Hungarian Verbs - Definite and Indefinite Conjugations

Definite and Indefinite Conjugations

In Hungarian, verbs not only show agreement with their subjects but also carry information on the definiteness of their direct objects. This results in two types of conjugations: definite (used if there is a definite object) and indefinite (if there is no definite object):

Verb with suffix for
present tense, 1st person singular		 Object
Intransitive verb
 Olvasok (I'm reading)
(type 1 - suffix indicating no definite object)		 ∅
Transitive verb
 with an indefinite object
 egy könyvet. (a book)
with a definite object
 Olvasom
(type 2 - suffix indicating definite object)		 a könyvet. (the book)

Basically, the indefinite conjugation is used if there is no definite object, that is i) if there is no object at all, or ii) if the object is indefinite (see details below). However, exceptionally, the indefinite conjugation is also used if the object is a 1st or 2nd person pronoun, either stated or not (even though personal pronouns are actually definite by nature).

An object is indefinite if it is:

  1. a noun with no determiner
  2. a noun with an indefinite article
  3. a noun with a numeral or an indefinite determiner (e.g. "all, some, no")
  4. an indefinite pronoun such as "something, anything, everyone" etc.
  5. an interrogative pronoun
  6. a relative pronoun


The definite conjugation is used if the verb has a definite object, which can be:

  1. a noun with a definite article
  2. a noun with the determiners melyik, hányadik ('which') or mindegyik ('each'); the noun may be omitted in these constructions
  3. a 3rd person pronoun, either stated or unstated
  4. a demonstrative pronoun ("this, that")
  5. the indefinite pronoun mind ('all ')
  6. a subordinate clause


Note that a special suffix (-lak/-lek) is used if the verb has a first person singular subject AND a second person (singular or plural) object, e.g. Szeretlek. ("I love you." - singular), Szeretlek titeket. ("I love you all." - plural).


Examples:

Indefinite (látsz) Definite (látod)
You (can) see ∅.
You can see something.
You can see a book.
You can see me/us. (!)
You can see some/two (of them).
You can't see anything/anyone.
You can see everything/everyone.
Who/What/how many can you see?
The person/book that you can see is...		 You can see the book.
You can see this book.
You can see him/her/it/them.
You can see yourself.
You can see Mary.
You can see both (books).
You can see all (the books).
Which (person/book) can you see?
You can see (that) I'm here.


Read more about this topic:  Hungarian Verbs

Famous quotes containing the words definite and/or indefinite:

    “My talents fall within definite limitations. I am not as versatile an actress as some think.”
    —Greta Garbo (1905–1990)

    “For me chemistry represented an indefinite cloud of future potentialities which enveloped my life to come in black volutes torn by fiery flashes, like those which had hidden Mount Sinai. Like Moses, from that cloud I expected my law, the principle of order in me, around me, and in the world.... I would watch the buds swell in spring, the mica glint in the granite, my own hands, and I would say to myself: “I will understand this, too, I will understand everything.””
    —Primo Levi (1919–1987)