Thai

An Essential Grammar

David Smyth

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781040311967
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Languages
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

This third edition of Thai: An Essential Grammar provides an up-to-date and concise reference guide to Thai grammar.

Using clear, jargon-free explanations, it sets out the complexities of Thai in short, readable sections and presents an accessible description of the language. Focus is kept on the real patterns of use today and grammar forms are demonstrated through a wide range of relevant examples. No prior knowledge is assumed on the part of the reader.

Features include:

• coverage of crucial topics, such as sentence particles, negation, questions and quantification
• examples given in both Thai script and romanised transliteration
• pronunciation section
• guidance on speech conventions and the Thai writing system
• glossary of grammatical terms
• two appendices covering romanisation systems and three key verbs
• bibliography

This unique reference work will prove invaluable to all learners looking to master the grammar of Thai. It is ideal for both independent study and for students in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Pronunciation
• Chapter 2 The writing system
• Chapter 3 Nouns, classifiers and noun phrases
• Chapter 4 Pronouns
• Chapter 5 Verbs
• Chapter 6 Adjectives (stative verbs) and adjectival constructions
• Chapter 7 Adverbs and adverbial constructions
• Chapter 8 Location markers and other prepositions
• Chapter 9 Clauses and sentences
• Chapter 10 Sentence particles
• Chapter 11 Negation
• Chapter 12 Questions
• Chapter 13 Numbers, measurement and quantification
• Chapter 14 Time
• Chapter 15 Thai speech conventions
• Romanisation systems
• The verbs hâi, dâi/dâi: and bpen: a summary
• Bibliography and further reading
• Index