How to Use Modal Verbs to Express Ability and Necessity in Hungarian

Understanding Modal Verbs in Hungarian

Modal verbs are essential in Hungarian to express ability, necessity, permission, and possibility. Unlike English, Hungarian often uses modal verbs combined with infinitive verbs to convey these meanings.

Common Hungarian Modal Verbs for Ability and Necessity

Here are some of the most frequently used modal verbs in Hungarian to express ability and necessity:

• Tud – to be able to, can (expresses ability)
• Kell – must, have to (expresses necessity)
• Lehet – may, can (expresses permission or possibility)
• Szabad – allowed to, may (expresses permission)

Expressing Ability with <em>tud</em>

The verb tud is used to express ability or capability. It is conjugated according to the subject and followed by an infinitive verb.

Example:
Én tudok úszni. – I can swim.
Ő tud beszélni magyarul. – He/She can speak Hungarian.

Expressing Necessity with <em>kell</em>

The verb kell expresses necessity or obligation. It is followed by an infinitive verb and conjugated to agree with the subject.

Example:
Meg kell tanulnod a szavakat. – You must learn the words.
Nekem dolgoznom kell. – I have to work.

Using <em>lehet</em> and <em>szabad</em> for Permission and Possibility

Both lehet and szabad can express permission, but szabad is more formal and direct, while lehet can also express possibility.

Examples:
Lehet bemenni. – You may enter.
Szabad dohányozni? – Is it allowed to smoke?

Sentence Structure with Modal Verbs

In Hungarian, modal verbs are typically followed by the infinitive form of the main verb. The modal verb is conjugated to match the subject, while the infinitive remains unchanged.

Example:
Mi tudunk segíteni. – We can help.
Ők kell, hogy menjenek. – They have to go.

Practice Examples