Every Hungarian verb that can take an object has two sets of endings. The indefinite conjugation is used when there is no object, or when the object is "a something" or "some things". The definite conjugation is used when the object is a particular, known thing: "the book", "it", "Péter". English has nothing like this, so it takes a little practice, but the rules are clear. It is taught in Lesson 10, and the full tables are on the Verb Conjugation page.
Olvasok. (I'm reading. (no object: indefinite))
Olvasok egy könyvet. (I'm reading a book. (indefinite object))
Olvasom a könyvet. (I'm reading the book. (definite object))
Olvasom. (I'm reading it. (definite object, "it" is understood))
That last example is important. Hungarian doesn't need a word for "it" or "them" as an object: the definite ending already says it.
The quick test
Ask yourself: is there an object, and would English put "the" in front of it, or could you replace it with "it" or "them"? If yes, use the definite conjugation. In almost every other case, use the indefinite.
Use the definite conjugation when the object is...
| Object | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| a noun with a/az (the) | Látom a házat. | I can see the house. |
| a name | Ismered Pétert? | Do you know Péter? |
| a place name | Szeretem Budapestet. | I love Budapest. |
| a possessed noun | Keresem a kulcsomat. | I'm looking for my key. |
| ez, az (this, that) | Ezt kérem. | I'll have this one. |
| ő, ők as an object: őt, őket | Őt nem ismerem. | I don't know him. |
| the formal "you": Önt, Önöket, magát | Önt várják. | They are waiting for you. |
| a reflexive: magamat, magát... | Jól érzem magam. | I feel good. |
| melyik? (which?) | Melyiket kéred? | Which one do you want? |
| mindegyik, az egész (each, the whole) | Mindegyiket megettem. | I ate every one of them. |
| a "that" clause | Tudom, hogy itt vagy. | I know that you're here. |
The last row surprises many learners. A clause starting with hogy (that) counts as a definite object, and so does an infinitive object of some verbs when it has a definite object of its own: Meg akarom nézni a filmet. (I want to watch the film.) Here akar is definite because a filmet is definite.
Use the indefinite conjugation when...
| Situation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| there is no object | Péter alszik. | Péter is sleeping. |
| the verb can't take an object | Holnap jövök. | I'm coming tomorrow. |
| the object has egy (a, an) | Veszek egy jegyet. | I'll buy a ticket. |
| the object has no article | Levelet írok. | I'm writing a letter. / I'm letter-writing. |
| the object has a number or a quantity word | Két kávét kérek. | Two coffees, please. |
| the object is engem, téged, minket, titeket | Péter engem vár. | Péter is waiting for me. |
| the object is kit? mit? (whom? what?) | Mit csinálsz? | What are you doing? |
| the object is valamit, semmit, mindent, sokat | Mindent értek. | I understand everything. |
mindent vs. mindegyiket
mindent (everything) and valamit (something) take the indefinite, but mindegyiket (each one) and az egészet (the whole thing) take the definite. A simple way to remember this: definite objects point to something already known, while mindent is open-ended.
I and you: -lak, -lek
When the subject is "I" and the object is "you" (one person or several, informal), Hungarian uses a special ending: -lak for back verbs and -lek for front verbs. It follows the same linking vowel rules as other endings.
Szeretlek. (I love you.)
Látlak. (I can see you.)
Holnap felhívlak. (I'll call you tomorrow.)
Várlak titeket. (I'm waiting for you (all).)
Megértelek. (I understand you.)
For any other subject, "me", "you" and "us" as objects take the indefinite: Szeretsz? (Do you love me?), Péter szeret téged. (Péter loves you.), Ők nem ismernek minket. (They don't know us.)
Common mistakes
- Possessives are definite even without "the". Látod a barátomat? and Látod Anna barátját? both need the definite: "my friend" and "Anna's friend" are particular people.
- Plural objects without an article are indefinite. Könyveket olvasok. (I read books.) But A könyveket olvasom. (I'm reading the books.)
- An object with a number is indefinite, unless there is also an article: Két jegyet veszek. (I'll buy two tickets.), but A két jegyet megveszem. (I'll buy the two tickets.)
- Don't add "it". Megveszem. already means "I'll buy it". There is no need for a pronoun.
Hearing the difference
Many short replies only make sense with the right conjugation. Kérsz kávét? (Would you like some coffee?) is answered with Kérek., because you'd like some. Kéred a kávédat? (Do you want your coffee?) is answered with Kérem., because it's your coffee.