Conjugation Terminology

Level 5

Hungarian verbs have two sets of endings: Subjective (Indefinite) and Objective (Definite). The choice depends entirely on the specific nature of the direct object.

How It Works

In Hungarian, the relationship between a verb and its object is so close that the verb ending itself signals the object's definiteness. This system is traditionally called alanyi ragozás (subjective) and tárgyas ragozás (objective).

1. The Subjective (Indefinite) Conjugation:
Used when:

  • The verb is intransitive (has no object), like 'to go' or 'to sit'.
  • The object is preceded by egy (a/an).
  • The object is a bare noun (e.g., 'I am eating bread').
  • The object is a number or most quantifiers like sok or minden.
  • The object is a 1st or 2nd person informal pronoun ('me' or 'you').
  • The quantifier 'valamennyi' is used in the sense of 'some' or 'a little'.

2. The Objective (Definite) Conjugation:
Used when:

  • The object is preceded by the definite article a/az (the).
  • The object is a proper name (e.g., 'I see János').
  • The object is a 3rd person pronoun (him, her, it, them) or a formal 'you' pronoun like Ön or Maga.
  • The object is a possessed noun (e.g., 'my book').
  • The object is a reflexive pronoun (himself, myself).
  • The object is a hogy-clause (e.g., 'I know that...').
  • The object is a specific quantifier like mindegyik (each one) or 'valamennyi' when it means 'all'.

Special Note: If the object is 'you' (singular or plural) and the subject is 'I', Hungarian uses a unique 'inter-personal' suffix: -lak/-lek.

Examples (5)

  1. Olvasok egy könyvet.

    I am reading a book.

    Word by Word: Read-I a book-ACC.

    Uses the indefinite ending '-ok' because the object 'egy könyv' (a book) is indefinite.

  2. Olvasom a könyvet.

    I am reading the book.

    Word by Word: Read-I-DEF the book-ACC.

    Uses the definite ending '-om' because the object 'a könyv' (the book) is definite.

  3. Látom Jánost.

    I see János.

    Word by Word: See-I-DEF János-ACC.

    Proper names are always definite, so the definite conjugation is required.

  4. Értem.

    I understand (it).

    Word by Word: Understand-I-DEF.

    Even if the object 'it' is not spoken, the definite ending '-em' implies a specific thing being understood.

  5. Szeretlek.

    I love you.

    Word by Word: Love-I-YOU.

    This uses the special '-lak/-lek' suffix for a 1st person subject acting on a 2nd person object.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indefinite conjugation for formal 'you' pronouns.

    Látsz Önt.
    Látom Önt.

    While informal 'you' (téged) triggers the indefinite conjugation, formal 'you' pronouns like Ön and Maga are grammatically 3rd person and require the definite conjugation.

  • Using the indefinite conjugation for 'me' or 'you' (informal).

    Látom téged.
    Látlak. / Látsz engem.

    Learners often think 'you' is definite. However, 1st and 2nd person informal objects trigger the indefinite conjugation (or the special -lak/-lek form).

  • Saying Tudok when you mean 'I know it' (a specific fact).

    Different MeaningTudok.
    Tudom.

    If you mean 'I know it' (referring to a specific fact), you must use the definite form 'Tudom'. 'Tudok' means 'I am capable' or 'I know (in general)'.

How It Connects

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Conjugation TerminologyLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand the terminology of 'subjective' (alanyi) and 'objective' (tárgyas) conjugations, a learner must already be familiar with the two distinct sets of verb endings in Hungarian and how they relate to the presence or absence of a definite object.