4Grammar and explanations
Must, need to, should
English has three little words for duties and advice. Mongolian has three constructions, and each one hangs on the verb in its own way.
| Mongolian | What it says | English |
|---|
| –х ёстой | a rule, a duty | must |
| –х хэрэгтэй | a practical need | need to, have to |
| –вал зохино | advice, the right thing to do | should |
–х ёстой: the rule
Put the verb in its dictionary form in –х and add ёстой. Ёс means custom, the proper way, so ёстой says "it is the rule". The verb never changes for the person: би, та and ажилтнууд all take the same ирэх ёстой.
Ажилтнууд есөн цагт ирэх ёстой.employee-PL nine hour-DAT come-PART must"Staff must come at nine."
Орой гэрлээ унтраах ёстой.evening light-REFL switch.off-PART must"In the evening you must switch off the light."
The negative is –х ёсгүй, "must not". It is the word you read on signs and in rules.
Энд хоол идэх ёсгүй."You must not eat here."
–х хэрэгтэй: what the work needs
You met хэрэгтэй in lesson 63. It also follows the –х form, but it describes a practical need, not a rule written on the wall.
Жуулчдад тусалж, асуултад нь хариулах хэрэгтэй."You need to help the tourists and answer their questions."
–вал зохино: advice
Зохино is the present-future of зохих, "to suit, to be right". The verb in front of it takes the conditional –вал / –вол / –вэл / –вөл from lesson 93, so word for word it says "if you do it, it is right". It recommends without ordering, and it sounds a little more formal than –вал дээр ("it would be better") from lesson 113.
Жуулчидтай англиар ярьвал зохино.tourist-PL-COM English-INS speak-CONV suit-PRES-FUT"You should speak English with the tourists."
Цайгаа гал тогоонд уувал зохино.tea-REFL kitchen-DAT drink-CONV suit-PRES-FUT"You should drink your tea in the kitchen."
Which one do I choose?
- A rule, a law, a duty: ёстой. Breaking it is a fault.
- Something the work needs: хэрэгтэй.
- Good advice, the proper way: –вал зохино. You still have a choice.
Asking
Ёстой and хэрэгтэй end in –той and –тэй, so a yes/no question takes юу or юү: Би бас ирэх ёстой юу? "Must I come too?" With a question word, use вэ: Хэдэн цагт ирэх хэрэгтэй вэ? "What time do I need to come?"
Go deeper in the grammar guide: Can, must and may in Mongolian · Wanting and needing in Mongolian · The Mongolian conditional
