nézve / képest / fogva

Complex Postpositions

Level 3

Unlike simple postpositions (like előtt), complex postpositions like nézve, képest, and fogva require the noun to carry a specific case suffix. They express comparison, perspective, or reason.

How It Works

In Hungarian, while many postpositions follow a noun in its base form, a significant group governs specific cases. These three are common examples:

1. nézve (Regarding / With respect to): Governs the sublative case (-ra/-re). It defines the scope of a statement (e.g., rám nézve - regarding me). When used with the delative (-ról/-ről) or elative (-ból/-ből), it retains a more literal meaning of 'looking from' a perspective.
2. képest (Compared to / Relative to): Governs the allative case (-hoz/-hez/-höz). It is a common way to express 'relative to' or 'in comparison with' (e.g., tavalyhoz képest - compared to last year).
3. fogva (By virtue of / From / Holding):

  • With the adessive case (-nál/-nél), it can mean 'by virtue of' (formal) or literally 'holding by' (e.g., fogantyúnál fogva - holding by the handle). In formal or figurative contexts, the noun almost always requires a possessive suffix before the case ending (e.g., hivatalánál fogva - by virtue of his office).
  • With the ablative case (-tól/-től), it means 'from [a certain time] onwards'. In this temporal sense, it is often interchangeable with kezdve (e.g., mától fogva or mától kezdve - from today onwards).

When used with personal pronouns, the pronoun must take the required case suffix (e.g., hozzám képest - compared to me).

Examples (5)

  1. A tavalyi évhez képest idén sokkal melegebb van.

    Compared to last year, it is much warmer this year.

    Word by Word: The last year-to compared-to this-year much warmer is.

    Here, 'év' (year) takes the allative suffix '-hez' because it is followed by 'képest'.

  2. A jövőre nézve ez egy nagyon fontos döntés.

    Regarding the future, this is a very important decision.

    Word by Word: The future-onto regarding this a very important decision.

    The noun 'jövő' (future) takes the sublative suffix '-re' as required by 'nézve'.

  3. Mától fogva minden nap fogok edzeni.

    From today onwards, I will exercise every day.

    Word by Word: Today-from from every day will-I exercise.

    In a temporal sense, 'fogva' follows the ablative case '-tól'.

  4. Hivatalánál fogva köteles segíteni.

    By virtue of his office, he is obliged to help.

    Word by Word: Office-his-at by-virtue-of obliged to-help.

    This formal usage requires the adessive case '-nál'.

  5. Hozzám képest te nagyon magas vagy.

    Compared to me, you are very tall.

    Word by Word: To-me compared-to you very tall are.

    When using a pronoun, the pronoun 'én' becomes 'hozzám' (allative form) before 'képest'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case (base form) before these postpositions.

    A tavalyi év képest...
    A tavalyi évhez képest...

    Unlike 'alatt' or 'után', 'képest' cannot follow a base noun; it must have the -hoz/-hez/-höz suffix.

  • Using 'fogva' for simple cause-and-effect in casual speech.

    Az esőnél fogva nem mentünk ki.
    Az eső miatt nem mentünk ki.

    'Fogva' is very formal and usually implies legal or logical necessity. For 'because of rain', use 'miatt'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

nézve / képest / fogvaLevel 3Complex Postpositions

Learn This First

These complex postpositions are derived from verbs or function as relational markers that require specific case endings on the preceding noun. Understanding the adverbial participle (-va/-ve) explains the morphology of 'nézve' and 'fogva', while knowledge of the sublative and ablative cases is necessary to correctly form the phrases they govern.

Words in This Pattern

nézveképestfogva