan is not working now.”

2 – Should 

Thai modifier: ควร (khuuan); ควรจะ (khuuan-jà)   

Thai affirmative sentence structure: ควร (khuuan) / ควรจะ (khuuan-jà) + verb 

Thai negative sentence structure: ไม่ (mâi) + ควร (khuuan) / ควรจะ (khuuan-jà)  + verb

Example 1:  

นักเรียนควรจะมาโรงเรียนตรงเวลา

nák-riian-khuuan-jà-maa-roong-riian-dtrong-wee-laa

“Students should come to school on time.”

Example 2: 

 เด็ก ๆ ไม่ควรนอนดึก

dèk-dèk-mâi-khuuan-naawn-dùek

“Children shouldn’t go to bed late.”

3 – Must 

Thai modifier: ต้อง (dtâawng)   

Thai affirmative sentence structure: ต้อง (dtâawng) + verb 

Thai negative sentence structure: ต้อง (dtâawng) + ไม่ (mâi) + verb

Example 1:   

ขนิษฐ์ต้องทำงานนี้ให้เสร็จวันนี้

khà-nít-dtâawng-tham-ngaan-níi-hâi-sèt-wan-níi

“Khanit must finish this job today.”

Example 2:  

เธอต้องไม่โกหก

thooe-dtâawng-mâi-goo-hòk

“You must not lie.”

4 – Can / Could 

Thai modifier: สามารถ…ได้ (sǎa-mâat-…-dâi)   

Thai affirmative sentence structure: สามารถ (sǎa-mâat) + verb + object (if any) + ได้ (dâi) 

Thai negative sentence structure: ไม่ (mâi) + สามารถ (sǎa-mâat) + verb + object (if any) + ได้ (dâi)

Example 1:  

โคลอี้สามารถทำอาหารไทยได้

khloo-îi-sǎa-mâat-tham-aa-hǎan-thai-dâi

“Chole can cook Thai food.”

Example 2: 

เดวิดไม่สามารถกินเผ็ดได้

dee-vìt-mâi-sǎa-mâat-gin-phèt-dâi

“David can’t eat spicy food.”

5 – Will 

Thai modifier: จะ (jà)   

Thai affirmative sentence structure: จะ (jà) + verb 

Thai negative sentence structure: จะ (jà) + ไม่ (mâi) + verb

Example 1:  

แดนจะไปเที่ยวญี่ปุ่นอาทิตย์หน้า

daaen-jà-bpai-thîiao-yîi-bpùn-aa-thít-nâa

“Dan will go traveling to Japan next week.”

Example 2:  

ส้มจะไม่ไปทำงานพรุ่งนี้

sôm-jà-mâi-bpai-tham-ngaan-phrûng-níi

“Som will not go to work tomorrow.”

6 – May / Might 

Thai modifier: อาจจะ (àat-jà)   

Thai affirmative sentence structure: อาจจะ (àat-jà) + verb 

Thai negative sentence structure: อาจจะ (àat-jà) + ไม่ (mâi) + verb

Example 1:  

มันอาจจะพังแล้วก็ได้

man-àat-jà-phang-láaeo-gâaw-dâi

“It may be broken.”

Example 2:  

เจอาจจะไม่ชอบกางเกงตัวนี้

jee-àat-jà-mâi-châawp-gaang-geeng-dtuua-níi

“J may not like these pants.”

7. Yes-No Questions

In Thai, if you want to change an affirmative sentence into a yes-no question, there’s no need to change the word order or anything. Keep reading to learn more. 

1 – Changing Affirmative Sentences into Yes-No Questions

This is the easiest part of the lesson. To make a yes-no question, all you have to do is put ไหม (mǎi) or มั้ย (mái) at the end of a sentence (before ครับ [khráp] and ค่ะ [khà] if these words are present). ไหม (mǎi) and มั้ย (mái) have pretty much the same meaning and can substitute one another. However, ไหม (mǎi) sounds a little bit more formal, while มั้ย (mái) is used more in spoken language.

