Үйл үг + дайвар
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Тэр хурдан гүйнэ.
He/she runs fast.
Би монгол хэлийг сайн ойлгоно.
I understand Mongolian well.
Чангаар ярьж болохгүй.
You must not speak loudly.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Дайвар үг нь үйл үгийн өмнө байрладаг (verb-modifying adverbs precede the verb in Mongolian).
Хурдан (fast), удаан (slow/long), сайн (well), муу (badly), чангаар (loudly), намуухан (quietly), их (very/a lot).
Common Error Patterns
Placing adverb after verb (English transfer)
Many adjectives double as adverbs in Mongolian — no -ly suffix needed
Тэр хурдан гүйнэ.
He/she runs fast.
Adverb (хурдан) comes before verb (гүйнэ) in Mongolian, unlike English.
Би монгол хэлийг сайн ойлгоно.
I understand Mongolian well.
Сайн (good/well) as adverb: directly before the verb ойлгоно.
Чангаар ярьж болохгүй.
You must not speak loudly.
Чангаар (loudly) precedes the verb-chain ярьж болохгүй (must not speak).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Put it into practice
Try a free exercise from the courseFrequently asked questions
- When is Үйл үг + дайвар used?
- Дайвар үг нь үйл үгийн өмнө байрладаг (verb-modifying adverbs precede the verb in Mongolian).
- How is Үйл үг + дайвар formed?
- Хурдан (fast), удаан (slow/long), сайн (well), муу (badly), чангаар (loudly), намуухан (quietly), их (very/a lot).