How to Use the Past Tense in Hungarian Verbs for English Speakers

Understanding the Past Tense in Hungarian Verbs

The past tense in Hungarian is used to describe actions that have already happened. Unlike English, Hungarian verbs change their endings based on the subject and whether the verb is definite or indefinite. This article will guide English speakers through the basics of forming and using the past tense in Hungarian verbs.

Definite vs. Indefinite Conjugation in Past Tense

Hungarian verbs have two types of conjugations: definite and indefinite. The definite conjugation is used when the object of the verb is specific or known, while the indefinite conjugation is used when the object is general or not specified. This distinction affects the verb endings in the past tense.

Forming the Past Tense: Indefinite Conjugation

For indefinite conjugation in the past tense, Hungarian verbs typically add the suffix -t or -tt to the verb stem, followed by personal endings. The exact form depends on vowel harmony and the verb stem ending.

• én (I) – add -am or -em
• te (you singular) – add -ál or -él
• ő (he/she/it) – add -ott or -ett
• mi (we) – add -unk or -ünk
• ti (you plural) – add -atok or -etek
• ők (they) – add -ak or -ek

For example, the verb ír (to write) in the past tense indefinite conjugation is:

• én írtam (I wrote)
• te írtál (you wrote)
• ő írt (he/she wrote)
• mi írtunk (we wrote)
• ti írtatok (you all wrote)
• ők írtak (they wrote)

Forming the Past Tense: Definite Conjugation

When the object is definite, the verb takes different endings in the past tense. The suffix -ta or -te is added to the verb stem, followed by personal endings similar to the indefinite conjugation.

• én – -tam or -tem
• te – -tad or -ted
• ő – -ta or -te
• mi – -tuk or -tük
• ti – -tátok or -tétek
• ők – -ták or -ték

For example, the verb ír (to write) with a definite object in the past tense is:

• én írtam a levelet (I wrote the letter)
• te írtad a levelet (you wrote the letter)
• ő írta a levelet (he/she wrote the letter)
• mi írtuk a levelet (we wrote the letter)
• ti írtátok a levelet (you all wrote the letter)
• ők írták a levelet (they wrote the letter)

Vowel Harmony in Past Tense Endings

Hungarian vowel harmony affects the suffixes used in the past tense. Verbs with back vowels (a, o, u) use suffixes with a, while verbs with front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) use suffixes with e. This harmony applies to both definite and indefinite conjugations.

Examples of Past Tense in Hungarian Verbs

Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense

Some Hungarian verbs are irregular in the past tense and do not follow the standard conjugation patterns. For example, the verb lenni (to be) has the past tense forms:

• én voltam (I was)
• te voltál (you were)
• ő volt (he/she was)
• mi voltunk (we were)
• ti voltatok (you all were)
• ők voltak (they were)