2 – Answering Yes-No Questions

There are two ways to answer yes-no questions, which we’ll explain below.

1. Long answer

To give a long answer, Thai people answer the question with an affirmative sentence for yes, and a negative sentence for no. 

• If you want to answer yes, you just cut ไหม (mǎi) or มั้ย (mái) out to turn the question into an affirmative answer.
• If you want to answer no, you just cut ไหม (mǎi) or มั้ย (mái) out and then put ไม่ (mài) before the verb, adjective, or adverb that’s being asked to make a negative sentence.

2. Short answer

To give a short answer, Thai people answer yes-no questions with the verb, adjective, or adverb that’s being asked in the question. 

• If you want to answer yes, you just reply with the verb, adjective, or adverb that’s being asked about.
• If you want to answer no, you just reply with ไม่ (mài) + the verb, adjective, or adverb that’s being asked.

Example 1:

Affirmative sentence: 

ชนันต์ชอบว่ายน้ำ

chá-nan-châawp-wâai-nám

“Chanan likes to swim.”

Question:  

ชนันต์ชอบว่ายน้ำมั้ย

chá-nan-châawp-wâai-nám-mái

“Does Chanan like to swim?”

Answer:  

ชอบ

châawp

“Yes.”

Example 2:

Affirmative sentence:  

จักรยานคันนี้ราคาแพง

jàk-grà-yaan-khan-níi-raa-khaa-phaaeng

“This bicycle is expensive.”

Question:  

จักรยานคันนี้ราคาแพงไหม

jàk-grà-yaan-khan-níi-raa-khaa-phaaeng-mǎi

“Is this bicycle expensive?”

Answer:  

จักรยานคันนี้ราคาไม่แพง

jàk-grà-yaan-khan-níi-raa-khaa-mâi-paaeng

“No, this bicycle is not expensive.”

8. Sentence Structure in Thai Tutorial

To finish learning about word order in Thai, we’ll give you a chance to practice.  Let’s translate these sentences into Thai.

1 – Aunt buys fruits.

• Aunt buys fruits.
• Aunt buys fruits at the market.
• Aunt didn’t buy fruits at the market.
• Aunt will buy fruits at the market tomorrow.
• Aunt is buying fruits at the market.
• Will Aunt buy fruits at the market?

Can you translate all of the sentences above? Please try your best. And then, you can check whether you’re doing it correctly or not with the answers and explanations below.

English 1: Aunt buys fruits.

Thai 1: ป้าซื้อผลไม้ (bpâa-súue-phǒn-lá-mái)

Explanation 1: This is a ประโยคประธาน (bprà-yòok-bprà-thaan), the type of sentence that Thai people use often in daily life. This Thai sentence structure is “subject + verb + object (if any).”

English 2: Aunt buys fruits at the market.

Thai 2: ป้าซื้อผลไม้ที่ตลาด (bpâa-súue-phǒn-lá-mái-thîi-dtà-làat)

Explanation 2: To convey more detail, you can add the place where the action happened after the object.

English 3: Aunt didn’t buy fruits at the market.

Thai 3: ป้าไม่ซื้อผลไม้ที่ตลาด (bpâa-mâi-súue-phǒn-lá-mái-thîi-dtà-làat)

Explanation 3: This is the negative sentence of ประโยคประธาน (bprà-yòok-bprà-thaan). To change an affirmative sentence into a negative sentence, you add ไม่ (mâi) in front of the verb.

English 4: Aunt will buy fruits at the market tomorrow.

Thai 4: ป้าจะซื้อผลไม้ที่ตลาดวันพรุ่งนี้ (bpâa-jà-súue-phǒn-lá-mái-thîi-dtà-làat-wan-phrûng-níi)

Explanation 4: This is a sentence with a modifier. You simply add the modifier in front of the verb. จะ (jà) is “will” in Thai. In case you want to add time, you can add it either at the beginning or end of the sentence.

English 5: Aunt is buying fruits at the market.

