เกรงว่า
Afraid That
เกรงว่า introduces a concern, like I am afraid that. The following clause explains the concern.
How It Works
Introduce A Concern
เกรง conveys fear or apprehension. In เกรงว่า, ว่า introduces the content of the concern.
Read What May Happen
ผมเกรงว่าเราจะไปไม่ทันนัดครับ expresses concern about not reaching the appointment on time. The proposal example contains อาจจะ, might, so the effect on the project is presented as a possibility.
Read The Stock Example In Context
The English translation reads จะหมดสต็อกแล้ว as stock about to run out. The sentence expresses the speaker’s concern; it is not an inventory report or a rule fixing the same time reading in every context.
Keep The Clause
The examples follow เกรงว่า with a statement about an event or state. To name the feared thing directly in the gecko exercise, use ผมกลัวตุ๊กแก. Tone and the relationship between speakers affect how a concern is received.
Examples (4)
- ผมเกรงว่าเราจะไปไม่ทันนัดครับ
I’m afraid we won’t make it to the appointment on time.
Word by Word: I afraid that we will go not in-time appointment [polite]
Used here to politely express a concern about a future negative outcome (being late).
- ดิฉันเกรงว่าสินค้าตัวนี้จะหมดสต็อกแล้วค่ะ
I’m afraid this item will soon be out of stock.
Word by Word: I afraid that product [classifier] this will run-out-of-stock now [polite]
This translation reads จะหมดสต็อกแล้ว as stock about to run out. The surrounding situation supplies the time reading; the sentence does not establish an actual stock count.
- ทางเราเกรงว่าข้อเสนอนี้อาจจะมีผลกระทบต่อโครงการ
We are concerned that this proposal might affect the project.
Word by Word: Side we afraid that proposal this might have effect toward project
อาจจะ presents the proposal’s effect on the project as possible. เกรงว่า introduces the speaker’s concern.
- เกรงว่าพรุ่งนี้ฝนจะตกหนักนะครับ
I'm afraid it will rain heavily tomorrow.
Word by Word: Afraid that tomorrow rain will fall heavy [polite]
No first-person pronoun is written before เกรงว่า in this example. The English supplies I for the speaker.
Common Mistakes
Putting a bare feared thing after a clause linker.
ผมเกรงว่าตุ๊กแกผมกลัวตุ๊กแกFor the requested meaning I am afraid of geckos, choose ผมกลัวตุ๊กแก. The displayed เกรงว่า pattern introduces a clause stating a concern; ตุ๊กแก alone does not supply that statement.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'เกรงว่า' (afraid that), a learner must first be comfortable with the linking particle 'ว่า', which connects a verb of thought or speech to a subordinate clause. Familiarity with similar structures like 'คิดว่า' (think that) makes this pattern a simple vocabulary extension of an existing grammatical framework.
Related Patterns
- ว่าContent, Naming and Criticism with ว่า
The core linking word used in เกรงว่า to connect the feeling to a specific statement.
Level 3 - หวังว่าHope That
Compare hoping for an outcome with expressing concern about one.
Level 4 - อาจจะPossibility with อาจจะ
The proposal example uses อาจจะ to present an effect as possible.
Level 1 - ครับครับ in Greetings and Replies
Polite particles can accompany เกรงว่า in conversation. They are not required in every sentence, especially in writing.
Level 1 - ดิฉันI — Female Speaker, Formal
The stock example uses ดิฉัน for the speaker’s I. Compare its register in the linked entry.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice เกรงว่า in Bubblegum
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