Tenses & time words
Thai doesn't conjugate verbs. It just drops a time word next to them. Five markers unlock past, present, and future.
Thai verbs don't change shape.
In English, "go" becomes "went" becomes "going". In Thai, the verb ไป (go) stays exactly the same. You drop a time word next to it and that's the whole tense system. Six markers and you can handle past, present, future, and in-between.
[subject] [time marker] [verb] ([object])
ผม จะ ไป ตลาด
I + will + go + market · I'll go to the market
Memorise these and you can time-travel in Thai.
Future. Placed before the verb.
In progress right now. Placed before the verb.
Completed action. Placed after the verb or at sentence end.
Ability OR past happening. Sits after the verb.
Past experience. Placed before the verb.
Ongoing state. Often pairs with ไม่ for 'not yet'.
After the verb, ได้ means "can" or "was able". พูดได้ (phûut dâai) = can speak.
But ได้ in past contexts also marks a completed action. Context tells you which meaning applies.
Pick one marker per sentence. Don't say จะไปแล้ว meaning "will already go". Use either จะ (future) or แล้ว (already), not both.