Холбоос үг: ба, гэхдээ, учир нь
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Би цай ба кофе уудаг.
I drink tea and coffee.
Би явмаар байна, гэхдээ завгүй байна.
I want to go, but I am busy.
Тэр хоцорсон, учир нь авто тоормослосон.
He was late because the car broke down.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Холбоос үг (Conjunctions)
Key conjunctions: ба/бөгөөд (and), гэхдээ (but), учир нь (because), эсвэл (or). Note: 'учир нь' (because) follows the cause clause — SOV logic!
- Би ном уншдаг, учир нь сонирхолтой (I read books because it's interesting)
Common Error Patterns
Placing учир нь before the cause instead of after
Using ба in formal writing where бөгөөд is expected
Би цай ба кофе уудаг.
I drink tea and coffee.
ба connects two nouns (and). бөгөөд is more formal equivalent.
Би явмаар байна, гэхдээ завгүй байна.
I want to go, but I am busy.
гэхдээ (but) links contrasting clauses.
Тэр хоцорсон, учир нь авто тоормослосон.
He was late because the car broke down.
учир нь (because) comes after the cause clause (SOV order).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises