ami
Which / What
The relative pronoun ami connects a main clause to a relative clause that describes a non-human thing. It is the equivalent of 'which' or 'that' in English.
How It Works
The relative pronoun ami is formed by adding the prefix a- to the question word mi (what). It is essential for building complex sentences in Hungarian.
1. Usage Scenarios:
- Noun Antecedents: When describing an object or animal (e.g., 'The car that I bought'). Note that while ami is common in speech, formal writing prefers amely for specific noun antecedents.
- Indefinite Pronouns: It must be used after words like minden (everything) or valami (something).
- Sentential Antecedents: It is the only choice when referring back to a whole situation or action described in the previous clause.
- Headless Relatives: It can start a sentence to mean 'What...' (e.g., 'What I need is rest').
2. Grammar Rules:
- Punctuation: When the relative clause follows its antecedent, a comma precedes the relative pronoun; a clause that begins the sentence ends with the comma instead.
- Conjugation: When ami is the direct object (amit), it always triggers the indefinite conjugation of the verb.
- Declension: Like nouns, ami takes case suffixes based on its role in the relative clause (e.g., amiről = about which, amiben = in which).
- Plurality: If the antecedent is plural, use amik.
Examples (5)
- Ez az a könyv, amit tegnap vettem.
This is the book that I bought yesterday.
Word by Word: This that the book, which-ACC yesterday I-bought.
Here, 'amit' refers back to 'könyv' (book). Because it is the object of 'vettem', it takes the accusative -t suffix.
- Péter nem jött el, ami nagyon szomorú.
Peter didn't come, which is very sad.
Word by Word: Peter not came away, which very sad.
In this case, 'ami' refers to the entire fact that Peter didn't come, not a specific noun.
- Mindent elmondtam, amit tudok.
I told everything that I know.
Word by Word: Everything-ACC I-told-away, which-ACC I-know.
When the antecedent is 'minden' (everything), 'ami' is the required relative pronoun.
- Ami fontos, az a szeretet.
What is important is love.
Word by Word: Which important, that the love.
This is a 'headless' relative clause where 'ami' functions like 'what' in English.
- Ez az a ház, amiben lakunk.
This is the house in which we live.
Word by Word: This that the house, which-in we-live.
The pronoun 'ami' takes the inessive case suffix -ben to show location.
Common Mistakes
Using 'ami' to refer to a person.
A lány, amit láttam, szép volt.A lány, akit láttam, szép volt.Hungarian distinguishes between human and non-human relative pronouns. Use aki for people and 'ami' for objects/animals.
Omitting the relative pronoun.
A könyv vettem jó.A könyv, amit vettem, jó.Unlike English, where you can say 'The book I bought', Hungarian requires both the comma and the relative pronoun.
Using the definite conjugation with 'amit'.
Ez az, amit kérem.Ez az, amit kérek.The relative pronoun 'amit' always triggers the indefinite conjugation of the verb. This is a strict rule without exceptions.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the relative pronoun 'ami', you first need to be familiar with the basic question word 'mi' (what). It is also helpful to understand how relative clauses work in Hungarian by looking at 'aki' (who), as 'ami' functions similarly but for non-human entities or entire statements. Finally, knowing how demonstratives like 'az' function is important because they often serve as the anchor in the main clause that 'ami' refers back to.
- mi (kérdőszó)What
The relative pronoun 'ami' is morphologically derived from the question word 'mi' (what), and understanding its basic meaning is essential.
Level 1 - akiWho / That for People
The pattern 'aki' introduces the concept of relative clauses in Hungarian for people; 'ami' follows the same syntactic logic but applies to things and clauses.
Level 3 - ez / azThis and That
Relative clauses with 'ami' often correlate with a demonstrative pronoun (like 'az') in the main clause acting as an antecedent.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- amelyWhich with an Explicit Noun
Amely is a more formal version of ami, used specifically for noun antecedents in writing.
Level 3 - Declined Relative Pronouns
Explains how ami and aki change their forms using Hungarian cases (amit, aminek, amiről).
Level 3 - Indefinite Conjugation
The pronoun 'amit' typically requires the verb to be in the indefinite conjugation.
Level 1 - Relative Clauses and Conjugation
Explains the complex rules of how relative clauses interact with verb conjugation.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ami in Bubblegum
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