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MASTER HUNGARIAN GRAMMAR

Despite what you have heard, Hungarian grammar is actually quite easy to learn! This Grammar Section is designed to make learning the rules as quick as possible so you can start building your own sentences. Unlike other courses we want you to familiarise with the most important rules to speak Hungarian immediately from today.

We use the Zagreb Method for teaching grammar. Instead of presenting grammar as abstract rules, we integrates it directly into real-life communication and scenarios. Our students are introduced to grammar through dialogues and situational context that reflect everyday interactions. The method also incorporates repetition and variation, gradually increasing the complexity of sentences to help learners internalize grammatical patterns naturally.

The sections below cover everything you need to know from basic sentence construction and verb conjugations to more complex topics like noun cases, gender agreements, together with practical examples to help you understand and memorise the Hungarian grammar rules. Be sure to learn the core 2000 Hungarian vocabulary first so you can follow the examples more easily.

Click on the titles below to reach the section you are interested in or simply start learning from the beginning. 

• Alphabet

• Nouns

• Cases

• Articles

• Adjectives

• Pronouns

• Prepositions

• Adverbs

• Present Tense

• Past Tense

• Future Tense

• Imperative

• Passive

• Negation

• Word Order

• Questions

• Relative Clauses

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Hungarian Alphabet and Pronunciation

The Hungarian alphabet is unique and phonetic, making it straightforward to pronounce once you understand the sounds associated with each letter. Hungarian uses a Latin-based alphabet with 44 characters, including several digraphs (pairs of letters that represent a single sound) and unique vowel combinations.

The Hungarian alphabet consists of the following letters:
A, Á, B, C, Cs, D, Dz, Dzs, E, É, F, G, Gy, H, I, Í, J, K, L, Ly, M, N, Ny, O, Ó, Ö, Ő, P, R, S, Sz, T, Ty, U, Ú, Ü, Ű, V, Z, Zs

Special Features

• Accented vowels: Accents on vowels, such as Á or É, indicate long vowel sounds. These are distinct from their short counterparts, and length can change the meaning of words.

• Digraphs: Letter combinations like Cs, Gy, Ly, Ny, Sz, Ty, and Zs are considered single letters with their own unique sounds.

• Unique vowels: Letters like Ö, Ő, Ü, and Ű represent special sounds not commonly found in English.

Hungarian Pronunciation

Hungarian pronunciation is consistent and follows strict rules. Once you learn the sounds of each letter or digraph, you’ll find Hungarian much easier to read aloud.

Vowels

Hungarian vowels are either short or long:

• Short vowels include A, E, I, O, Ö, U, Ü.
  For example, A is pronounced like the "a" in car, while E sounds like the "e" in net.

• Long vowels include Á, É, Í, Ó, Ő, Ú, Ű.
  For example, Á is similar to a longer "a" in father, and Í is like the "ee" in see, but pronounced for a longer duration.

The length of a vowel is crucial in Hungarian and often changes the meaning of words. For example, szar (with a short "a") means crap, while szár (with a long "á") means stem.

Consonants

Most consonants are pronounced like their English counterparts, but Hungarian includes several digraphs with unique sounds:

• Cs sounds like "ch" in chat.

• Gy is similar to the "d" in duty.

• Ly is pronounced like "y" in yes.

• Ny is like the "ny" in canyon.

• Sz is pronounced like "s" in see, while S is like "sh" in shoe.

• Ty resembles the "t" in tune.

• Zs is pronounced like the "z" in azure.

Hungarian also uses double consonants, such as ssz, tt, or nn, which indicate a prolonged pronunciation of the sound.

Stress and Consistency

1. Stress: Hungarian words are always stressed on the first syllable, regardless of their length. For instance, in the word számítógép (computer), the stress falls on Szá.

2. Consistency: Unlike in English, Hungarian letters are always pronounced the same way, making it easier to learn correct pronunciation.

Vowel Harmony

Hungarian has a fascinating feature called vowel harmony, where the vowels in a word determine the type of suffix it will take. Words with back vowels (A, Á, O, Ó, U, Ú) take back-vowel suffixes, while words with front vowels (E, É, I, Í, Ö, Ő, Ü, Ű) take front-vowel suffixes. This harmony adds a logical and melodic quality to the language.

Hungarian Nouns

In Hungarian, articles are essential parts of speech that help indicate whether you are referring to something specific (definite) or general (indefinite). Understanding how to use these articles correctly is a key step in mastering Hungarian grammar.

Indefinite Article: "Egy"

The Hungarian indefinite article is "egy", equivalent to the English "a" or "an." It is used when referring to a nonspecific or unknown object or person.

Examples:

• Egy könyv az asztalon van. There is a book on the table.

• Egy lány sétál az utcán. A girl is walking on the street.

Here, the speaker is not referring to a specific book or girl.

Note:

While "egy" is also the word for the number "one", its meaning as an article depends on the context.

• Egy könyvet szeretnék. I would like a book.

• Csak egy könyvem van. I only have one book.

Definite Article: "A" and "Az"

The Hungarian definite articles "a" and "az" correspond to the English "the" and are used when referring to a specific object or person.

• "A" is used before words beginning with a consonant.

• "Az" is used before words beginning with a vowel, similar to how "a" and "an" work in English.

Examples:

• A fiú fut a parkban. The boy is running in the park.

• Az alma piros. The apple is red.

In these examples, the boy and the apple are specific and known to the speaker and listener.

