The Hungarian word order

Specific cases
The quasi – auxiliary verbs

Source: Carol H. Rounds/ Hungarian - An essential grammar

 Specific cases – More on focus I.
Questions

Yes – no questions are characterized by not

having a question word in them. In this
instance the word or phrase being questioned
is in the focus position. This may be any
part of speech. If it is a verb, the coverb
is in the focus position. (It is often
difficult for english speakers to determine
what is specifically questioned.)
 Topic Focus Verb X

- Kedvesek voltak? -

- Sokáig vártak az emberek?

Az emberek sokáig vártak? -

- Meg - vársz engem?

Meg
- fogsz várni engem?

- Engem vársz? -

- Ildikót keresed? -
 Specific cases – More on focus II.
Questions and negation

If a sentence contains both a question

word and negation, they both occur in
the focus preverb position; the
question word precedes negation.

Topic Focus Verb X

- Ki nem kér kávét?

Péter miért nem akar táncolni?

- Kit nem hívtál meg a bulira?

 Specific cases – More on focus III.
Imperatives

An imperative sentence usually begins with the

conjugated imperative verb followed by the
coverb.

Examples:
 Vedd meg azt az inget!
 Buy that shirt!

 Gyertek ide!
 Come here!

 Ne menjetek el nélkülem!
 Don’t go without me!
Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs

The verbs - kell (be necessary), akar

(want), tud (know how, can, be able), lehet
(be possible), szokott (used to, usually),
tetszik (be pleasuring), fog (will - future)
often occur in constructions with a second
verb in the infinitive. When they do, they
require the preverb position be filled. In
such sentences, the quasi – axiliary is the
conjugated verb and the preverb position is
filled with the verbal complement or
modifier of the infinitive – not of the
conjugated verb. If the infinitive has no
verbal complement/ modifier, then it fills
the preverb position itself.
Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs

Although the quasi – axiliary verbs do not

have coverbs, the coverb of the infinitive
with which they occur fills the preverb
position, thus separating itself from the
infinitive.
Examples:
 Le tetszik szállni az autóbuszról? (leszáll)
 Are you getting of the bus?

 Be tudod fejezni a munkát? (befejez)

 Can you finish the work?

 Fel fog hívni holnap. (felhív)

 He will call me tomorrow.
Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs

If the infinitive of the verb does not have a

coverb, its modifying adverb, adverbial or
verbal complement fills the preverb position
of the quasi – auxiliary verb.
Examples:
 A diákoknak sokat kell olvasniuk (sokat olvas)
 The students must read a lot.

 Anita levelet akar írni. (levelet ír)

 Anita wants to write a letter.

 Gyula Pécsen fog lakni. (Pécsen lakik)

 Gyula will live in Pécs.
 Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs
In non - neutral sentences, the focus element
must occupy the focus position immediately before
the conjugated verb; in this case the modifier of
the infinitive (coverb, adverb, etc.) precedes
the infinitive.

Examples:
 Márta aludni akar.
 Márta wants to sleep.

 Reggel mosni szokott.

 In the morning he usually does the laundry.

 Nekünk tanulnunk kell.

 We have to study.
Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs

If the infinitive has neither a

coverb, modifying adverb, adverbial
or verbal complement, the infinitive
itself occupies the preverb position.

Let’s see some examples!

Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs
Neutral = N; Focus = F

N: Le tetszik szállni az autóbuszról?

Are you getting of the bus?
F: Nem tetszik leszállni az autóbuszról?
Aren’t you getting of the bus?

N: Fel fog hívni holnap.

He will call me tomorrow.
F: Mikor fog felhívni?
When will he call me?
F: Holnap fog felhívni. (answer to question)
He will call me tomorrow.
Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs
N: A diákoknak sokat kell olvasniuk.
The students must read a lot.
F: Kinek kell sokat olvasnia?
Who has to read a lot?
F: Miért kell sokat olvasniuk?
Why do they have to read a lot?

N: Gyula Pécsett fog lakni.

Gyula will live in Pécs.
F: Gyula fog Pécsett lakni, nem a húga.
Gyula is going to live in Pécs, not his sister.
F: Gyula nem fog Pécsett lakni.
Gyula is not going to live in Pécs.
Word order of the quasi – auxiliary verbs

N: Márta aludni akar.

Márta wants to sleep.
F: Ki akar aludni?
Who wants to sleep?
F: Márta akar aludni. (answer to question)
Márta wants to sleep.
 More verbs that follow the word order
patterns of quasi - auxiliaries
bír can, manage to
kezd begin
kíván wish
mer dare
óhajt desire
próbál try
szándékozik wish, intend to
szeretne would like
talál happen to
The End