Breakdown of คุณ เอา กางเกง กี่ ตัว คะ
คุณ
you
เอา
to want / to take (along)
คะ
female question particle / polite particle (female)
กี่
how many
ตัว
classifier for animals and things
กางเกง
pants
Questions & Answers about คุณ เอา กางเกง กี่ ตัว คะ
Why is the word order กางเกง กี่ ตัว (pants + how many + classifier)?
In Thai, when asking 'how many' of an object, the pattern is Noun + กี่ (how many) + Classifier. This is very closely related to the demonstrative pattern you are learning (Noun + Classifier + this/that). You always start with the noun itself, and then use the classifier section to specify which one or how many!
I thought ตัว was the classifier for animals. Why is it used for pants here?
You are right that ตัว is the classifier for animals, but it is also the standard classifier for most clothing items, including shirts, skirts, and pants. A helpful trick is to remember that the word ตัว also means 'body', so it makes sense to use it for things that clothe the body.
Do I need to translate the English word 'pairs' into Thai for this sentence?
No! In English, we say 'a pair of pants' because pants have two legs. However, in Thai, pants (กางเกง) are just treated as a single clothing item. You simply use the noun and its standard clothing classifier (ตัว), without needing any special word for 'pair'.
Why does the sentence use เอา for 'want' instead of อยาก?
This is a very common mix-up! อยาก means 'to want to do something' and must be followed by an action verb (like wanting to eat or to go). เอา means 'to want an object' or 'to take'. Since the speaker is asking how many physical objects (pants) the person wants to take, เอา is the correct word to use here.
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