Key Differences Between Definite and Indefinite Articles

Hungarian articles convey whether the speaker is pointing to something specific or not, just like in English. However, Hungarian has a unique verb conjugation system that also distinguishes between definite and indefinite objects.

Comparison:

• Egy kutyát látok. I see a dog. (indefinite)

• A kutyát látom. I see the dog. (definite)

Notice the verb forms:

• látok (indefinite conjugation) for an unspecified object.

• látom (definite conjugation) for a specific object.

Omitting Articles

In Hungarian, articles are usually required, but there are some cases where they can be omitted, particularly in expressions or phrases such as:

• Reggelit eszem. I am eating breakfast.

• Iskolába megyek. I am going to school.

These instances often involve habitual actions or places, where the article is implied rather than explicitly stated.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using "a" instead of "az" before a vowel:

  • Incorrect: A alma finom.

  • Correct: Az alma finom. (The apple is delicious.)

• Forgetting to use articles entirely:

  • Incorrect: Könyv az asztalon van.

Hungarian Cases

Hungarian is a highly inflected language with an extensive system of noun cases. These cases are used to express grammatical relationships and often replace prepositions. Hungarian has 18 cases, each with its own suffix. Below is an overview of the most commonly used noun cases, their meanings, and examples to help you understand how they work.

1. Nominative Case

The nominative is the base form of a noun, used for subjects of sentences.

• Example: a macska (the cat)

  • A macska alszik. (The cat is sleeping.)

2. Accusative Case

Indicates the direct object of a verb, marked with the suffix -t.

• Example: a könyvet (the book)

  • Olvasom a könyvet. (I am reading the book.)

3. Dative Case

Used for indirect objects, marked with the suffix -nak/-nek.

• Example: a gyereknek (to the child)

  • Adok a gyereknek egy ajándékot. (I am giving a gift to the child.)

4. Instrumental Case

Indicates the means or instrument of an action, marked with -val/-vel.

• Example: a tollal (with the pen)

  • Írok a tollal. (I am writing with the pen.)

5. Superessive Case

Denotes location on a surface, marked with -n/-on/-en/-ön.

• Example: az asztalon (on the table)

  • A könyv az asztalon van. (The book is on the table.)

6. Delative Case

Indicates movement off a surface, marked with -ról/-ről.

• Example: az asztalról (off the table)

  • Levettem a könyvet az asztalról. (I took the book off the table.)

7. Sublative Case

Denotes movement onto a surface, marked with -ra/-re.

• Example: az asztalra (onto the table)

  • Rátettem a könyvet az asztalra. (I put the book onto the table.)

8. Inessive Case

Indicates location inside something, marked with -ban/-ben.

• Example: a szobában (in the room)

  • A macska a szobában van. (The cat is in the room.)

9. Elative Case

Denotes movement out of something, marked with -ból/-ből.

• Example: a szobából (out of the room)

  • Kijött a szobából. (He came out of the room.)

10. Illative Case

Indicates movement into something, marked with -ba/-be.

• Example: a szobába (into the room)

  • Belépett a szobába. (She entered the room.)

11. Adessive Case

Denotes location near or by something, marked with -nál/-nél.

• Example: a háznál (by the house)

  • A kutya a háznál van. (The dog is by the house.)

12. Ablative Case

Indicates movement away from something, marked with -tól/-től.

• Example: a háztól (from the house)

  • Elment a háztól. (He left from the house.)

13. Allative Case

Denotes movement toward something, marked with -hoz/-hez/-höz.

• Example: a házhoz (to the house)

  • Odament a házhoz. (She went to the house.)

14. Causal-Final Case

Indicates the reason or purpose of an action, marked with -ért.

• Example: a gyerekért (for the child)

  • Mindent megteszek a gyerekért. (I do everything for the child.)

15. Terminative Case

Denotes the endpoint of an action, marked with -ig.

• Example: a folyóig (until the river)

  • Elment a folyóig. (He went up to the river.)

16. Essive-Modal Case

Indicates a temporary state or role, marked with -ként.

• Example: tanárként (as a teacher)

  • Dolgozik tanárként. (He works as a teacher.)

17. Distributive Case

Denotes distribution, marked with -kéntként.

• Example: naponta (per day)

  • Háromszor eszik naponta. (He eats three times per day.)

18. Distributive-Temporal Case

Used for repeated actions over time, marked with -nta/-nte.

• Example: hetente (weekly)

  • Hetente egyszer találkoznak. (They meet once a week.)

Hungarian Adjectives

Adjectives in Hungarian are an essential part of speech used to describe or modify nouns. Like in English, they provide additional information about the characteristics, qualities, or attributes of a noun. However, Hungarian adjectives have some unique grammatical rules and features that make them distinct. Here's an overview of how adjectives work in Hungarian.

The Basic Form of Adjectives

In their basic, dictionary form, Hungarian adjectives are uninflected and can stand alone. For example:

• szép beautiful

• nagy big

• kicsi small

• gyors fast

Adjective Agreement

Hungarian adjectives agree with the noun they modify in case and number when used in certain grammatical contexts. However, in many everyday cases, adjectives remain in their base form.

Examples:

• Ez egy szép ház. This is a beautiful house. (Adjective does not change.)

• Szép házak. Beautiful houses. (Plural noun, adjective remains unchanged.)

When the noun takes a suffix for a specific grammatical case, the adjective often takes the same suffix:

• A szép házat látom. I see the beautiful house.

