The use of -aaд in Mongolian can be rather confusing for non-native learners. The most common meanings for -aaд is “and then, after”
Words often used with -aaд
oрчим (-аад) about
гаруу – more than
шахам- almost
•Тэр 30 орчим настай. She’s about 30 years old.
•Тэр 30-аад настай. She’s about 30 years old.
•Тэр 30 гаруй настай. She’s more than 30 years old.
•Тэр 30 шахам настай. (Тэр бараг 30 настай) She’s almost 30 years old.
•5 сарын 30-ны орчим. About May 30th.
Actions expressed with –аад4 happens before the main action= and then, after
Ээж боцоод өглөөний цайгаа бэлгэв. Mom got up and then prepared breakfast.
Би гэртээ хариад хичээлээ хийнэ. After coming home, I will do my homework.
Translate the following sentences into Mongolian:
- I woke up and then had breakfast.
- He called me and then cried.
- After talking with him, I watched a movie.
- She saw a bird and then took a picture.
- He kept searching, but couldn’t find his camera.