Plural Possessive Case Order
When a noun is plural, owned by someone, and has a case suffix (like 'in' or 'with'), Hungarian follows a rigid order: Stem + Plural Marker + Possessive Suffix + Case Suffix.
How It Works
Hungarian is an agglutinative language, meaning it stacks suffixes like building blocks. When you want to say something like 'in my books,' you must follow a non-negotiable sequence:
- 1. The Stem: The base noun (e.g., könyv).
- 2. The Possessed Plural Marker: Use -i- (or -ai/-ei). Never use the standard -k here.
- 3. The Possessor Suffix: Indicates who owns it (e.g., -m for 'my').
- 4. The Case Suffix: The final layer (e.g., -ben for 'in').
Vowel Harmony: Every suffix in the chain must match the vowel harmony of the stem. For example, ház (back vowel) becomes ház-ai-m-ban, while kert (front vowel) becomes kert-jei-m-ben.
Examples (4)
- A barátaimmal megyek a moziba.
I am going to the cinema with my friends.
Word by Word: The friend-plural-my-with go-I the cinema-into.
Here, 'barát' (friend) takes '-ai' (plural), '-m' (my), and '-mal' (with).
- Nincs szükségem a könyveidre.
I don't need your books.
Word by Word: There-is-not need-my the book-plural-your-onto.
The noun 'könyv' uses '-ei' for plural possession, followed by '-d' (your) and '-re' (onto/for).
- A macskáinkban bízunk.
We trust in our cats.
Word by Word: The cat-plural-our-in trust-we.
Note how the plural marker '-i' is placed before the possessor '-nk' (our) and the case '-ban' (in).
- A szüleimtől kaptam a kocsit.
I got the car from my parents.
Word by Word: The parent-plural-my-from got-I the car-acc.
Stem (szülő) + Plural (-i) + Possessor (-m) + Case (-től).
Common Mistakes
Using the standard plural '-k' with a possessive suffix.
A *könyvekmben olvastam.A könyveimben olvastam.The plural marker '-k' is strictly forbidden when a possessive suffix is used. You must use '-i' (or '-ai/-ei') instead.
Swapping the case suffix and the possessive suffix.
A *kertbenemben virágok vannak.A kertjeimben virágok vannak.The possessive suffix must always come before the case suffix. You cannot put a case marker in the middle of the possession chain.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the order of suffixes in Hungarian (Stem + Plural + Possessive + Case), a learner must first be familiar with the individual components: how to mark possession, how to indicate that the possessed items are plural, and how to apply case endings.
- -i (birtoktöbbesítő jel)Plural Possessed Items
This pattern involves the specific marker for plural possessed items, which is a distinct component in the suffix chain.
Level 2 - -ban/-benInside / in
Understanding case suffixes (like the inessive) is necessary to see how they occupy the final position in the Hungarian suffix order.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Cases on Possessed Nouns
Explains how cases behave specifically when attached to possessed nouns.
Level 2 - Linking Vowels
Crucial for understanding why we use -ai/-ei instead of just -i in certain words.
Level 4 - Vowel Harmony
The foundational rule that determines which version of each suffix (-ai vs -ei, -ban vs -ben) is used.
Level 1 - -m/-d/-a/-eSingular Possessors
The singular possessor suffixes that occupy the third slot in this chain.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Plural Possessive Case Order in Bubblegum
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