Auxiliary Verbs (modal and Temporal)
Most Hungarian auxiliary verbs are impersonal; beside them, the suffixed infinitive is used. A few are conjugated. (Note: personal suffixes are marked in bold.)
Auxiliary verb | Meaning | Form | Example with meaning | |
---|---|---|---|---|
kell | obligation | impersonal | kell mennem | I must/ have to go |
kellene /kéne | advice & suggestions | impersonal | kellene mennem kéne mennem |
I should/ought to go |
muszáj | strong obligation | impersonal | muszáj mennem | I have got to go |
szabad | permission | impersonal | szabad mennem | I am allowed to go |
tilos | prohibition | impersonal | tilos mennem | I must not go |
fog | future intention | conjugated | fogok menni | I am going to go |
tud | ability | conjugated | tudok menni | I can go |
Modal suffix | ||||
-hat/-het | opportunity, permission | conjugated | mehetek | I can go I may go |
The suffix -hat/-het mentioned in the last row can be further conjugated, just like any verb.
The verb lehet is used impersonally, e.g. oda lehet menni "one can go there".
Read more about this topic: Hungarian Verbs
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