Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Verbs-and-tenses

Hungarian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Hungarian grammar → Verbs and tenses

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on Hungarian verbs and tenses! In this lesson, we will explore the different tenses in the Hungarian language and how to use them to express past, present, and future actions. Understanding verb tenses is essential for effective communication in Hungarian, as it allows us to convey the time frame of an action or event. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of Hungarian verb tenses and be able to use them confidently in your conversations.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

1. The importance of verb tenses in Hungarian 2. Overview of Hungarian verb conjugation 3. Present tense in Hungarian 4. Past tense in Hungarian 5. Future tense in Hungarian 6. Continuous and perfect tenses in Hungarian 7. Conditional and subjunctive moods in Hungarian 8. Exercises to practice using Hungarian verb tenses

Let's get started!

The Importance of Verb Tenses in Hungarian

Verb tenses play a crucial role in any language, including Hungarian. They allow us to express when an action or event takes place, whether it is in the past, present, or future. Hungarian verb tenses are formed by adding tense markers to the verb stem, which indicate the time frame of the action.

Understanding and correctly using verb tenses is essential for effective communication in Hungarian. It helps us convey our thoughts and ideas accurately, as well as understand the timing of events mentioned by others. By mastering verb tenses, you will be able to express yourself more clearly and engage in meaningful conversations with native Hungarian speakers.

Overview of Hungarian Verb Conjugation

Before we dive into the different tenses in Hungarian, let's briefly discuss Hungarian verb conjugation. In Hungarian, verbs can be conjugated to match the subject of a sentence in terms of person, number, and gender. However, unlike some other languages, Hungarian verbs do not change their form based on the subject's person or number.

Instead, Hungarian verbs have a single base form, also known as the infinitive form, which is used as a dictionary form of the verb. From this base form, we add tense markers to indicate the time frame of the action.

Let's take a look at an example to illustrate Hungarian verb conjugation:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
dolgozni	['dolɡoʒni]	to work

In this example, "dolgozni" is the infinitive form of the verb "to work." Regardless of the subject or tense, the base form remains the same. We will add tense markers to this base form to form different verb tenses.

Now that we have a basic understanding of Hungarian verb conjugation, let's explore the different tenses in detail.

Present Tense in Hungarian

The present tense in Hungarian is used to describe actions that are happening now or are generally true. To form the present tense, we add tense markers to the verb stem.

Let's take a look at how the present tense is formed in Hungarian:

Present Tense Markers

The present tense markers in Hungarian depend on the verb type. Hungarian verbs can be classified into two categories: regular verbs and irregular verbs.

1. Regular Verbs: For regular verbs, the present tense marker is "-ik" for third-person singular subjects and "-ek/-ok/-ök" for all other subjects. The specific marker depends on the vowel harmony rules and the conjugation class of the verb.

2. Irregular Verbs: Irregular verbs have their own unique present tense forms that do not follow the regular conjugation patterns. These verbs must be memorized individually.

Examples

Let's see some examples of the present tense in Hungarian:

1. Regular Verb: "tanul" (to study)

• tanulok (I study)
• tanulsz (you study)
• tanul (he/she/it studies)
• tanulunk (we study)
• tanultok (you all study)
• tanulnak (they study)

2. Irregular Verb: "van" (to be)

• vagyok (I am)
• vagy (you are)
• van (he/she/it is)
• vagyunk (we are)
• vagytok (you all are)
• vannak (they are)

As you can see from these examples, the present tense markers are added to the verb stem to indicate the present time frame. Pay attention to the specific markers used for different subjects and verb types.

Past Tense in Hungarian

The past tense in Hungarian is used to describe actions or events that have already happened in the past. To form the past tense, we add tense markers to the verb stem.

Let's take a look at how the past tense is formed in Hungarian:

Past Tense Markers

The past tense markers in Hungarian also depend on the verb type. Regular verbs and irregular verbs have different forms in the past tense.

1. Regular Verbs: For regular verbs, the past tense marker is "-t/-tt" for both singular and plural subjects. The specific marker depends on the final consonant of the verb stem.

2. Irregular Verbs: Irregular verbs have their own unique past tense forms that do not follow the regular conjugation patterns. These verbs must be memorized individually.

Examples

Let's see some examples of the past tense in Hungarian:

1. Regular Verb: "tanul" (to study)

• tanultam (I studied)
• tanultál (you studied)
• tanult (he/she/it studied)
• tanultunk (we studied)
• tanultatok (you all studied)
• tanultak (they studied)

2. Irregular Verb: "volt" (to be)

• voltam (I was)
• voltál (you were)
• volt (he/she/it was)
• voltunk (we were)
• voltatok (you all were)
• voltak (they were)

In the past tense, pay attention to the specific past tense markers used for different verb types. Regular verbs follow the "-t/-tt" pattern, while irregular verbs have their own unique forms.