• A szép házban vagyok. I am in the beautiful house.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Hungarian adjectives have comparative and superlative forms to express degrees of comparison.

Comparative Form

To make an adjective comparative, add the suffix -bb to the adjective:

• szép → szebb more beautiful

• gyors → gyorsabb faster

For some adjectives, vowel length changes may occur:

• kicsi → kisebb smaller

• nagy → nagyobb bigger

Superlative Form

To form the superlative, add the prefix leg- to the comparative form:

• szép → legszebb the most beautiful

• gyors → leggyorsabb the fastest

Using Adjectives as Predicates

When adjectives are used as predicates, they remain in their base form:

• A ház szép. The house is beautiful.

• Az autó gyors. The car is fast.

Adjective-Noun Agreement in Possessive Constructions

When a noun is in a possessive form, the adjective describing it does not take a possessive suffix but remains in its base form:

• A szép házam. My beautiful house.

• A gyors autód. Your fast car.

Adjectives Used as Nouns

In Hungarian, adjectives can function as nouns when the context implies the noun being referred to:

• A szép a kertben van. The beautiful one is in the garden.

• A nagyobb drágább. The bigger one is more expensive.

Common Irregularities

While most adjectives follow regular patterns, a few irregular adjectives exist:

• jó → jobb (comparative: better) → legjobb (superlative: the best)

• rossz → rosszabb (comparative: worse) → legrosszabb (superlative: the worst)

Intensifiers and Modifiers

Adjectives can be modified with intensifiers to express degrees of quality:

• nagyon szép very beautiful

• kissé gyors slightly fast

• rendkívül drága extremely expensive

Practice Examples

1. Ez egy nagy könyv. This is a big book.

2. A kisebb kutya gyorsabb, mint a nagyobb. The smaller dog is faster than the bigger one.

3. A legszebb virágot választottam. I chose the most beautiful flower.

4. Milyen szép nap! What a beautiful day!

Hungarian Pronouns

Hungarian is a unique language with a highly systematic approach to pronouns. Understanding how personal, possessive, and demonstrative pronouns work is essential for building sentences and expressing relationships or ownership. Here’s an overview of how these pronouns function in Hungarian.

Personal Pronouns

Hungarian personal pronouns are used similarly to English, but they are often omitted because the verb conjugations already indicate the subject. When needed for emphasis or clarity, they are as follows:

• First Person Singular: Én (I)

• Second Person Singular: Te (You)

• Third Person Singular: Ő (He/She)

• First Person Plural: Mi (We)

• Second Person Plural: Ti (You all)

• Third Person Plural: Ők (They)

Key Features:

• The pronoun is usually left out in sentences because Hungarian verb endings indicate who the subject is. For example: Olvasok ("I am reading") already implies "I," so Én is not needed.

• The pronoun Ő is gender-neutral and is used for both "he" and "she." Context clarifies the gender.

Possessive Pronouns

Hungarian expresses possession differently than English, as it integrates possessive information directly into the noun instead of using separate possessive pronouns.

Formation:

To indicate possession, a suffix is added to the noun, and it changes based on the possessor and whether the noun is singular or plural.

• Example:

  • könyv (book)

  • könyvem (my book)

  • könyved (your book)

  • könyve (his/her book)

Plural Possession:

When the possessed object is plural, an additional suffix is used:

• könyveim (my books)

• könyveid (your books)

• könyvei (his/her books)

Hungarian also has standalone possessive pronouns, which are used for emphasis:

• Enyém (mine)

• Tiéd (yours)

• Övé (his/hers)

• Miénk (ours)

• Tiétek (yours, plural)

• Övék (theirs)

Example sentence: Ez a könyv az enyém. ("This book is mine.")

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns indicate specific things or people and correspond to "this" and "that" in English. Hungarian uses:

• Ez (this)

• Az (that)

Usage with Nouns:

Demonstratives are typically paired with nouns, and the definite article a or az is required:

• Ez a könyv (this book)

• Az a könyv (that book)

Plural Form:

To refer to multiple items, the noun takes a plural suffix:

• Ezek a könyvek (these books)

• Azok a könyvek (those books)

Combining Pronouns in Sentences

Hungarian pronouns are highly flexible and often integrate with verb conjugations and possessive structures. Here are a few examples:

• Ő a barátom. ("He/She is my friend.")

• Ez az autó a miénk. ("This car is ours.")

• Ezek a házak az övék. ("These houses are theirs.")

Hungarian Prepositions

Prepositions are an essential part of Hungarian grammar, connecting words and indicating relationships between objects, people, or ideas. In Hungarian, prepositions often work differently compared to English. They are typically followed by a specific case and are used to express location, direction, time, or abstract relationships. Here’s a guide to help you understand how Hungarian prepositions function.

Prepositions and Postpositions

Hungarian has both prepositions (placed before a noun) and postpositions (placed after a noun). While many European languages primarily use prepositions, Hungarian uses postpositions frequently. These often depend on the relationship being expressed.

Examples of common postpositions:

• alatt (under): Az asztal alatt van. (It’s under the table.)

• fölött (above): A lámpa fölött van. (It’s above the lamp.)

• mellett (beside): A ház mellett parkoltam. (I parked next to the house.)

Location vs. Movement

In Hungarian, prepositions/postpositions often change based on whether the action involves location (static) or movement (dynamic). These nuances are expressed through the cases associated with the noun.

