Basic Verbs in Present Tense

We use different verb forms if the verb has an object, or if does not and whether the object is definite or indefinite. This situation is absolutely unknown in English. For example: Hozok egy szket. I bring a chair. (indefinite) Hozom a szket. I bring the chair. (definite) This means that verbs have 2 conjugations, definite and indefinite. The definite vs indefinite contrast is used in all verb tenses, mode and in all person/number combination. Now, how to find which one to choose? It can be rather complicated, I cover only the most common occurence here -- just leave something for the intermediate level *lol* 1. For intransitive verbs (they can not have an object) use the indefinite form. Examples: megy (go), fut (run), mosolyog (smile). 2. Use indefinite form for indefinite object: Ltok egy ft. (I see a tree.) Hivok valakit. (I call somebody.) 3. Use definite form for a definite object: Nzem a filmet. (I watch the movie.)

Present Tense Indefinite

Singular -ok/ -ek /-k -sz /-asz/-esz -ol /-el/-l -Plural -unk, -nk -tok/ -tek/-tk -otok/-etek/-tk -nak/ -nek/ -anak/ -enek

1st 2nd 3rd

These suffixes are harmonizing 2 or 3 form suffixes. The choice is determined by the vowel harmony. Here are some examples: mos(wash) nz (look) fz Sg 1st. mosok nzek fzk 2nd mosol nzel fzl 3rd mos nz fz Pl 1st. mosunk nznk fznk 2nd mostok nztek fztk 3rd mosnak nznek fznek

Present Tense Definite

Singular -om/ -em /-m -od /-ed/-d -a/ -ja/ -i Plural -juk/ -jk/ -uk/ k -tok/ -jtok/-itek -otok/-etek/-tk -k/ -jk/ -ik

1st 2nd 3rd

Here are some examples: mos(wash) mosom mosod mossa mossuk mosstok mossk nz (look) nzem nzed nzi nzzk nzitek nzik fz fzm fzd fzi fzzk fzitek fzik

Sg 1st. 2nd 3rd Pl 1st. 2nd 3rd

More verbs - Indefinite mode

Ige / Verb n / I Te / You / He,she,it Mi / We Ti / You k / They olvas / read olvasok olvasol olvas olvasunk olvastok olvasnak r / write rok rsz r runk rtok rnak hoz / bring hozok hozol hoz hozunk hoztok hoznak nekel / sing nekelek nekelsz nekel nekelnk nekeltek nekelnek vesz / buy veszek veszel vesz vesznk vesztek vesznek mond / say mondok mondasz mond mondunk mondotok mondanak

These verbs - In Definite mode

Ige / Verb n / I Te / You / He,she,it Mi / We Ti / You k / They olvas / read olvasom olvasod olvassa olvassuk olvasstok olvassk r / write rom rod rja rjuk rjtok rjk hoz / bring hozom hozod hozza hozzuk hozztok hozzk nekel / sing nekelem nekeled nekeli nekeljk nekelitek nekelik vesz / buy veszem veszed veszi vesszk veszitek veszik mond / say mondom mondod mondja mondjuk mondjtok mondjk

Basic sentences with verbs with objects (definite):

Knyvet olvas. Zent hallgatok. Levelet rok. Dalt nekelsz. Ebdet fz. Kati ebdet fz. Some question with verbs: Mit csinlsz? What are you doing? In the sentences above we can use the word "mit." Mit olvasol? Regnyt olvasok. Mit eszel? Kenyeret eszek. Mit irsz? Hzi feladatot irok. (I am writing my homework. )

Vowel Prefixes
Vowel prefixes change the meaning of the word completely, just like off, up, out, etc. in English. Let's study the most common prefixes in Hungarian: be (in) le (down) vissza (back) ki (out) ssze ( -><- ) t (through) fel (up) szt ( <-->) meg

-meg has slightly different meaning if it is connected to different verbs. We will deal with this later. Study the meaning of the following versions of the verb "megy" (go): bemegy, kimegy, visszamegy, felmegy, lemegy, sszemegy(shrinken), sztmegy (go wrong), tmegy. Sample sentences: -Hova viszed a knyvet?

-Felviszem a azobmba. -Mit csinlsz? -Leteszem az asztalra a tollat. -Hova msz? -Kimegyek az udvarra. -Mit iszol? -Beveszem az orvossgot. -Hova viszed a kenyeret? -Visszateszem a polcra. And this is just the present tense, and we still haven't covered the different modes. But please, don't give up. In my opnion, after a while you will "feel" what ending to choose - in the meantime just try to form sentences and don't mind if you have mistakes. I recommend you to print out this page and use these tables as patterns to follow. Try the quiz, where you need to change sentences back and forth between definite and indefinite mode. This is a self-test with answers. Good luck!