Future Tense in Hungarian

The future tense in Hungarian is used to describe actions or events that will happen in the future. To form the future tense, we add tense markers to the verb stem.

Let's take a look at how the future tense is formed in Hungarian:

Future Tense Markers

The future tense markers in Hungarian depend on the verb type. Regular verbs and irregular verbs have different forms in the future tense.

1. Regular Verbs: For regular verbs, the future tense marker is "-ni" for all subjects.

2. Irregular Verbs: Irregular verbs have their own unique future tense forms that do not follow the regular conjugation patterns. These verbs must be memorized individually.

Examples

Let's see some examples of the future tense in Hungarian:

1. Regular Verb: "tanul" (to study)

• tanulok (I will study)
• tanulsz (you will study)
• tanul (he/she/it will study)
• tanulunk (we will study)
• tanultok (you all will study)
• tanulnak (they will study)

2. Irregular Verb: "lesz" (to be)

• leszek (I will be)
• leszel (you will be)
• lesz (he/she/it will be)
• leszünk (we will be)
• lesztek (you all will be)
• lesznek (they will be)

In the future tense, pay attention to the specific future tense markers used for different verb types. Regular verbs generally follow the "-ni" pattern, while irregular verbs have their own unique forms.

Continuous and Perfect Tenses in Hungarian

In addition to the basic verb tenses, Hungarian also has continuous and perfect tenses to express ongoing actions and completed actions, respectively.

Continuous Tense

The continuous tense in Hungarian is used to describe actions that are currently happening or were happening in the past. It is formed by combining the present tense of the verb "van" (to be) with the present participle of the main verb.

Let's see an example of the continuous tense in Hungarian:

• Sétálok. (I am walking.)

In this example, "sétálok" is formed by combining the present tense of "van" (vagyok) with the present participle of "sétál" (walking).

Perfect Tense

The perfect tense in Hungarian is used to describe actions or events that have already been completed. It is formed by combining the past participle of the main verb with the auxiliary verb "van" (to be).

Let's see an example of the perfect tense in Hungarian:

• Dolgoztam. (I have worked.)

In this example, "dolgoztam" is formed by combining the past participle of "dolgoz" (worked) with the auxiliary verb "van" (voltam).

Conditional and Subjunctive Moods in Hungarian

In addition to verb tenses, Hungarian also has conditional and subjunctive moods to express hypothetical or doubtful situations.

Conditional Mood

The conditional mood in Hungarian is used to express actions or events that would happen under certain conditions. It is formed by combining the present tense of the verb "lenne" (to be) with the past participle of the main verb.

Let's see an example of the conditional mood in Hungarian:

• Ha lenne időm, olvasnék egy könyvet. (If I had time, I would read a book.)

In this example, "olvasnék" is formed by combining the present tense of "lenne" (lenne) with the past participle of "olvas" (read).

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood in Hungarian is used to express wishes, desires, or recommendations. It is formed by adding the suffix "-a/-e/-je" to the verb stem.

Let's see an example of the subjunctive mood in Hungarian:

• Kívánom, hogy boldog legyél. (I wish you to be happy.)

In this example, "legyél" is the subjunctive form of "lenni" (to be).

Exercises to Practice Using Hungarian Verb Tenses

Now that we have covered the different tenses in Hungarian, it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are some exercises to help you practice using Hungarian verb tenses:

1. Conjugate the verb "tanul" (to study) in the present tense for all subjects.

2. Form the past tense of the verb "ír" (to write) for the first-person singular subject.

3. Conjugate the verb "fut" (to run) in the future tense for all subjects.

4. Create a sentence using the continuous tense to describe an action you are currently doing.

5. Form the perfect tense of the verb "olvas" (to read) for the third-person plural subject.

Solutions:

1. tanulok, tanulsz, tanul, tanulunk, tanultok, tanulnak 2. írtam 3. futok, futsz, fut, futunk, futtok, futnak 4. Péter sétál. 5. olvastak

Take your time to complete these exercises and feel free to review the lesson content if needed. Practice is key to mastering Hungarian verb tenses!

Table of Contents - Hungarian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

• Personal Pronouns
• Present Tense Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time and Frequency

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods and Drinks
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Prepositions and Location

• Common Prepositions
• Expressing Location

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Hungarian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Foods

  ---

Possessive Pronouns and Plurals

• Possessive Pronouns
• Forming Plurals

  ---

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Discussing Interests

  ---

Hungarian History and Geography

• Important Historical Events
• Geography of Hungary

Sources

• Hungarian verbs - Wikipedia
• A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Hungarian Verb Conjugation
• The Hungarian past tense [HungarianReference.com > Grammar ...

Other Lessons

• Passive voice and indirect speech
• 0 to A1 Course
• Aspect and mood combinations
• Imperative and gerund forms
• Possessor
• Plural
• Adjectives
• Future Tense
• Plurals
• How to Use Be