• Static location (Where?): Often uses the locative suffix -ban/-ben (in), -on/-en/-ön (on), or -nál/-nél (at).
  Example: A könyv az asztalon van. (The book is on the table.)

• Movement toward (To where?): Uses the directional suffix -ba/-be (into), -ra/-re (onto), or -hoz/-hez/-höz (to).
  Example: Bemegyek az épületbe. (I’m going into the building.)

• Movement away (From where?): Uses the ablative suffix -ból/-ből (out of), -ról/-ről (off), or -tól/-től (from).
  Example: Kiléptem az épületből. (I stepped out of the building.)

Common Prepositions and Usage

Some Hungarian prepositions behave more like their English counterparts and precede the noun. These include:

• miatt (because of): Az időjárás miatt nem mentünk el. (We didn’t go because of the weather.)

• ellen (against): Harcolt a szabályok ellen. (He fought against the rules.)

• között (between): A két ház között parkoltam. (I parked between the two houses.)

Combining Prepositions with Personal Pronouns

When a preposition or postposition relates to a pronoun, it often merges with the appropriate possessive ending to indicate the person.

Examples:

• mellettem (beside me): Az autó mellettem állt. (The car was parked beside me.)

• benned (inside you): Benned van a megoldás. (The solution is inside you.)

• nélküle (without him/her): Nélküle nem mentem volna el. (I wouldn’t have gone without him/her.)

Time Expressions with Prepositions

Hungarian prepositions also help describe time. Here are a few examples:

• előtt (before): Az óra előtt érkeztem. (I arrived before the lesson.)

• után (after): Az óra után találkozunk. (We’ll meet after the lesson.)

• óta (since): Január óta tanulok magyarul. (I’ve been learning Hungarian since January.)

Abstract Uses of Prepositions

Hungarian prepositions extend beyond physical space and time to express abstract relationships:

• érdekében (for the sake of): Az ügy érdekében dolgozunk. (We are working for the sake of the cause.)

• ellenére (despite): Az eső ellenére elmentünk kirándulni. (Despite the rain, we went hiking.)

Hungarian Adverbs

Adverbs in Hungarian are essential for adding detail and precision to sentences. They modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire clauses, providing information about time, manner, place, degree, or frequency. Here’s an overview of how adverbs function in Hungarian and how they can enrich your language skills.

Forming Adverbs

In Hungarian, adverbs can be formed in various ways, often by modifying the base form of an adjective. A common method is adding the suffix -an or -en to an adjective. For example:

• gyors (fast) → gyorsan (quickly)

• szép (beautiful) → szépen (beautifully)

The choice between -an or -en depends on vowel harmony. If the adjective has front vowels (e.g., e, é, i), use -en; for back vowels (e.g., a, o, u), use -an.

Some adverbs, however, do not follow this pattern and must be learned as they are. For example:

• most (now)

• nagyon (very)

• ott (there)

Types of Adverbs

Hungarian adverbs can be categorized based on their function:

1. Adverbs of Time

These indicate when an action occurs:

• ma (today)

• holnap (tomorrow)

• tegnap (yesterday)

• mindig (always)

• soha (never)

2. Adverbs of Manner

These describe how something happens:

• lassan (slowly)

• jól (well)

• rosszul (badly)

3. Adverbs of Place

These specify where an action takes place:

• itt (here)

• ott (there)

• közel (close)

• messze (far)

4. Adverbs of Degree

These show intensity or degree:

• nagyon (very)

• elég (enough)

• túl (too, overly)

5. Adverbs of Frequency

These indicate how often something happens:

• gyakran (often)

• ritkán (rarely)

• néha (sometimes)

Adverb Placement

In Hungarian, adverbs typically appear near the word they modify. For example:

• Gyorsan fut. (He/She runs quickly.)

• Ma találkozunk. (We are meeting today.)

• Ott voltam. (I was there.)

However, word order in Hungarian can be flexible for emphasis. Moving the adverb within a sentence can highlight different elements, but this is more advanced and context-dependent.

Negation with Adverbs

To negate an adverb, Hungarian uses the word nem (not) before it:

• Nem gyakran eszik halat. (He/She doesn’t often eat fish.)

• Nem itt lakik. (He/She doesn’t live here.)

Hungarian Present Tense Verbs

In Hungarian, the present tense is used to describe actions or states happening now or regularly. Hungarian verbs are conjugated according to the subject (person and number) and follow specific rules based on definite or indefinite conjugation. Additionally, vowel harmony influences the suffixes attached to verbs.

Subject Pronouns

While subject pronouns (én, te, ő, mi, ti, ők) exist in Hungarian, they are often omitted because the verb conjugation itself indicates the subject. Pronouns are usually included only for emphasis or clarity.

Conjugation Basics

Hungarian verbs follow one of two conjugation patterns: indefinite (when the object is not specific) or definite (when the object is specific). This page focuses on the more commonly used indefinite conjugation.

