Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The -san suffix turns a verb into a past tense action, describing something that has already happened.
- Add -san to the verb stem: 'bi yawsan' (I went).
- Use -san for completed actions in the past.
- Negate by adding -güi: 'bi yawaagüi' (I did not go).
Past Tense Conjugation
| Verb Stem | Suffix | Past Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Yaw
|
-san
|
Yawsan
|
Went
|
|
Id
|
-sen
|
Idsen
|
Ate
|
|
Uze
|
-sen
|
Uzesen
|
Watched
|
|
Och
|
-son
|
Ochson
|
Arrived
|
|
Unsh
|
-san
|
Unshisan
|
Read
|
|
Ir
|
-sen
|
Irsen
|
Came
|
Meanings
The -san suffix is the primary way to express the past tense in Mongolian, indicating a completed action or state.
Completed Action
An action that finished in the past.
“Bi nom unshisan.”
“Ter irsen.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + -san
|
Yawsan
|
|
Negative
|
Stem + -aagüi
|
Yawaagüi
|
|
Question
|
Stem + -san uu?
|
Yawsan uu?
|
|
Past Continuous
|
Stem + -j baisan
|
Yawj baisan
|
|
Negative Question
|
Stem + -aagüi üü?
|
Yawaagüi üü?
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Bi delgüür luu yawsan. (Daily life)
Bi delgüür yawsan. (Daily life)
Delgüür yawsan. (Daily life)
Delgüür orson. (Daily life)
The -san Suffix Map
Usage
- Past Completed action
Harmony
- -san/-sen Vowel matching
수준별 예문
Bi yawsan.
I went.
Ter irsen.
He came.
Bi nom unshisan.
I read a book.
Bid khool idsen.
We ate food.
Chi kino uzesen üü?
Did you watch the movie?
Bi öchigdör ajillaagüi.
I didn't work yesterday.
Ter khaan yawsan be?
Where did he go?
Bid Mongol ruu nissen.
We flew to Mongolia.
Bi ene nomoo khoyor jiliin ömnö unshisan.
I read this book two years ago.
Ter namaig khüleej baisan.
He was waiting for me.
Bid khotod ireed olon yum uzesen.
We came to the city and saw many things.
Chi yagaad irsen be?
Why did you come?
Tüünii khelsen üg nadad ikh nölöölsön.
The words he said influenced me a lot.
Bidnii khüssen ür dün garch irsen.
The result we wanted has emerged.
Ter ajlaa amjilttai duusgasan.
He finished his work successfully.
Ene bol bidnii yarij baisan sedev.
This is the topic we were discussing.
Tüünii khelsen bükhniig bi sanaj baina.
I remember everything he said.
Bidnii khüleej baisan tsag irsen.
The time we were waiting for has arrived.
Ter ööriin khüssen zamaraa yawsan.
He went the way he wanted.
Ene bol bidnii khüleej baisan khariult.
This is the answer we were waiting for.
Tüünii khelsen üg bol bidnii khüleej baisan züil.
His words were what we were waiting for.
Bidnii khüssen bükh züil biyelüülsön.
Everything we wanted has been realized.
Ter ööriin khüssen züilee khürtesen.
He received what he wanted.
Ene bol bidnii khüleej baisan khariult.
This is the answer we were waiting for.
혼동하기 쉬운
Mixing up -san and -na.
자주 하는 실수
Bi yaw-san
Bi yawsan
Bi yawaagüi
Bi yawaagüi
Bi yawsan baisan
Bi yawsan
Bi yawsan
Bi yawsan
문장 패턴
Bi ___ -san.
Real World Usage
Yawsan!
Vowel Harmony
Smart Tips
Check the vowel.
발음
Vowel Harmony
The vowel in -san must match the root vowel.
Question
Yawsan uu? (rising)
Asking for confirmation
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'SAN' as 'SAW AND NOTICED'—it happened in the past.
시각적 연상
Imagine a stamp labeled 'DONE' hitting a piece of paper every time you say a verb ending in -san.
Rhyme
When the day is done and gone, add the suffix -san.
Story
Yesterday, I woke up (bosson). I ate (idsen). I went (yawsan) to school. I studied (surtsan).
Word Web
챌린지
Write 5 sentences about what you did yesterday using -san.
문화 노트
The past tense is used heavily in storytelling.
Ancient Mongolic past participle.
대화 시작하기
Chi öchigdör yu khiisen be?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Bi nom ___.
Score: /1
연습 문제
1 exercisesBi nom ___.
Score: /1
자주 묻는 질문 (1)
No, it changes based on vowel harmony.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pretérito perfecto
Mongolian uses suffixes, Spanish uses auxiliary verbs.
Passé composé
Mongolian is agglutinative.
Perfekt
German uses 'haben/sein'.
Ta-form
Japanese has more irregulars.
Past tense
Arabic is root-based.
Le
Chinese is isolating.
