Language/Halh-mongolian/Grammar/Imperative-Verbs
In this lesson, we will cover imperative verbs in Halh Mongolian. Imperative verbs are used to give commands, suggestions, or advice to others. This is an important aspect of communication, particularly in social and business settings. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to use imperative verbs with confidence.
Forming Imperative Verbs
In Halh Mongolian, imperative verbs are formed by adding specific suffixes to the verb stem. The suffix that is used depends on the final vowel of the verb stem.
Verb stem ending in -а/-я: The suffix -н is added to the verb stem for singular commands and the suffix -наа is added for plural commands.
Verb stem ending in -э/-е: The suffix -й is added to the verb stem for singular commands and the suffix -йтеэх is added for plural commands.
Verb stem ending in -ө/-ү: The suffix -өө is added to the verb stem for singular commands and the suffix -өөрөө is added for plural commands.
Verb stem ending in -о/-үү: The suffix -оо is added to the verb stem for singular commands and the suffix -оороо is added for plural commands.
Examples:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| хэлнэ | helne | speak! |
| хандах | handah | go! |
| бичих | bichih | write! |
| үзэх | uzekh | see! |
| амьдрал | amtral | enjoy life! (used as a noun) |
As you may have noticed, some verbs may have to change slightly when forming the imperative verb. For example, амьдрах (to live), changes to амьдрал to become a noun, and later to the imperative form амьдрал!
Using Imperative Verbs
Imperative verbs are commonly used in the following situations:
1. Giving Commands: To give commands to someone, you can use the imperative verb directly.
Example: Алга тавих! (alga tavikh) -- Stop doing that!
2. Making Suggestions: To make suggestions, you can use the imperative form followed by the particle -ж болно (-j bolno).
Example: Суулгахыг зөвшөөрч болно. (suulgahyg zovshoorch bolno) -- You can sit down.
3. Offering Assistance: To offer help, you can use the imperative form followed by the particle -аарай (-aarai).
Example: Чөлөөлөхөөсөө үргэлжлүүлээрэй. (choloolokhooсо urgeljluuleerei) -- Let me help you with carrying it.
4. Requesting Assistance: To request help, you can use the imperative form followed by the particle -аардаж (-aardaj).
Example: Хоногийн өдрүүдэд биш тэмдэгт мэдээллийг бичихээр бидэнд туслаарай. (honogiin odruudеd bish temdegт medeeleliig bichikheeri bindend tusalaraй ) -- Help us by writing important information on the calendar.
Notes on Using Imperative Verbs
When using imperative verbs, it's important to note the following:
- Imperative verbs are typically used for affirmative commands, and not for negative commands. - When making negative commands, Halh Mongolian uses a different form, which we will cover in a later lesson. - Imperative verbs do not have any tense distinctions. - Imperative verbs are not used to express requests or ask for permission. Halh Mongolian uses different forms to express these concepts, which we will cover in a later lesson.
Practice Makes Perfect
Now that you know how to form and use imperative verbs, it’s time to practice! Here are some exercises to help you master imperative verbs. Simply translate the following sentences into Halh Mongolian:
- Watch this movie!
- Come here!
- Take your time.
- Don’t be late!
- Drink water!
- Read this book!
Answers:
| Halh Mongolian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| кино үз! | kino uz! | Watch this movie! |
| эндээс ир! | endees ir! | Come here! |
| хугацаа аваарай. | hugatsaa avaarai. | Take your time. |
| хоосон бус болохгүй! | khooson bus bolokhgui! | Don't be late! |
| ус хүндээ ор! | us khundee or! | Drink water! |
| энэ номыг унши! | ene nomog unshi! | Read this book! |
Keep practicing and soon using imperative verbs will become second nature!