Conjugation for All Persons

1. First-person singular (én)
   The ending is typically -ok, -ek, or -ök, depending on vowel harmony. For example:

   • Beszélek (I speak)

   • Írok (I write)

2. Second-person singular (te)
   The ending is -sz. For example:

   • Beszélsz (You speak)

   • Írsz (You write)

3. Third-person singular (ő)
   There is no additional suffix in the indefinite conjugation, leaving the base form of the verb. For example:

   • Beszél (He/she speaks)

   • Ír (He/she writes)

4. First-person plural (mi)
   The ending is -unk or -ünk, depending on vowel harmony. For example:

   • Beszélünk (We speak)

   • Írunk (We write)

5. Second-person plural (ti)
   The ending is -tok, -tek, or -tök, depending on vowel harmony. For example:

   • Beszéltek (You all speak)

   • Írtok (You all write)

6. Third-person plural (ők)
   The ending is -nak or -nek, depending on vowel harmony. For example:

   • Beszélnek (They speak)

   • Írnak (They write)

Vowel Harmony

Hungarian suffixes depend on whether the vowels in the verb root are front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) or back vowels (a, o, u). For instance:

• Back vowels: Írok, beszélünk

• Front vowels: Írünk, beszéltek

Irregular Verbs

While most verbs follow the rules above, some verbs have irregular conjugations. For example:

• Lenni (to be):

  • Én vagyok (I am)

  • Te vagy (You are)

  • Ő van (He/she is)

Use of Definite Conjugation

If the verb has a specific object (e.g., the book, my friend), the definite conjugation is used. For example:

• Beszélem a könyvet (I speak about the book).

• Írom a levelet (I write the letter).

Examples in Context

• Én beszélek magyarul, és te? (I speak Hungarian, and you?)

• Ők írnak egy levelet. (They are writing a letter.)

• Mi tanulunk minden nap. (We study every day.)

Hungarian Past Tense Verbs

The past tense in Hungarian is straightforward and essential for expressing actions that have already occurred. It is formed using specific verb endings that change according to the subject (person) and whether the verb follows the definite or indefinite conjugation. Let’s break it down step by step.

Forming the Past Tense

To create the past tense in Hungarian, you start with the verb stem and add the appropriate past tense ending. These endings are influenced by:

1. Person: First, second, or third.

2. Number: Singular or plural.

3. Definiteness: Whether the verb has a definite or indefinite object.

Definite vs. Indefinite Conjugation

In Hungarian, verbs are conjugated differently depending on whether they are definite or indefinite.

• Definite verbs are used when the object is specific or defined (e.g., a könyvet – "the book").

• Indefinite verbs are used when the object is general or not specified (e.g., egy könyvet – "a book").

General Rules for Conjugating Past Tense

1. Add the Past Tense Marker:
   The most common marker for the past tense is the suffix -t or -ott/-ett/-ött, depending on vowel harmony and verb type.

2. Add Person Endings:
   These endings are added after the past tense marker to reflect the subject. For instance:

   • First person singular (én) often ends in -am/-em/-tam/-tem, depending on vowel harmony and definiteness.

   • Second person singular (te) ends in -ál/-él for indefinite and -ad/-ed for definite.

   • Third person singular (ő) has the simplest form, typically ending with -t or the past tense marker alone.

3. Plural Endings:
   For plural subjects (mi, ti, ők), additional suffixes are added to reflect the plural form.

Examples of Past Tense Conjugation

Let’s look at a common verb: látni (to see).

• Indefinite:

  • Én láttam (I saw)

  • Te láttál (You saw)

  • Ő látott (He/She/It saw)

  • Mi láttunk (We saw)

  • Ti láttatok (You all saw)

  • Ők láttak (They saw)

• Definite:

  • Én láttam a könyvet (I saw the book)

  • Te láttad a könyvet (You saw the book)

  • Ő látta a könyvet (He/She/It saw the book)

  • Mi láttuk a könyvet (We saw the book)

  • Ti láttátok a könyvet (You all saw the book)

  • Ők látták a könyvet (They saw the book)

Irregular Verbs

While most Hungarian verbs follow regular patterns in the past tense, a few verbs deviate slightly. For example, menni (to go) becomes:

• Én mentem

• Te mentél

• Ő ment

• Mi mentünk

• Ti mentetek

• Ők mentek

Negative Past Tense

To make a verb negative in the past tense, simply add nem before the conjugated verb:

• Nem láttam (I did not see).

• Nem mentél (You did not go).

Hungarian Future Tense Verbs

The future tense in Hungarian is both fascinating and straightforward compared to some other languages. Unlike English or many other Indo-European languages, Hungarian often expresses the future with the present tense combined with context or specific time expressions. However, there is a separate future construction that uses the auxiliary verb fog alongside the infinitive of the main verb.

Forming the Future Tense with "Fog"

To indicate a clear future action, Hungarian uses the auxiliary verb fog followed by the infinitive form of the main verb. This is the most explicit way to express the future and is used when the time frame of the action is important or needs emphasis.

Structure:
[Conjugated form of "fog"] + [Infinitive of the main verb]

Here’s how the auxiliary verb fog is conjugated:

• First person singular: én fogok

• Second person singular: te fogsz

• Third person singular: ő fog

• First person plural: mi fogunk

• Second person plural: ti fogtok

• Third person plural: ők fognak

For example:

• Én fogok enni. (I will eat.)

• Te fogsz tanulni. (You will study.)

• Ő fog dolgozni. (He/she will work.)

• Mi fogunk utazni. (We will travel.)

• Ti fogtok írni. (You all will write.)

• Ők fognak futni. (They will run.)

Using Present Tense to Indicate the Future

In Hungarian, the present tense is frequently used to talk about future events, especially when the context makes the time frame clear. This is very common in spoken Hungarian and often feels more natural than using fog.

For example:

• Holnap tanulok. (I will study tomorrow.)

• Jövő héten utazunk. (We are traveling next week.)

