How to Use Postpositions in Hungarian for English Speakers

Understanding Postpositions in Hungarian

In Hungarian, postpositions are words that come after the noun or pronoun they relate to, unlike English prepositions which usually come before. They indicate relationships such as location, direction, time, and other grammatical functions. For English speakers, this can be a unique feature to get used to.

What Are Postpositions?

Postpositions are similar to prepositions in English but are placed after the noun. For example, in English we say "on the table," but in Hungarian, the equivalent would be "az asztalon," where "-on" is a suffix and "után" (meaning "after") is a postposition.

Common Hungarian Postpositions and Their Usage

Hungarian uses both suffixes and separate postposition words. Here are some common postpositions and examples:

• után – after
  Example: Az ebéd után (after lunch)
• előtt – before
  Example: Az iskola előtt (in front of the school)
• mellett – beside, next to
  Example: A ház mellett (next to the house)
• között – between
  Example: A fák között (between the trees)
• alatt – under
  Example: Az asztal alatt (under the table)

Using Postpositions with Cases

Hungarian postpositions often require the noun to be in a specific case, usually the essive-formal case or the superessive case. For example, "mellett" (beside) requires the noun to be in the essive-formal case, which is formed by adding -val/-vel or sometimes -al/-el suffixes depending on vowel harmony.

Example: a ház mellett (beside the house) – "ház" (house) + "- mellett" (beside). The noun "ház" is in nominative, but the postposition governs the relationship.

Differences Between Hungarian Postpositions and English Prepositions

English prepositions come before the noun, e.g., "on the table." Hungarian postpositions come after, e.g., "az asztalon" (literally "the table-on"). Additionally, Hungarian often uses suffixes attached to the noun to express what English does with prepositions.

Understanding this difference is key to mastering Hungarian sentence structure and meaning.

Tips for English Speakers Learning Hungarian Postpositions

• Remember that postpositions come after the noun, not before.
• Learn common postpositions with example phrases to get used to their usage.
• Pay attention to the cases required by each postposition; Hungarian grammar is case-sensitive.
• Practice by translating simple English sentences with prepositions into Hungarian using postpositions.
• Use resources and exercises focused on Hungarian postpositions to reinforce learning.

Example Sentences for Practice

• Az iskola előtt várok. – I wait in front of the school.
• A park mellett sétálunk. – We walk beside the park.
• Ebéd után megyünk haza. – We go home after lunch.
• A könyv az asztalon van. – The book is on the table.
• A ház között van a kert. – The garden is between the houses.