Hungarian grammar

There are two Conjugations. They are called in Hungarian the ikes (pronounced ik-ash), having ik, and the iktelen, without ik, conjugations, because verbs belonging to the ikes conjugation have the termination ik in the third person singular present indicative, while those belonging to the iktelen conjugation have not.

The Hungarian verb has only one difficulty, and when the student has mastered that he will have very little trouble.

Every transitive verb has two forms, called the definite and the indefinite forms, according to whether the object is determinate, or more or less indefinite.

Irom is the definite form, because the object is a clearly marked-out one.

Irok is the indefinite form, because the object is not so clearly marked out.

The definite form is used when the object governed by the transitive verb is a certain determinate object. For example:—

1. When the substantive is a proper noun.

2. When the article az or a precedes the substantive.

3. When the substantive is used with a personal suffix.

4. When the object of the sentence is a demonstrative pronoun, the third personal pronoun, or the reflexive pronoun, magam, &c.

The indefinite form is used when the object is less determinate.

It is used even when the substantive is preceded by a cardinal numeral.

But if, by a demonstrative, or by the article alone, we point to some particular man or men, we must use the definite form.

The indefinite is used when the object is an infinitive verb (such verb itself having no further object), or a relative pronoun.

IKTELEN VERBS.

Example.—Vágni, to cut.

Notes on above example.

All regular iktelen verbs whose vowels are flats (see page 2) are conjugated like vágni.

Imperfect Indicative.—This tense is never used now in prose, though it was so used formerly. It is occasionally to be met with in poetry.

Past Indicative.—This is equivalent to both the perfect and the preterite in English. Thus, vágtam means both “I have cut,” and “I cut.”

Future Indicative.—Instead of fogok (I will), with the infinitive, it is customary to use the present indicative with some adverb indicating futurity. Thus instead of holnap fogom vágni a tüzelő fát, it would be better to say holnap vágom a tüzelő fát, to-morrow I (shall) cut the firewood. Hamar elmegyek, I (shall) go soon.

There is no form of future perfect now in use. Its place is taken by either the present or the past tense, together with some adverb indicating futurity.

Subjunctive Mood.—A past tense of the subjunctive was formerly in use, formed from the past indicative followed by legyen, e.g. hogy vágtam legyen. This is never used now, its place being taken by the present subjunctive.

Conditional Mood.—The present tense is identical with the Imperative.

Infinitive.—The use of the infinitive with personal suffixes will be explained in the paragraph relating to the verb kelleni (page 59).

Participles.—Examples:—

-ván, -vén, is used more frequently than -va, -ve, but only in cases similar to the above examples, where one clause is dependent on another.

Verbs with Sharp Vowels.

The rules of euphony which regulate nouns and their suffixes (see page 2), apply also to verbs and their endings.

Hence, while vágni, a “flat” word, gives vágok, vágom, &c., “sharp” words like verni (to beat), törni (to break), give verek, verem, &c., török, töröm, &c.

In this tense, as in the other tenses and moods, these verbs resemble vágni, except that as the vowel of the stem is a “sharp,” the vowel of the ending must also be a sharp.

IKES VERBS

Many ikes verbs are transitive, and such verbs, like those of the iktelen conjugation, have both the definite and indefinite forms.

The definite form of the ikes verbs is exactly the same as that of the iktelen verbs.

It is in the indefinite form that ikes verbs differ from iktelen verbs.

Examples.

It will be noticed that it is only in the singular number that the indefinite form of the ikes verbs differs from that of the iktelen verbs; the first person always ending in m (thus resembling the definite form), and the second person in l, while the third person present indicative ends in ik.

Notes on the Verb in General.

The Passive Voice. — There is in Hungarian no passive voice, although certain grammarians attempted to introduce one. The only parts of the verb which have a passive significance are the past and future participles. Where, in English, we should say, “I am loved,” in Hungarian it is necessary to say “szeretnek engem” (they love me), or “valaki szeret engem” (one loves me).

Construction of First Person.—If the first person acts on the second person, the distinguishing termination of the verb will be, in all moods and tenses, -lak (for flat words), or -lek (for sharp words). Whereas “I see the dog” would be lát-om a kutyát, “I see thee” is lát-lak; “I saw thee,” látta-lak; “I love thee,” szeret-lek.

Verbs ending with s, sz, or z, double their final letter instead of taking a j in the imperative and subjunctive moods; also in the present indicative, definite form.

Verbs ending in t, preceded by i or a liquid consonant, take, in the imperative and subjunctive moods, an s instead of a j; as gyüjteni, to collect:—

But in the present indicative these verbs retain the j.

Verbs ending in t preceded by a vowel other than i, and all causal verbs, change their final t into s in the imperative and subjunctive present tense, e.g. látni, to see.

In verbs ending in t, preceded by sz, the final t is dropped in the imperative and subjunctive, and sz is doubled, e.g. veszt-eni, to lose.

The Infinitive Ending.—If a verb ends in a double consonant, or a single hard consonant, that would not admit an easy pronunciation of the usual infinitive ending -ni, this ending is joined to the stem by means of the vowel a or e.

In the case of such verbs, all inflections beginning with a consonant are joined to the verb by means of a vowel; e.g. hall-o-tt, not hall-t. The ending t in such cases is always doubled.

Compound Verbs.—Hungarian abounds with compound verbs, as well as with compound words in general. They are made by prefixing to the verb adverbs, postpositions, or affixes for place and direction, which modify the action expressed by the verb accordingly; as, venni, to take; el-venni, to take away; föl-venni, to take up; le-venni, to take down.

The verb is inflected in the same manner as when it stands by itself.

Formation of New Verbal Roots.—The Hungarian language forms new verbal roots by means of the addition of one or more syllables.

1. Factitive.—at, et, tat, tet, to cause to do something.

The object influenced usually takes the suffix -val or -vel.

Sometimes, however, it is put in the accusative.

2. Frequentative.—ogat; indicates a repetition of the action.

3. Diminutive.—kál, or gál, gél.

4. Potential.—hat; indicates permission or power to do something.

More than one of these syllables may be added to the original root.

IRREGULAR VERBS

The most important is lenni, to be.

hinni, to believe.

enni, to eat.

inni, to drink, resembles enni.

IMPERSONAL VERBS