• Este találkozunk. (We will meet in the evening.)

Here, the time expressions (holnap, jövő héten, este) indicate that the action is in the future, even though the verb is in the present tense.

Differences Between "Fog" and Present Tense Usage

While the auxiliary fog is more formal and definitive, the use of the present tense for future actions is more casual and conversational. If you’re unsure which to use, remember that fog adds clarity and certainty about the future, while the present tense is fine for most everyday situations.

Examples for comparison:

• Én holnap eszek. (I will eat tomorrow. - casual)

• Én holnap fogok enni. (I will eat tomorrow. - formal/emphatic)

Future Intentions and Plans

In some cases, verbs like tervezni (to plan) or akarni (to want) are used with infinitives to express future intentions. These constructions are another way to indicate future actions.

For example:

• Tervezzük, hogy elmegyünk a moziba. (We plan to go to the cinema.)

• Akarok tanulni. (I want to study.)

Focus on context: Hungarian relies heavily on time expressions and context to indicate the future, so mastering key time words like holnap (tomorrow), jövő héten (next week), and este (in the evening) is essential.

Imperatives in Hungarian

The imperative mood in Hungarian is used to express commands, requests, suggestions, or instructions. It is an essential part of the language, and mastering it will help you communicate effectively in everyday situations. Here’s an explanation of how it works.

Formation of the Imperative

To create the imperative form of a verb in Hungarian, you generally use specific suffixes added to the verb stem. The suffixes vary depending on the person (who you are addressing) and the type of verb.

1. Singular Informal (Te): When addressing one person informally, add the suffix -j to the verb stem. If the verb stem ends in a vowel, the suffix might change slightly to fit the rules of vowel harmony or ensure smooth pronunciation.

   • Example: menni (to go) → Menj! (Go!)

   • Example: olvasni (to read) → Olvass! (Read!)

2. Singular Formal (Ön) and Plural Formal (Önök): Use the suffix -jon or -jen depending on the vowel harmony of the verb. This form is polite and is used in formal settings.

   • Example: írni (to write) → Írjon! (Write!)

   • Example: kérni (to ask) → Kérjen! (Ask!)

3. Plural Informal (Ti): When addressing a group informally, use the suffix -jatok or -jetek, depending on vowel harmony.

   • Example: nézni (to watch) → Nézzetek! (Watch!)

   • Example: enni (to eat) → Egyetek! (Eat!)

4. Let’s (Mi): To suggest something like “Let’s do X,” use the suffix -junk or -jünk depending on vowel harmony.

   • Example: menni (to go) → Menjünk! (Let’s go!)

   • Example: tanulni (to learn) → Tanuljunk! (Let’s learn!)

Key Rules

• Vowel Harmony: The suffixes in Hungarian change to harmonize with the vowels in the verb stem. If the verb has back vowels (a, á, o, ó, u, ú), use back vowel suffixes. For front vowels (e, é, i, í, ö, ő, ü, ű), use front vowel suffixes.

• Lengthening or Doubling Consonants: In some cases, the verb stem’s final consonant may double, such as in menni → Menj!, to ensure correct pronunciation.

Examples in Context

• Close the door!: Csukd be az ajtót! (Informal singular)

• Please come here.: Kérem, jöjjön ide. (Formal singular)

• Let’s eat together!: Együnk együtt!

• Write your name!: Írjátok le a neveteket! (Informal plural)

Negative Imperative

To create a negative command, use the word ne before the verb in the imperative mood. The suffix rules remain the same.

• Example: Ne menj el! (Don’t go!)

• Example: Ne beszélj túl hangosan! (Don’t speak too loudly!)

Common Uses

• Giving Directions: Forduljon jobbra! (Turn right!)

• Making Suggestions: Menjünk moziba! (Let’s go to the cinema!)

• Giving Commands: Várj egy pillanatot! (Wait a moment!)

Passives in Hungarian

The passive voice in Hungarian, unlike in English, is not commonly used in everyday speech. Instead, Hungarian relies heavily on active voice constructions and impersonal expressions to convey ideas that would typically use the passive voice in English. However, passive structures do exist in Hungarian, and understanding how they work can enhance your grasp of the language's nuances.

How the Passive Voice Works in Hungarian

In Hungarian, the passive voice is formed using a combination of a verb stem and specific suffixes, along with auxiliary verbs when needed. The passive voice focuses on the action and its recipient rather than the doer (agent) of the action.

The Suffix -TAT/-TET

One of the key ways to form the passive voice in Hungarian is by using the suffixes -tat or -tet. These are attached to the verb stem to indicate that the action is being performed by someone or something else. For example:

• Készít (to make) becomes Készíttet (to have something made).

These constructions are often used in causative forms rather than purely passive ones, emphasizing that the subject is having the action done.

The Verb "Lenni" (To Be)

Another way to express passive voice is by combining the past participle of a verb with the auxiliary verb lenni (to be). This construction is similar to how passive voice is used in English. For instance:

• A levél meg lett írva. (The letter was written.)

• Az étel el lesz készítve. (The food will be prepared.)

In these examples, the emphasis is on the completed action rather than the person performing it.

Impersonal Constructions

Hungarian often replaces passive structures with impersonal ones. Instead of saying "The book was read by the students," a Hungarian speaker might say:

• A diákok olvasták a könyvet. (The students read the book.)

Or, to focus on the action rather than the doer, they might use an impersonal structure:

• El lett olvasva a könyv. (The book got read.)

