Mongolian Grammar: 10 Essential Topics for Beginners
GerTrainer
Overview
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 — Vowel Harmony
- Chapter 2 — Basic Word Order (SOV)
- Chapter 3 — Forming Questions
- Chapter 4 — Negation with "биш"
- Chapter 5 — Past Tense
- Chapter 6 — Future Tense
- Chapter 7 — Present Habitual Tense
- Chapter 9 — The "With" Case (Comitative)
- Chapter 10 — Verb + х Constructions (Like, Dislike, Need)
Introduction
Mongolian grammar looks different from many European languages, but its rules are clear and highly consistent. Once you learn a few core patterns—like vowel harmony, verb endings, and basic word order—you can understand and build sentences surprisingly quickly.
This mini-cookbook presents the 10 most essential grammar topics for beginners. Each chapter gives you a short explanation, a simple rule, and 1–2 examples you can use right away. The goal is to help you learn Mongolian faster, with practical rules instead of long theory.
Let's begin with the foundations.
Chapter 1 — Vowel Harmony
Introduction
Vowel harmony is a core rule in Mongolian. Suffixes must match the vowel type of the word, which makes endings predictable once you know the vowel groups.
How to Form It
Vowel Groups
| Type | Vowels |
|---|---|
| Masculine | а, о, у |
| Feminine | э, ө, ү |
| Neutral | и |
Rule
Look at the last vowel in the word.
Pick the suffix form that matches that vowel group.
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| номоос | from the book |
| гэрээс | from the house |
Chapter 2 — Basic Word Order (SOV)
Introduction
Mongolian uses a Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) structure. The verb always comes at the end of the sentence, and descriptive words appear before the words they modify.
How to Form It
Sentence Pattern
| Element | Position |
|---|---|
| Subject | first |
| Object | middle |
| Verb | last |
Modifier Rule
Time, place, adjectives, and other modifiers come before the main word.
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Би ном уншсан. | I read a book. (I – book – read) |
| Тэр өнөөдөр ажилд явна. | He goes to work today. |
Chapter 3 — Forming Questions
Introduction
Mongolian forms questions either with question words or with question particles placed at the end of the sentence. The verb still stays in final position.
How to Form It
1. Question Words
- хэн — who
- юу — what
- хаана — where
- хэзээ — when
- яагаад — why
- яаж — how
2. When to Use БЭ / ВЭ
Use бэ/вэ when the sentence already contains a question word.
| Ending of the previous word | Particle |
|---|---|
| Ends in н, м, в | бэ |
| Any other ending | вэ |
3. When to Use УУ / ҮҮ
Use уу/үү for yes–no questions (questions without a question word).
They follow vowel harmony:
| Last vowel type | Particle |
|---|---|
| Masculine (а, о, у) | уу |
| Feminine (э, ө, ү) | үү |
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Та хаана байна вэ? | Where are you? (contains a question word → вэ) |
| Энэ зөв үү? | Is this correct? (yes/no → үү) |
Chapter 4 — Negation with "биш"
Introduction
The word биш is used to say that something is not something else. It negates equational sentences like "X is Y." It does not negate actions — only descriptions and identities.
How to Form It
Rule
Place биш after the word or phrase you want to negate.
Word order stays the same (SOV does not change here).
Use "биш" for
- identity → He is not a teacher.
- classification → This is not a book.
- descriptions → I am not tired.
Do NOT use "биш" for
- negating verbs (actions) → those use different forms.
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Би оюутан биш. | I am not a student. |
| Энэ ном биш. | This is not a book. |
Chapter 5 — Past Tense
Introduction
The Mongolian past tense is used for completed actions. It is formed by attaching a consonant-based ending to the verb stem. The ending changes depending on the vowel group of the verb.
How to Form It
Past Tense Endings
These endings follow vowel harmony and attach directly to the verb stem:
| Vowel Group | Ending | Example (Positive) | Example (Negative = stem + ending +гүй) |
|---|---|---|---|
| а, у, я | -сан | авсан (took) | аваагүй (didn't take) |
| о, ё | -сон | сольсон (changed) | солиогүй (didn't change) |
| ө | -сөөн / -сөн | өвдсөн (became sick) | өвдөөгүй (didn't get sick) |
| э, ү, и | -сэн | хийсэн (did) | хий(г)ээгүй (didn't do) |
Rule
Identify the last vowel of the verb stem.
