Indefinite Conjugation

Level 1

Hungarian has two ways to conjugate verbs. The Indefinite Conjugation is the 'default' version. Use it when you are just describing an action (I am eating) or when the object is general (I am eating an apple).

How It Works

In Hungarian, the verb ending changes depending on whether the object of the sentence is 'definite' or 'indefinite'. The indefinite conjugation (alanyi ragozás) is the primary conjugation pattern used for intransitive verbs and verbs with indefinite objects.

When to use it:

  • No Object: When the verb stands alone. Example: Péter fut (Peter is running).
  • Indefinite Objects: When the object is preceded by egy (a/an), a numeral (két könyv), or quantifiers like sok (many).
  • Zero Article: When a bare noun is used without any article (e.g., Könyvet olvasok - I am reading a book).
  • Indefinite Pronouns: With words like valami (something) or minden (everything). Note: mindegyik (each one) triggers the definite conjugation.
  • Interrogative Pronouns: When asking mit (what) or kit (whom). Note: the interrogative pronoun melyik (which one) always triggers the definite conjugation.
  • 1st and 2nd Person Objects: If the object is 'me', 'us', or 'you' (téged/titeket), the verb stays indefinite. Exceptions: Reflexive objects like 'myself' (magamat) and the formal 'you' (Önt) trigger the definite conjugation. Also, when the subject is 'I' and the object is 'you' (téged/titeket), you must use the special -lak/-lek ending (e.g., Látlak - I see you).

Vowel Harmony:
The endings must match the vowels in the verb stem.

  • Én (I): -ok / -ek / -ök
  • Te (You): -sz (or -ol/-el/-öl after s, sz, z, dz)
  • Ő (He/She/It): (no ending) or -ik
  • Mi (We): -unk / -ünk
  • Ti (You pl.): -tok / -tek / -tök
  • Ők (They): -nak / -nek

Special Cases:
1. Sibilant Stems: If a verb ends in a 'hissing' sound (s, sz, z, dz), the 'Te' form uses -ol/-el/-öl instead of -sz (e.g., főzöl).
2. -Ik verbs: These have a special 3rd person singular ending (-ik) and often use -om/-em/-öm for the 1st person singular.
3. Linking Vowels: Verbs ending in two consonants (e.g., mond, játsz-) or the suffix -ít (e.g., tanít) require a linking vowel (a/e/o/ö) for the 'Te' (-asz/-esz), 'Ti' (-otok/-etek/-ötök), and 'Ők' (-anak/-enek) forms.

Examples (6)

  1. Látok egy kutyát.

    I see a dog.

    Word by Word: See-I a dog-acc.

    The verb 'lát' uses the indefinite ending '-ok' because the object 'egy kutyát' (a dog) is indefinite.

  2. Mit írsz?

    What are you writing?

    Word by Word: What-acc write-you?

    The interrogative pronoun mit (what) always triggers the indefinite conjugation.

  3. Könyvet olvasunk.

    We are reading a book.

    Word by Word: Book-acc read-we.

    Since 'book' is a general category here (no 'the'), we use the indefinite '-unk' ending.

  4. Péter sokat fut.

    Peter runs a lot.

    Word by Word: Peter much-acc runs.

    The verb 'fut' (to run) is intransitive (no object), so it always uses the indefinite conjugation.

  5. Jól nézel ki.

    You look good.

    Word by Word: Well look-you out.

    The verb 'néz' ends in 'z', so the 2nd person singular ending becomes '-el' instead of '-sz'.

  6. Látnak minket.

    They see us.

    Word by Word: See-they us.

    Even though 'us' is specific, Hungarian uses the indefinite conjugation for 1st and 2nd person objects when the subject is 3rd person.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indefinite conjugation with the formal 'you' (Ön/Önök).

    Látok Önt.
    Látom Önt.

    While informal 'you' (téged) triggers the indefinite conjugation, the formal 'you' (Önt/Önöket) is grammatically treated as a 3rd-person definite object and requires the definite conjugation.

  • Using the indefinite conjugation for reflexive objects like 'myself'.

    Látok magamat a tükörben.
    Látom magamat a tükörben.

    Even if the object refers to 'me', if it is the reflexive pronoun maga (myself, yourself, etc.), you must use the definite conjugation.

  • Forgetting the sibilant rule for verbs ending in s, sz, z, or dz.

    Te főzsz.
    Te főzöl.

    When a verb stem ends in a sibilant like 'z', the 'you' ending '-sz' is replaced by '-ol/-el/-öl' for easier pronunciation.

How It Connects

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Indefinite ConjugationLevel 1

Learn This First

To learn indefinite verb conjugation, you must first understand how vowel harmony dictates suffix choices. Additionally, you need to be familiar with subject pronouns to know which person is being conjugated and the concept of indefinite objects to know when this conjugation type is required instead of the definite one.

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