Selected Subjunctive

Level 5

When a main clause expresses a wish, command, purpose, or necessity about an action, the subordinate hogy-clause must use the subjunctive mood.

How It Works

In Hungarian, the imperative-subjunctive mood is required in subordinate hogy-clauses when the main clause contains specific types of predicates. While the morphology is identical to direct commands (e.g., using indefinite endings like -jon/-jen/-jön or definite endings like -ja/-je), its syntactic use is triggered by the semantic category of the matrix verb. Note that the imperative-subjunctive mood only exists in one tense (present/future); Hungarian does not have a past subjunctive.

1. Triggers for the Subjunctive
The subjunctive is selected by predicates expressing influence over an action or event. Crucially, when a hogy-clause acts as the direct object of the main verb, it triggers the definite conjugation on that matrix verb (e.g., akarom, not akarok). Key categories include:

  • Verbs of Volition (Desire): akar (want), kíván (wish), szeretne (would like). Example: Akarom, hogy eljöjj. (I want you to come.)
  • Verbs of Command and Request: kér (ask/request), parancsol (order), mond (tell/say to do). Example: Kérem, hogy segítsen. (I ask you (formal) to help.)
  • Verbs of Advice and Suggestion: javasol (suggest), ajánl (recommend). Example: Javaslom, hogy pihenj. (I suggest that you rest.)
  • Verbs of Permission and Prohibition: megenged (allow), megtilt (forbid). Example: Megengedem, hogy itt maradj. (I allow you to stay here.)
  • Expressions of Necessity and Evaluation: kell (must/need), fontos (important), szükséges (necessary). Example: Fontos, hogy tanulj. (It is important that you study.)

2. Prefix Splitting
The behavior of verbal prefixes in neutral subjunctive clauses is flexible and depends on the speaker's intent:

  • Embedded Commands (Prefixes Split): When the clause is felt strongly as a command or direct request, the prefix moves after the verb (e.g., Kérem, hogy csinálja meg. = I ask him/her to do it.).
  • Desired Outcomes (Prefixes Attached): When expressing a desired outcome, necessity, or purpose, the prefix often remains attached. Verbs of advice like javasol frequently take attached prefixes in modern Hungarian (e.g., Javaslom, hogy megcsináld. = I suggest you do it.), as do verbs of desire (Akarom, hogy megcsinálja.).

3. Negation
Subjunctive clauses are negated with ne (not nem). In ordinary negative subjunctive order, the prefix follows the verb (e.g., Fontos, hogy ne csinálja meg. = It is important that he/she does not do it.).

4. Subject Differences
If the subjects of the main and subordinate verbs are the same, you typically use the infinitive (e.g., Akarok menni. = I want to go.). If the subjects differ, verbs like akar require a hogy-clause with the subjunctive. Impersonal verbs like kell typically use inflected infinitives (e.g., El kell menned. = You must go.), but they can also take a hogy-clause with the subjunctive (e.g., Kell, hogy elmenj. = You need to go.).

Second-Person Forms: Many examples address one informal listener. The short indefinite second-person form has the -j mood marker and no further personal ending, as in pihenj and tanulj. Longer alternatives include pihenjél and tanuljál. Irregular jön gives jöjj or jöjjél. With a definite object, compare tanuld meg a szót (learn the word). Why Definite Matrix Agreement? An ordinary object hogy-clause denotes the content of the wish or request and patterns with a definite third-person object, often represented overtly by azt. Thus akarom, hogy... has definite akarom, even when azt is omitted. An evaluative predicate such as fontos instead has a subject clause, so there is no matrix object-conjugation choice.

Examples (6)

  1. Akarom, hogy elmenj a boltba.

    I want you to go to the store.

    Word by Word: I-want, that away you-go the store-into.

    Triggered by 'akar' (desire, Group 2). Traditionally, the prefix 'el-' remains attached to the verb 'menj' in a neutral context, though splitting it ('menj el') is also common in colloquial speech.

  2. Fontos, hogy időben ott legyünk a találkozón.

    It is important that we be there on time for the meeting.

    Word by Word: Important, that time-in there we-be the meeting-on.

    Triggered by 'fontos' (necessity/evaluation). Uses the highly irregular subjunctive stem 'legyünk' (from 'lesz').

  3. Korábban indulunk el, hogy elérjük a vonatot.

    We are leaving earlier so that we catch the train.

    Word by Word: Earlier we-leave away, that we-catch the train.

    Triggered by 'hogy' expressing purpose. The prefix 'el-' remains attached because purpose clauses (Group 2 triggers) traditionally do not cause prefix splitting in neutral contexts.

  4. Kértem, hogy ne hívjon fel este.

    I asked him not to call me in the evening.

    Word by Word: I-asked, that not he-call up evening.

    Triggered by 'kér' (request). In negative subjunctive clauses, 'ne' is used, and the prefix 'fel' typically splits and moves after the verb.

  5. Vigyázz, el ne ess a jégen!

    Be careful not to fall on the ice!

    Word by Word: Take-care, away not you-fall the ice-on!

    In emphatic or warning contexts, the verbal prefix ('el-') can precede the negative particle 'ne' and the verb, rather than splitting after the verb.

  6. Javaslom, hogy fizess előre.

    I suggest that you pay in advance.

    Word by Word: I-suggest, that you-pay advance-to.

    Shows the 't' combining with '-j' to form 'ss' after a short vowel (fizet -> fizess). The short form 'fizess' is used here, but the long form 'fizessél' is also perfectly valid for the second-person singular.

Common Mistakes

  • Using indicative morphology where you want to ask someone to do something.

    Different MeaningAzt kértem, hogy elmentek.
    Azt kértem, hogy menjetek el.

    'Azt kértem, hogy elmentek' uses the indicative, so it does not express a request to leave. A request uses the imperative-subjunctive 'menjetek'. In a neutral embedded command, the prefix follows it. Prefix placement also interacts with the interpretation of the clause; attachment alone is not a universal error after kér.

  • Using the infinitive instead of a hogy-clause for subject-control verbs when subjects differ.

    Akarom téged menni a boltba.
    Azt akarom, hogy elmenj a boltba.

    English uses the infinitive for different subjects ('I want YOU TO GO'). Hungarian requires a hogy-clause with the subjunctive for verbs like 'akar'. Note that impersonal verbs like 'kell' can use either inflected infinitives or a hogy-clause with the subjunctive.

  • Using the conditional mood instead of the subjunctive.

    Fontos lenne, hogy elmennénk.
    Fontos lenne, hogy elmenjünk.

    Because English translations often use 'would' or 'could', learners mistakenly use the conditional in the hogy-clause. Even if the main verb is conditional, the embedded verb must be subjunctive. Also note that 'fontos' is a Group 2 trigger, so the prefix 'el-' correctly stays attached.

How It Connects

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Selected SubjunctiveLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand how certain predicates select the subjunctive, you first need to be comfortable with the basic 'hogy' (that) clause structure. You must also know how to form the imperative-subjunctive mood, as these forms are used in the subordinate clause regardless of whether a command is being given. Finally, familiarity with how Hungarian verbs and adjectives govern specific grammatical structures will help you identify which predicates trigger this selection.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Sources
  1. Hungarian Embedded Subjunctive Clauses: a Family Business