lehet + Infinitive

Possible / May

Level 2

lehet + infinitive (e.g., lehet menni) = 'It is possible to...' or 'One may...'

How It Works

The construction lehet + infinitive is a common way to express 'can' or 'may' in Hungarian. It focuses on whether the environment, rules, or situation allow an action to happen.

1. Structure:
The word lehet (the potential form of 'to be') is followed by a verb in the infinitive form.

  • Itt szabad dohányozni? Nem, itt nem lehet. (Is smoking allowed here? No, it's not possible here.)

2. Tense and Mood:
While lehet is often used in the present, it conjugates for other tenses and moods:

  • Past: lehetett (It was possible)
  • Future: lehet majd (It will be possible)
  • Conditional: lehetne (It would be possible)
  • Past Conditional: lehetett volna (It would have been possible)

3. Word Order with Prefixes:
When using an infinitive with a verbal prefix (like be-, ki-, meg-), the neutral word order is Prefix + lehet + Infinitive.

  • Be lehet menni. (One can go in. - Neutral)
  • Lehet bemenni. (It is possible to go in. - Focuses on the possibility itself)

4. Negation:
To negate the sentence, place nem before lehet. In negative sentences, the verbal prefix stays attached to the front of the infinitive.

  • Nem lehet bemenni. (One cannot go in / It is not possible to enter.)

Examples (5)

  1. Itt nem lehet parkolni.

    It is not possible to park here. / One cannot park here.

    Word by Word: Here not possible to-park.

    This uses the negative 'nem' to show that parking is either physically impossible or prohibited by rules.

  2. Lehet már enni?

    Is it possible to eat yet? / Can we eat now?

    Word by Word: Possible already to-eat?

    A common way to ask if a meal is ready or if it is time to start eating.

  3. A boltban lehetett kenyeret venni.

    It was possible to buy bread in the shop.

    Word by Word: The shop-in was-possible bread-acc to-buy.

    This demonstrates the past tense form 'lehetett'.

  4. Holnap lehetne találkozni.

    It would be possible to meet tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow would-be-possible to-meet.

    This uses the conditional form 'lehetne' to make a polite suggestion.

  5. Itt lehet jegyet váltani?

    Is it possible to get a ticket here?

    Word by Word: Here possible ticket-acc to-exchange?

    Used to ask about the availability of a service.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a conjugated verb after lehet when you mean 'it is possible to go'.

    Different MeaningLehet megyek.
    Lehet menni.

    In this modal pattern, the action verb must always be in the infinitive (-ni) form. 'Lehet megyek' would mean 'Maybe I go,' which is a different grammatical structure.

  • Using 'lehet úszni' to mean 'I can swim'.

    Different MeaningLehet úszni.
    Tudok úszni.

    Use 'tud' for personal skills. 'Lehet úszni' means it is physically possible or allowed to swim (e.g., the pool is open), not that you personally know how to do it.

  • Trying to add personal endings to 'lehet' in this impersonal context.

    Lehetek menni.
    Lehet mennem. / Mehetek.

    If you want to specify 'I can go,' you should use the potential suffix '-hat/-het' (mehetek) or the personal infinitive (lehet mennem). In the general 'lehet + infinitive' pattern, 'lehet' stays in the 3rd person singular.

How It Connects

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

lehet + InfinitiveLevel 2Possible / May

Learn This First

To use 'lehet + infinitive', you must first understand how to form the Hungarian infinitive using the -ni suffix. Since 'lehet' functions as a modal expression of possibility or permission, it is helpful to be familiar with the verb 'van' (from which it is derived) and other modal-like constructions such as 'tud + infinitive' which follow the same word order and logic.