Adjectives
Adjectives never change — no gender, number, or case agreement. Always before the noun
Can use adjectives before nouns and as predicates without agreement changes
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Энэ том, шинэ байшин байна.
This is a big, new building.
Сайн хүмүүс олон байна.
There are many good people.
Энэ ном сонирхолтой байна.
This book is interesting.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Mongolian adjectives never change — same form for singular, plural, any case!
| Mongolian | Meaning | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| сайн | good | сайн хүн | сайн хүмүүс |
| том | big | том байшин | том байшингууд |
| жижиг | small | жижиг ном | жижиг номнууд |
| шинэ | new | шинэ машин | шинэ машинууд |
Position: BEFORE noun (сайн хүн). Predicate: сайн байна (is good).
Adjective agreement; post-nominal placement.
Common Error Patterns
Attempts to inflect adjective for number, gender, or case
Mongolian adjectives NEVER change. сайн хүн / сайн хүмүүс / сайн хүнд — always сайн.
Places adjective after the noun
Adjectives ALWAYS before noun: сайн хүн, NOT хүн сайн.
Энэ том, шинэ байшин байна.
This is a big, new building.
том and шинэ don't change. Multiple adjectives stack before noun.
Сайн хүмүүс олон байна.
There are many good people.
сайн stays the same before plural хүмүүс. олон (many) also invariable.
Энэ ном сонирхолтой байна.
This book is interesting.
Predicate adjective: сонирхолтой + байна. Adjective never changes as predicate.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises