These particles are used in Mongolian to ask a "yes" and "no" questions. Some languages also use the same process by adding a particle at the end of the sentence to transform a statement question. The Chinese language uses the particle "ma," and the Japanese language uses the particle "ka".
Questions ending with the particles уу, үү, юу, юү require the use of "yes" or "no" as answers. The principle of vocal harmony governs the rule determining the particle used at the end of the question. The following table shows you the rules for applying this principle.
Particle уу
Word before with posterior vowels such as а, о, у, ы, ю, я and ending with a consonant or indistinct vowel. Examples a, c (below)
Particle үү
Word before with anterior vowels such as э, ө, ү, е, ё, and ending with a consonant or indistinct vowel. Examples e, f
Particle юу
Preceding word ending with a posterior double vowel а, о, у, ы, ю, я. Example b (below)
Particle юү
Preceding word ending with an anterior double vowel э, ө, ү, е, ё, Example d (below)
Example
a) Сайн байна уу? Hello! or How are you?
b) Энэ харандаа юу? Is it a pencil?
c) Энэ танайхан уу? Is it your family?
d) Энэ танай хүү юү? Is it your son?
e) Та Францаас ирсэн үү? Are you from France?
f) Энэ чиний ээж үү? Is it your mother?
g) Энэ таныах уу? Is it your big brother?
h) Таны багш эмэгтэй юү? Is your teacher a woman ?
i) Та канад хүн үү? Are you Canadian?
j) Тэр цагдаа юу? Is he/she police ?
k) Энэ тэдний найз уу? Is it their friend ?
In sentences with interrogative pronouns, хэн "who", юу "what", хэзээ "when", яaгаад "why", ямар "which”, яаж "how", one should use the particles бэ or вэ at the end of question.
The particle бэ should be used after a word ending in –в, -л, -м, -н.
a) Хэн ирсэн бэ? Who came?
b) Та хэнтэй уулзсан бэ? Who (with who) did you meet?
c) Тэр яагаад монгол хэл сурч байна вэ? Why is he/she learning Mongolian?
d) Та юу хийдэг вэ? What are you doing? (as occupation / work)
e) Чи кофе юутай уух вэ? With what do you drink coffee?
f) Ямар ном уншиж байна вэ? Which book are you reading?
g) Хаашаа явах вэ? Toward where are you going?
h) Тэгэлгүй яах вэ? Why not?
j) Та нар юу авах вэ? What will you take?
There may be specific questions where the interrogative particles вэ or бэ omitted. We saw in the previous lesson that this principle of omission also applies to the verb байна (to be).
a) Сонин сайхан юу байна? What’s up? (What are the nice news?)
b) Та юу хийж байна? What are you doing?
c) Хэдэн цаг болж байна? What (How much) time is it?