Choose the matching ending from the table.
For the negative: add гүй after the past-tense form.
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Би өчигдөр ирсэн. | I came yesterday. |
| Би монгол хэл сураагүй. | I didn't study Mongolian. |
Chapter 6 — Future Tense
Introduction
The Mongolian future tense expresses intentions, plans, and upcoming actions. It is formed by adding a vowel-based ending to the verb stem. The ending follows vowel harmony.
How to Form It
Future Tense Endings
| Vowel Group | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| а, у, я | -на | харах → харана (will look) |
| о, ё | -но | орох → орно (will enter) |
| ө | -нө | өргөх → өргөнө (will lift) |
| э, ү, и | -нэ | хийх → хийнэ (will do) |
Negative Form
To express the future negative:
Verb stem + -хгүй
Example: явахгүй (will not go)
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Би маргааш ажиллана. | I will work tomorrow. |
| Би очихгүй. | I will not go. |
Chapter 7 — Present Habitual Tense
Introduction
The present habitual tense describes actions that happen regularly: routines, habits, or general truths. It is formed by adding -даг / -дог / -дөг / -дэг to the verb stem, following vowel harmony.
How to Form It
Habitual Endings
| Vowel Group | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| а, у, я | -даг | унтах → унтдаг (sleeps / usually sleeps) |
| о, ё | -дог | орох → ордог (usually enters/goes in) |
| ө | -дөг | өглөөх → өглөөдөг (gives regularly) |
| э, ү, и | -дэг | хийх → хийдэг (usually does) |
Negative Form
Verb stem + ending +гүй
Example: унтдаггүй (does not usually sleep)
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Би өглөө цай уудаг. | I drink tea in the morning. |
| Тэр ажилдаа яадаггүй. | He doesn't usually go to work. |
Chapter 9 — The "With" Case (Comitative)
Introduction
The comitative case expresses "with" in Mongolian. It attaches to nouns to show accompaniment, such as with a person, with an object, or together with something. The ending depends on the word's final vowel.
How to Form It
Comitative Endings
| Ending | Used after vowels | Example → Result |
|---|---|---|
| -тай | а, у, я | цай → цайтай (with tea) |
| -той | о, ё | ном → номтой (with a book) |
| -тэй | э, ү, и, ө | дүү → дүүтэй (with a younger sibling) |
Optional Reflexive Form
To say "with one's own …", Mongolian adds -гаа / -гээ / -гоо / -гөө:
дүүтэй → дүүтэйгээ (with his/her own younger sibling)
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Би номтой явлаа. | I went with a book. |
| Тэр дүүтэйгээ аялсан. | She traveled with her own younger sibling. |
Chapter 10 — Verb + х Constructions (Like, Dislike, Need)
Introduction
Mongolian often expresses likes, dislikes, and needs using a simple pattern:
verb stem + -х + descriptive word.
This structure is extremely common and easy to apply once learned.
How to Form It
1. Expressing "to like"
Structure: Verb + х + дуртай
Meaning: to like doing something
Example: унших дуртай — to like reading
2. Expressing "to dislike"
Structure: Verb + х + дургүй
Meaning: to dislike doing something
Correct Example: дуулах дургүй — to dislike singing
(Important: always use the verb stem + х form → дуулах, not дуулж.)
3. Expressing "to need to"
Structure: Verb + х + хэрэгтэй
Meaning: need to do something
Example: сурах хэрэгтэй — need to study
4. Expressing "do not need to"
Structure: Verb + х + хэрэггүй
Meaning: do not need to do something
Example: хүлээх хэрэггүй — do not need to wait
Examples
| Mongolian Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Би ном унших дуртай. | I like reading books. |
| Чи эрт босох хэрэгтэй. | You need to get up early. |
| Тэр дуулах дургүй. | She/He dislikes singing. |