This approach avoids explicitly mentioning the agent and is more natural in Hungarian.

Using Reflexive Verbs

In some cases, reflexive verbs can imply a passive meaning in Hungarian. For example:

• Az ajtó kinyílt. (The door opened.)

Here, the verb kinyílt is reflexive and suggests that the action happened to the door without specifying the agent.

Key Points to Remember

1. Hungarian prefers active and impersonal constructions over passive ones.

2. The suffixes -tat/-tet can create a sense of passivity but are more commonly used for causatives.

3. Combining a past participle with lenni (to be) forms a classic passive structure but is less common in conversational Hungarian.

4. Reflexive verbs often serve a similar function to the passive voice.

Examples in Context

• A ház fel lett építve. (The house was built.)

• A levél el lett küldve. (The letter was sent.)

• A munka meg lesz csinálva. (The work will be done.)

• A pohár eltört. (The glass broke.)

Negation in Hungarian

Negation is an essential part of any language, and in Hungarian, it’s straightforward once you understand the basic rules. The primary word used to negate statements, questions, or commands is "nem", which means "no" or "not." Here’s how negation works in Hungarian grammar:

Negating Statements

In Hungarian, "nem" is placed directly before the verb to make a sentence negative.

• Example:

  • Positive: Én beszélek magyarul. (I speak Hungarian.)

  • Negative: Én nem beszélek magyarul. (I do not speak Hungarian.)

Notice how "nem" comes before the conjugated verb. This rule applies regardless of the tense.

• Present tense:
  Nem szeretem a kávét. (I do not like coffee.)

• Past tense:
  Nem láttam a filmet. (I did not see the movie.)

• Future tense:
  Nem fogok dolgozni holnap. (I will not work tomorrow.)

Negating Adjectives or Other Elements

When negating an adjective, "nem" is placed before the adjective.

• Example:
  Ez nem nehéz. (This is not difficult.)

If a negative sentence involves a noun or pronoun with a verb, "nem" still precedes the verb.

• Example:
  Ez nem az én könyvem. (This is not my book.)

Answering Questions Negatively

When answering a question negatively, use "nem" followed by the negative sentence.

• Example:

  • Question: Beszélsz angolul? (Do you speak English?)

  • Answer: Nem, nem beszélek angolul. (No, I do not speak English.)

The double usage of "nem" in the answer emphasizes negation in spoken language but is not mandatory.

Negating Imperatives

In commands or requests, Hungarian uses "ne" instead of "nem" for negation.

• Example:
  Ne menj el! (Do not go!)
  Ne egyél túl sokat! (Do not eat too much!)

Expressing “Nobody,” “Nothing,” and Other Negative Pronouns

Hungarian uses specific negative pronouns for negation:

• "senki" (nobody)
  Senki nem jött el. (Nobody came.)

• "semmi" (nothing)
  Semmi nem történt. (Nothing happened.)

These pronouns combine with "nem" to form negative sentences. It’s important to note that Hungarian uses double negatives for emphasis, which is correct and natural in the language.

Common Expressions with Negation

Here are a few everyday negative expressions:

• Nem tudom. (I don’t know.)

• Nem értem. (I don’t understand.)

• Nem érdekel. (I don’t care.)

• Nem baj. (It’s not a problem.)

Sentence Structure in Hungarian

Hungarian is a fascinating language with a flexible word order, largely determined by emphasis and context rather than strict rules. While this can seem challenging for learners at first, understanding the basic sentence structure and key principles can make Hungarian much easier to navigate.

Basic Sentence Structure

The standard sentence structure in Hungarian is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), similar to English. For example:

• Én látom a kutyát. (I see the dog.)
  Here, "Én" (I) is the subject, "látom" (see) is the verb, and "a kutyát" (the dog) is the object.

However, Hungarian is highly flexible, and the word order can change depending on what the speaker wants to emphasize.

Emphasis and Word Order

Hungarian uses word order to highlight the most important part of the sentence. The emphasized word or phrase usually appears directly before the verb.

• A kutyát látom. (It is the dog that I see.)

• Látom a kutyát. (I see the dog.)

In the first example, the emphasis is on "a kutyát" (the dog), while in the second, the emphasis is more neutral.

Sentence Types

Statements

In a simple declarative sentence, the subject typically comes first, followed by the verb and the object:

• A gyerek olvas egy könyvet. (The child is reading a book.)

Questions

Questions often place the question word at the beginning:

• Hol van a könyv? (Where is the book?)

• Mit olvas a gyerek? (What is the child reading?)

Yes-or-no questions are formed by intonation, without changing word order:

• Olvas a gyerek? (Is the child reading?)

Negative Sentences

Negation is formed by placing "nem" (not) before the verb:

• Nem olvasok könyvet. (I am not reading a book.)

Modifiers and Adjectives

In Hungarian, modifiers and adjectives generally precede the noun they describe:

• Egy szép nap. (A beautiful day.)

• Egy nagy kutya. (A big dog.)

Adjectives do not change for gender or number unless they are used predicatively:

• A kutyák nagyok. (The dogs are big.)

Time and Place

Time expressions and location phrases typically come at the beginning of the sentence, but they can also appear elsewhere depending on emphasis:

• Ma megyek a boltba. (Today I am going to the store.)

• A boltba megyek ma. (I am going to the store today.)

Possession

Possession is indicated by suffixes attached to the possessed noun, and the possessor often comes first:

• Az anya könyve. (The mother’s book.)

