Language/Halh-mongolian/Grammar/Noun-Cases

Halh Mongolian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Noun Cases

Nouns are an essential part of any language. In Halh Mongolian, like in many languages, the functions of nouns in a sentence change according to their role in the sentence. This change is indicated by what is called "noun cases". In this lesson, you will learn about the different noun cases in Halh Mongolian and how they are used to indicate the function of a noun in a sentence.

The Concept of Noun Cases

A noun case reflects the grammatical function of a noun in a sentence. In Halh Mongolian, there are six cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, and instrumental. Each case is determined by the word's function in the sentence.

For example, in English sentences, word order and prepositions are used to determine the function of a noun. However, in Halh Mongolian, the same function is expressed using noun cases. Understanding these cases is vital to grasp the language's basic patterns.

The cases are indicated by suffixes added to the noun. These suffixes change the ending of a word according to the case being used. Thus, the word "man" in Halh Mongolian can be written and pronounced differently depending on the case used in a sentence.

The Six Cases of Halh Mongolian Nouns

Below is a description of each case with examples. It is important to note that the order in which the cases are presented is arbitrary and holds no particular significance or hierarchy.

Nominative Case

The nominative case is used when the noun is the subject of the sentence. It usually answers the question, "Who or what is doing the action?" It is the default form of the noun and has no suffix.

Halh Mongolian	Pronunciation	English
эрэгтэй	[ɛrɛktɛi]	man (subject)

Examples:

• Энэ хот маш чанар амьдрах мөн, "This city is also good to live in."
• Мэдэхгүй гэдэг нь сагсан бөмбөг биш, "Unknown means not bad at bowling."

Genitive Case

The genitive case is used to indicate that one noun possesses or belongs to another. In English, the apostrophe and "s" are used to serve the same purpose. The genitive noun usually follows the word it modifies, and the suffix "-ын/-ийн" or "-н" is added to the base word to indicate the case.

Halh Mongolian	Pronunciation	English
хүүхэдний	[xʊːxɛt.niː]	of the children

Examples:

• Сайн хайртай хүүхэднийг яваарай, "You are going with the children that we love."
• Миний майг үнэхээр сүүлд нэрсэн байна, "I lost my cat recently."

Dative Case

In Halh Mongolian, the dative case is used to indicate the indirect object (to whom or for whom). The suffix "-д/-т" is added to the base word to indicate the case.

Halh Mongolian	Pronunciation	English
мэргэжилтэйд	[mɛrgɛʒiltɛi.təit]	to the professionals

Examples:

• Мэндчилгээг хүлээн аваад төгсгөн өгөөрэй, "Please receive my appreciation and be assured of my highest respect."
• Бусад мэргэжилтэйд шинэ авьяас орж ирэхэд хүрнээрэй, "Good luck to the other professionals who will come with new clothes."

Accusative Case

The accusative case is used for the direct object of the sentence. It usually answers the question, "Whom or what the subject of the sentence did or is doing something to?" The suffix "-г/-гийг" is added to the base word to indicate the case.

Halh Mongolian	Pronunciation	English
машинг	[ma.ʃiŋ]	car

Examples:

• Тэд харваачид машинг өөснийчүүдээ тоглож байхдаа, "They are cheering on the racecars."
• Машингийн түүх нь өөрөө ухаантай, "The history of the car is unique."

Ablative Case

In Halh Mongolian, the ablative case is used to indicate motion away from something. The suffix "-аас/-ээс" is added to the base word to indicate the case.

Halh Mongolian	Pronunciation	English
гэрээс	[gɛreiːs]	from home

Examples:

• Бякад байрлаад хүү муруйлжин түүхий гэрээс дагаж яваарай, "The child leaves the house completely exhausted and goes from rock to rock."
• Гэрээс гараад үхэл оройт юунаас харан, "When I came out of my house, I saw something far."

Instrumental Case

In Halh Mongolian, the instrumental case is used to indicate the means or tool by which something is done. The suffix "-аар/-ээр" is added to the base word to indicate the case.

Halh Mongolian	Pronunciation	English
хоолоор	[xoːlɔːr]	with a spoon

Examples:

• Миний л зураг зурна. Хоолоор хийлээ гэсэн тэвчээр байлаа, "I took a picture of myself. I had a vague intention of pretending to eat with a spoon."
• Тодорхойлолт: Давхар салхины налуу хоосон хүсэлт үүсэв.", "Explanation: A second request for an empty truck was made by salhi inul."

Conclusion

Noun cases are a fundamental component of Halh Mongolian grammar. They are used to show the contextual information surrounding nouns, including the grammatical relationships between the nouns and their positions in sentences. While mastering the six cases may pose several challenges, the language's consistency will help you in mastering it quickly. By practicing and using these cases continually, you will take your first steps in understanding more complex grammar rules of Halh Mongolian.

Table of Contents - Halh Mongolian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to the Halh Mongolian Alphabet

• Cyrillic Script
• Vowel Harmony

  ---

Basic Greetings and Expressions

• Greetings
• Polite Expressions

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Cases
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal Numbers
• Ordinal Numbers
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Dining Phrases

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Mongolian Customs and Traditions

• Traditional Holidays
• Mongolian Etiquette

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

  ---

Mongolian Music and Arts

• Traditional Music
• Visual Arts

Related Lessons

• Conditional Verbs
• How to Use Have
• Causative Verbs
• Past Tense
• Pronouns
• 0 to A1 Course
• Adverbs
• Future Tense Verbs
• Present Tense Verbs