Verbs: Progressive Tense

01

Using กำลัง (gam·lang) Before the Verb

The word กำลัง (gam·langkam·langkam·lang) is placed directly before the main verb. It literally translates to "energy" or "power," but grammatically it functions like "currently" or "in the process of." It emphasizes the active performance of the action.

• ผม กำลัง กิน

  pǒm gam·lang ginphǒm kam·lang kinphǒm kam·lang kin

  I am eating.

• เขา กำลัง เดิน

  kǎo gam·lang dəənkhǎo kam·lang doenkhǎo kam·lang dơn

  He is walking.

02

Using อยู่ (yùu) After the Verb

The word อยู่ (yùuyùyù) is placed after the main verb. When used in this position, it indicates that the action is in a state of continuance or is "still" happening. It is often used at the end of a sentence to show the action hasn't finished yet.

• ฝน ตก อยู่

  fǒn dtòk yùufǒn tòk yùfǒn tòk yù

  It is raining.

• คุณ ทำ อะไร อยู่

  kun tam a·rai yùukhun tham a·rai yùkhun tham a·rai yù

  What are you doing?

03

Using Both Together

It is very common to use both markers in the same sentence to form a complete progressive structure: กำลัง (gam·langkam·langkam·lang) + Verb + อยู่ (yùuyùyù). This frames the verb perfectly to show an ongoing action.

• เรา กำลัง พูด อยู่

  rao gam·lang pûut yùurao kam·lang phût yùrao kam·lang phût yù

  We are speaking.

• แม่ กำลัง ทำ อาหาร อยู่

  mɛ̂ɛ gam·lang tam aa·hǎan yùumâe kam·lang tham a·hǎn yùmê̩ kam·lang tham a·hǎn yù

  Mom is cooking food.

04

Other Meanings of อยู่ (yùu)

It is essential to distinguish the progressive marker อยู่ (yùuyùyù) from the main verb อยู่ (yùuyùyù). As a main verb, อยู่ (yùuyùyù) means to live, to reside, or to be located (at).

You can identify the difference by looking at the word order:

• Progressive Tense: Verb + อยู่ (yùuyùyù) (e.g., "eating currently").
• Location/Existence: อยู่ (yùuyùyù) + Place/Preposition (e.g., "lives in Bangkok").

• เขา อ่าน หนังสือ อยู่

  kǎo àan nǎng·sʉ̌ʉ yùukhǎo àn nǎng·sǔe yùkhǎo àn nǎng·sư̌ yù

  He is reading a book. (Progressive)

• เขา อยู่ ที่ บ้าน

  kǎo yùu tîi bâankhǎo yù thî bânkhǎo yù thî bân

  He is at home. (Location)

• ฉัน อยู่ กรุงเทพ

  chǎn yùu grung·têepchǎn yù krung·thêpčǎn yù krung·thêp

  I live in Bangkok. (Location)