Expressing duration (ใช้เวลา)

Expressing Duration with ใช้เวลา

To express how long a process, event, or program takes, use the phrase ใช้เวลา (to take time) followed by a quantity of time. The structure is Subject + ใช้เวลา + Time Quantity.

We can use this structure to discuss academic courses (คอร์ส) and study programs (หลักสูตร).

Academic Degrees

In Thai, the word for a university degree is ปริญญา. The three main levels are:

• ปริญญาตรี (Bachelor's degree)
• ปริญญาโท (Master's degree)
• ปริญญาเอก (Doctorate degree)

These degrees can act as the subject before ใช้เวลา. You can also add ประมาณ (about/approximately) before the time quantity.

Actions and Time Quantities

When stating that someone performs an activity for a certain amount of time, the time duration simply follows the action. The phrase ใช้เวลา is not needed here.

Verb Phrases as Subjects

If you want to state how long an activity itself takes to complete, you can turn the action into the subject of the sentence. Place the verb phrase at the beginning, followed by ใช้เวลา and the duration.

You can also use this structure to ask how long a task takes by placing question phrases like นานแค่ไหน (how long) after ใช้เวลา.

Scholarships

The word for a scholarship or grant is ทุน. It is commonly used with the verb ได้ (to get/receive) and the verb เรียน (to study) to describe funding for your education.