Definite Conditional

Level 2

The definite conditional is used for hypothetical actions ('would') when the verb has a specific object (like 'the book' or 'him'). It combines the conditional marker -na/-ne with definite endings.

How It Works

The definite conditional mood (feltételes mód, tárgyas ragozás) is essential for expressing hypothetical situations or polite desires involving a definite object.

1. When to Use It
You must use this form instead of the indefinite conditional when the object is:

  • A proper name (e.g., Péter).
  • A noun with a definite article (e.g., a könyvet).
  • A noun with a possessive suffix (e.g., a tollamat). Note: If the noun is preceded by the indefinite article 'egy' (e.g., egy barátomat), the object is indefinite and therefore requires the indefinite conditional conjugation (e.g., Várnék egy barátomat).
  • A third-person pronoun (him, her, it, them). Note: Hungarian usually drops these pronouns entirely, relying on the definite conjugation to imply the object (e.g., Várnám usually stands alone to mean 'I would wait for him/her/it').
  • A formal You pronoun (Ön, Önök, maga, maguk), as these are grammatically 3rd person.
  • A reflexive pronoun (e.g., magamat).
  • A reciprocal pronoun (egymást).
  • A demonstrative pronoun like ez or az.
  • A subordinate clause acting as the object, often introduced by hogy (e.g., Mondanám, hogy... - I would say that...).

Note: Unlike 3rd person pronouns, 1st and 2nd person pronouns (engem, téged, minket, titeket) always trigger the indefinite conjugation (with the exception of the 'I ... you' form, see below) (e.g., Várnál engem? - Would you wait for me?).

2. Formation
The pattern consists of the verb stem + the conditional marker (-ná/-né) + definite personal endings. If the verb stem ends in two consonants (e.g., fest - to paint) or in a long vowel + t (e.g., fűt - to heat, tanít - to teach), a linking vowel (-a- or -e-) is inserted before the conditional marker (e.g., festené - he/she would paint it, fűtené - he/she would heat it), with a few exceptions like lát (látná), tát (tátná), and vét (vétné). However, a few verbs ending in a double consonant, such as áll, száll and varr, take no linking vowel (e.g., áll -> megállná). In the definite conditional, the marker vowel is always long (á/é) across all persons. Note that the 1st person singular indefinite form always uses the front vowel -nék (e.g., én várnék), even for back-vowel verbs. The 3rd person singular and plural forms are where the distinction is clearest: the 3rd person singular definite uses long vowels (-ná/-né) while the indefinite uses short vowels (-na/-ne). Similarly, the 3rd person plural definite uses a long vowel (várnák) while the indefinite uses a short vowel and an extra syllable (várnának).

Back Vowel Verbs (e.g., vár - to wait):

  • én várnám (I would wait for it)
  • te várnád (you would wait for it)
  • ő várná (he/she would wait for it)
  • mi várnánk (we would wait for it)
  • ti várnátok (you all would wait for it)
  • ők várnák (they would wait for it)

Front Vowel Verbs (e.g., kér - to ask for):

  • én kérném (I would ask for it)
  • te kérnéd (you would ask for it)
  • ő kérné (he/she would ask for it)
  • mi kérnénk (we would ask for it)
  • ti kérnétek (you all would ask for it)
  • ők kérnék (they would ask for it)

3. Special Forms and Pitfalls

  • The 'I ... You' Form: When the subject is 'I' and the object is 'you' (singular or plural), use the special -nálak / -nélek ending (e.g., szeretnélek - I would love you).
  • Identical Plural Forms: The 1st person plural (mi) and 2nd person plural (ti) forms are exactly identical in both the definite and indefinite conjugations (e.g., várnánk, várnátok). Context or explicit pronouns are required to distinguish whether the object is definite or indefinite.
  • Ambiguity: For front-vowel verbs the ending -nék is ambiguous. For example, kérnék can mean 'I would ask for (something indefinite)' OR 'they would ask for (something definite)'. Context is key.
  • Vowel Harmony: The conditional mood only uses two variants (-ná/-né). Unlike the present tense, there is no rounding harmony; even rounded front-vowel verbs use -né (e.g., főzném, never *főznöm).
  • Irregular Stems: Verbs like eszik use the stem en- (e.g., enném). Other common exceptions include iszik (to drink) -> inná, vesz (to buy/take) -> venné, and visz (to carry) -> vinné.

4. Past Conditional
To express the past conditional definite (e.g., 'I would have waited for it'), use the past definite conjugation of the verb followed by the uninflected word volna (e.g., vártam volna - I would have waited for him/her/it).

Examples (6)

  1. Szeretném ezt a süteményt.

    I would like this cake.

    Word by Word: I-would-like-it this the cake-ACC.

    Uses the definite ending '-ném' because 'ezt a süteményt' (this cake) is a definite object.

  2. Ha lenne pénzem, megvenném azt a házat.

    If I had money, I would buy that house.

    Word by Word: If would-be money-my, [prefix]-buy-would-I-it that the house-ACC.

    The verb 'megvenném' is definite because the object 'azt a házat' (that house) is specific.

  3. Kérnéd a vizet?

    Would you ask for the water?

    Word by Word: Ask-would-you-it the water-ACC?

    The ending '-néd' is used because 'a vizet' (the water) has a definite article.

  4. Látnálak téged, ha itt lennél.

    I would see you if you were here.

    Word by Word: See-would-I-you you-ACC, if here would-be-you.

    The special '-nálak' ending is used for the 'I verb you' relationship in the conditional mood.

  5. Elolvasnám a könyvedet.

    I would read your book.

    Word by Word: [prefix]-read-would-I-it the book-your-ACC.

    Nouns with possessive suffixes like 'könyvedet' (your book) always trigger the definite conjugation.

  6. Megmutatnák nekünk a várost?

    Would they show us the city?

    Word by Word: [prefix]-show-would-they-it to-us the city-ACC?

    The ending '-nák' indicates a 3rd person plural subject acting on a definite object ('a várost').

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indefinite ending with a definite object.

    Szeretnék azt a könyvet.
    Szeretném azt a könyvet.

    Because 'azt a könyvet' (that book) is a definite object, you must use the definite ending '-ném' instead of the indefinite '-nék'.

  • Confusing the 1st person singular back-vowel ending.

    Várnék a buszt.
    Várnám a buszt.

    In the indefinite conditional, 'én' is always '-nék' (várnék). But in the definite conditional, it follows vowel harmony: '-nám' for back vowels and '-ném' for front vowels.

How It Connects

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Definite ConditionalLevel 2

Learn This First

To become confident with the definite conditional conjugation, you must first understand the general concept of the conditional mood in Hungarian. Additionally, you need to be familiar with the distinction between definite and indefinite conjugation, as this pattern specifically applies when the verb has a definite third-person object.