I will admit the article title is misleading, in that Thai doesn’t have a future tense. It also doesn’t have a past tense. To refer to the future or past, one must use additional words like ‘will’, ‘already’, ‘did’, etc.
Two years ago I explained how to <a href= https://blogs.transparent.com/thai/how-to-use-the-thai-word-laew/>speak about the past</a>, but it appears I never explained the future. So here we go . . .
To refer to the future you should use the word ‘will’ (ja2 จะ). Just put ‘will’ right before the verb – exactly like in English – and your sentence automatically becomes future tense.
I will eat.
Pom5 ja2 gin1
ผมจะกิน
You will run.
Khun1 ja2 wing3
คุณจะวิ่ง
John will go fishing.
จอห์นจะตกปลา
John1 ja2 dtok2 blaa1
I will teach him.
Chan5 ja2 sawn5 hai3 kow5
ฉันจะสอนให้เขา
Unlike in English, if the subject is understood through context, it doesn’t need to be said. For example, if I’m looking at you and ask ‘will go?’, it’s obvious I’m asking ‘will you go?’
When will [you] go?
Ja2 bpai1 meua3rai2
จะไปเมื่อไหร่?
[I] will be right here.
Ja2 yuu2 dtrong1 nee4
จะอยู่ตรงนี้
If you won’t listen, then why [will you] ask?
Taa3 mai3 fang1 ja2 taam5 tum1mai1
ถ้าไม่ฟังจะถามทำไม
You can also be more specific by adding in exactly when the action will occur.
Tomorrow you will return home.
Prung3nee4 kun1 ja2 glab2 baan3
พรุ่งนี้คุณจะกลับบ้าน
Like in English, in many cases the time can also be at the beginning or end of the sentence.
You will return home tomorrow.
Kun1 ja2 glab2 baan3 prung3nee4
คุณจะกลับบ้านพรุ่งนี้
In some cases ‘will’ is assumed through context, so is left out. In the following example, it’s obvious ‘tomorrow’ in in the future.
Tomorrow [I will] go.
Prung3nee4 bpai1
พรุ่งนี้ไป
In the following example, I use both a future tense (will) and past tense (already) together in the same sentence. The more literal definition is, ‘In just a bit, I will already be out to eat food.’ In other words, the past tense of the future.
I’m about to go out to eat.
Dioew5 ja2 aawk2 bpai1 gin1 kaaow3 laew4
เดี๋ยวจะออกไปกินข้าวแล้ว
The above example doesn’t quite translate very well to English. But it’s basically implying the person is seconds/minutes from leaving to get something to eat.