Thai 5: ป้ากำลังซื้อผลไม้ที่ตลาด (bpâa-gam-lang-súue-phǒn-lá-mái-thîi-dtà-làat)

Explanation 5: This is a sentence with a modifier. You simply add the modifier in front of the verb. กำลัง (gam-lang) is “v-ing” in Thai.

English 6: Will aunt buy fruits at the market?

Thai 6: ป้าจะซื้อผลไม้ที่ตลาดมั้ย (bpâa-jà-súue-phǒn-lá-mái-thîi-dtà-làat-mái)

Explanation 6: This is a question with a modifier. You add the modifier in front of the verb, and then put มั้ย (mái) at the end of the sentence to make it a question.

2 – Prim plants flowers.

• Prim plants flowers.
• Prim plants orange flowers in the garden.
• Prim can plant orange flowers in the garden.
• There are no purple flowers in the garden.
• Mom asks Prim to plant purple flowers in the garden.
• Purple flowers are planted in the garden.

Like in the prior exercise, try to translate all of the sentences above.  And then, you can check whether you’re doing it correctly or not with the answers and explanations below.

English 1: Prim grows flowers.

Thai 1: ปริมปลูกดอกไม้ (bprim-bplùuk-dàawk-mái)

Explanation 1: This is a ประโยคประธาน (bprà-yòok-bprà-thaan), the type of sentence that Thai people use often in daily life. This Thai sentence structure is “subject + verb + object (if any).”

English 2: Prim grows orange flowers in the garden.

Thai 2: ปริมปลูกดอกไม้สีส้มในสวน (bprim-bplùuk-dàawk-mái-sǐi-sôm-nai-sǔuan)

Explanation 2: To convey more detail, you can add the place where the action happened after the object. In case you want to add adjectives, you put them after the noun you want to modify.

English 3: Prim can grow orange flowers in the garden.

Thai 3: ปริมสามารถปลูกดอกไม้สีส้มในสวน (bprim-sǎa-mâat-bplùuk-dàawk-mái-sǐi-sôm-nai-sǔuan)

Explanation 3: This is a sentence with a modifier. You simply add the modifier in front of the verb. สามารถ (sǎa-mâat) is “can” in Thai.

English 4: There are no purple flowers in the garden.

Thai 4: ไม่มีดอกไม้สีม่วงในสวน (mâi-mii-dàawk-mái-sǐi-mûuang-nai-sǔuan)

Explanation 4: This is a ประโยคกริยา (bprà-yòok-gà-rí-yaa). The structure of this Thai negative sentence is “ไม่ (mâi) + มี (mii) + noun + place.”

English 5: Mom asks Prim to plant purple flowers.

Thai 5: แม่บอกให้ปริมปลูกต้นไม้สีม่วงในสวน (mâae-bàawk-hâi-bprim-bplùuk-dàawk-mái-sǐi-mûuang-nai- sǔuan)

Explanation 5: This is a ประโยคการิต (bprà-yòok-gaa-rít). The structure of this Thai sentence is “subject + verb + object A + verb of object A + object (if any).”

English 6: Purple flowers are planted in the garden.

Thai 6: ดอกไม้สีม่วงถูกปลูกในสวน (dàawk-mái-sǐi-mûuang-thùuk-bplùuk-nai-sǔuan)

Explanation 6: This is a ประโยคกรรม (bprà-yòok-gam). The structure of this Thai sentence is “object + ถูก (thùuk) + subject (if any) + verb.”

9. Conclusion

And finally, you’ve finished our Thai word order lesson. Your Thai language skills will certainly be better for it! 

Is this topic hard for you? Is Thai word order different from that in your native language? If so, how? Please let us know in the comments below.

This may be a little confusing, as word order in Thai may be different from that in your native language.  However, if you keep practicing, you’ll become better at it. Reading a lot of Thai articles, stories, or books may also help, as you’ll become more familiar with Thai word order this way.
Once you feel like you understand this lesson, don’t forget to check out other fun and interesting Thai lessons at ThaiPod101.com. Saving the earth seems to be in trend, so you should check out our lesson on this!