Sawatdee ka,
I have got few questions regarding ‘present continuous’ or verb with “-ing” expressing action that is happening at the moment speaking such as ‘I am eating’, ‘she is cooking etc.
The full pattern in Thai is:
gam-lang + verb/verb phrase + yùu
In spoken Thai we often drop either the word ‘gamlang’ or ‘yùu’.
For example: ‘I am eating’ in Thai can be phrased in three different ways.
1. ผม/ชั้นกำลังกินข้าวอยู่ [pŏm/chán gam-lang gin kâao yùu]
2. ผม/ชั้นกำลังกินข้าว [pŏm/chán gam-lang gin kâao]
3. ผม/ชั้นกินข้าวอยู่ [pŏm/chán gin kâao yùu]
Let’s understand the example given in my video.
1. คุยโทรศัพท์กับแม่อยู่ [kui toe-rá-sàp gàp mâe yùu]
I am talking on the phone with mom.
– คุย[kui] means to talk, to have conversation
– โทรศัพท์ [toe-rá-sàp] means telephone
– กับ [gàp] means with
– แม่ [mâe] means mother
2. ดูทีวีอยู่ [duu tii-wii yùu]
I’m watching TV.
– ดู [duu] means to watch, to look at
– ทีวี [tii-wii] means television
3. เล่นเฟซบุคอยู่ [lên Facebook yùu]
I am playing Facebook. (We use verb ‘to play’ when doing something entertaining)
– เล่น [lên] means to play
4. ออกกำลังกายอยู่ [òrk-gam-lang-gaai yùu]
I am exercising.
ออกกำลังกาย [òrk-gam-lang-gaai] means to exercise.
And of course, the above sentences can also be phrased with กำลัง [gam-lang].
To form the Present Continuous question such as ‘what are you doing?’, the same pattern is applied.
The question structure in Thai is “Subject + Verb+ Question word”. In present continuous tense, the same pattern is apllied as following:
subject + gam-lang + verb + question word + yùu?
Verb to do in Thai is ทำ [tam], and ‘What question word’ is อะไร [à-rai].
The question ‘what are you doing can be phrased in three different ways:
1. คุณกำลังทำอะไรอยู่ [kun gam-lang tam à-rai yùu?]
2.คุณกำลังทำอะไร [kun gam-lang tam à-rai?]
*3. คุณทำอะไรอยู่ [kun tam à-rai yùu?]
* The third sentence is commonly used.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson, and have learned something new:)
Kop Kun Ka,
Mod
ออกกำลังกาย [òrk-gam-lang-gaai] means to exercise.
That means it is a “VERB”. right?
ออก = exit;
กำลัง = at present
กาย = body
These three words turn out to be “to exercise”, it is very interesting.
How to express the woid “exercise or sports” as a “noun” in Thai?
555, Very funny song choice for a video on “what you’re doing”.
Great lesson, thanks. What is the significance of the “Leoi” at the end of some of your sentences? I assume it’s a way to ‘soften’ the end of the sentence?
Kun Mod, I especially like that you pointed out the structure that is most commonly used to ask “what are you doing?”. I’ve been studying your youtube lessons for quite a while now and they are all outstanding.
Thank you for your kind words. I am happy to hear that:)