Podmínková spojka -бол

"If": the conditional ending

Mongolian does not use a separate word for "if" in most sentences. Instead, the verb of the condition takes an ending, and the condition comes first:

Mongolian	English
Бороо орвол, гэртээ байна.	If it rains, I'll stay at home.
Чи ирвэл, бид хамт явна.	If you come, we'll go together.
Цаг гарвал залгаарай.	If you get a moment, give me a call.

Choosing the ending

Verb stem	Ending	Example
back vowels а, у	-вал	гар- → гарвал (if it comes out)
о	-вол	ор- → орвол (if it rains / enters)
front vowels э, ү, и	-вэл	ир- → ирвэл (if one comes)
ө	-вөл	өг- → өгвөл (if one gives)
stem ends in в, л, м	-бал / -бол / -бэл / -бөл	яв- → явбал (if one goes), ал- → албал

бол with nouns and adjectives

For "if it is ..." with no verb, use the word бол: Мөнгөтэй бол авна - If (I) have money, (I'll) buy it. Хүйтэн бол дээлээ өмс - If it's cold, put on your deel.

For English speakers

Keep the order: condition first, result second. English allows "I'll stay home if it rains"; Mongolian strongly prefers the -вал clause in front. The result clause takes the ordinary non-past (байна, явна) or an imperative, not the conditional ending. Learners sometimes add хэрэв ("if") at the start: Хэрэв бороо орвол... That is correct, but it is an extra; the ending is required, хэрэв is optional.