• A könyv az anyáé. (The book is the mother’s.)

Questions in Hungarian

Hungarian, like any language, has its own rules and structures for forming questions. These can range from simple yes/no questions to more complex ones involving interrogative words. Here’s a clear explanation to help you navigate Hungarian questions with ease.

Yes/No Questions

In Hungarian, forming a yes/no question is straightforward because the sentence structure does not change. Instead, the speaker uses intonation to indicate that it is a question. The voice typically rises at the end of the sentence.

Example:

• Ez a könyv új? (Is this book new?)

• Ő tanár? (Is he/she a teacher?)

To answer, simply use igen (yes) or nem (no).

• Igen, ez a könyv új. (Yes, this book is new.)

• Nem, ő nem tanár. (No, he/she is not a teacher.)

Interrogative Words

Hungarian has a variety of interrogative words that are used to ask specific types of questions. These words usually appear at the beginning of the question.

Common Interrogative Words:

• Ki? (Who?)

• Mi? (What?)

• Hol? (Where?)

• Mikor? (When?)

• Miért? (Why?)

• Hogyan? (How?)

• Mennyi? (How much?)

• Milyen? (What kind?/Which?)

• Kinek? (To whom?)

Examples:

• Ki az a férfi? (Who is that man?)

• Mi ez? (What is this?)

• Hol van a bolt? (Where is the shop?)

• Mikor indul a busz? (When does the bus leave?)

• Miért vagy szomorú? (Why are you sad?)

• Hogyan kell ezt csinálni? (How do you do this?)

• Mennyi az idő? (What time is it?)

• Milyen autót vásároltál? (What kind of car did you buy?)

• Kinek adod ezt a könyvet? (To whom are you giving this book?)

Word Order in Questions

Hungarian is a relatively flexible language when it comes to word order, but in questions, the interrogative word typically comes first, followed by the rest of the sentence. However, the verb placement can vary based on emphasis or context.

Examples:

• Hol van Péter? (Where is Péter?)

• Mit csinálsz most? (What are you doing now?)

• Kivel beszélsz? (Who are you talking to?)

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are also common in Hungarian. These are embedded within a larger sentence and do not use question intonation.

Examples:

• Nem tudom, hol van a kulcs. (I don’t know where the key is.)

• Mondd meg, mit szeretnél enni. (Tell me what you’d like to eat.)

Asking Polite Questions

When you want to be polite, you can add expressions like kérlek (please) or use formal language.

Examples:

• Hol van a legközelebbi étterem, kérem? (Where is the nearest restaurant, please?)

• Meg tudná mondani, mikor indul a vonat? (Could you tell me when the train leaves?)

Relative Clauses in Hungarian

Relative clauses in Hungarian function similarly to those in English but require specific structures. A relative clause provides more information about a noun and is introduced by a relative pronoun or conjunction. In Hungarian, the most common relative pronouns are:

• aki (who, that) – used for people.

• ami (what, that) – used for objects or abstract ideas.

• amely (which, that) – formal and used for objects.

Key Features of Relative Clauses in Hungarian

1. Agreement in Case and Number: The relative pronoun must match the noun it refers to in terms of case and number.

   • Example:

     • A fiú, aki olvas, itt van. (The boy who is reading is here.)

     • A könyv, amit olvasok, érdekes. (The book that I am reading is interesting.)

2. Positioning: The relative clause follows the noun it modifies. Hungarian does not require commas before restrictive relative clauses.

   • Example:

     • A ház, ahol élünk, nagyon szép. (The house where we live is very beautiful.)

3. Verb Agreement: The verb in the relative clause agrees with the subject of the clause.

   • Example:

     • A nő, akit tegnap láttam, kedves volt. (The woman whom I saw yesterday was kind.)

4. Formal Style: In formal or written Hungarian, amely is preferred over ami.

   • Example:

     • A döntés, amelyet hoztak, helyes volt. (The decision which they made was correct.)

Conjunctions in Hungarian

Conjunctions are words that connect clauses, phrases, or words. Hungarian uses a variety of conjunctions, which can be classified into three main types: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative.

Coordinating Conjunctions

These link words or clauses of equal importance. Common coordinating conjunctions include:

• és (and): Péter és Anna iskolába mentek. (Péter and Anna went to school.)

• vagy (or): Teát vagy kávét kérsz? (Would you like tea or coffee?)

• de (but): Elmentem, de nem találtam semmit. (I went, but I didn’t find anything.)

• mert (because): Nem mentem el, mert esett az eső. (I didn’t go because it was raining.)

Subordinating Conjunctions

These introduce subordinate clauses, which depend on the main clause for meaning. Common subordinating conjunctions include:

• hogy (that): Azt mondta, hogy késni fog. (He said that he would be late.)

• ha (if): Ha esik, nem megyek ki. (If it rains, I won’t go out.)

• amikor (when): Amikor hazaért, már késő volt. (When he got home, it was already late.)

• mivel (since, because): Mivel fáradt voltam, lefeküdtem. (Since I was tired, I went to bed.)

Correlative Conjunctions

These pair two related ideas and emphasize their relationship. Examples include:

• nemcsak... hanem is (not only... but also):
  Nemcsak szép, hanem okos is. (She is not only beautiful but also smart.)

• vagy... vagy (either... or):
  Vagy te jössz, vagy én megyek. (Either you come, or I’ll go.)

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