Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Negation

Hungarian Grammar - Negation

Hi Hungarian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on negation in Hungarian grammar. We will cover how to use negation in sentence structures, common negation words and how to form negative sentences. Knowing how to use negation will greatly improve your ability to express yourself in Hungarian.

What is Negation?

Let's start by defining what negation means. Negation is a grammatical term that refers to the process of modifying a sentence to express its opposite meaning. In simple terms, negation refers to the use of negative words to express the absence, refusal, or rejection of something.

In Hungarian, negation can be expressed by using various negative words, adverbs and suffixes. By using negation, you can create negative sentences or negate certain parts of a sentence. This is an important aspect of Hungarian grammar that you must master to use the language effectively.

Common Negative Words in Hungarian

There are several negative words in Hungarian that are commonly used to express negation. Below are some of the most frequently used ones:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
nem	[nem]	not
soha	[shoha]	never
semmilyen	[shemmilyen]	no / none / no type of
senki	[shenki]	no one
semmi	[shemmi]	nothing

Negation in Sentence Structures

In Hungarian, negation can be expressed in several ways depending on the sentence structure. The most common sentence structure is the SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) structure, which means that the subject comes first, followed by the verb and then the object. In negation sentences, the negation word usually comes before the verb.

For example:

• I eat an apple.

 * Én almát eszek.

• I do not eat an apple.

 * Én nem eszek almát.

In the second sentence, the negation word "nem" comes before the verb "eszek" to express negation.

Forming Negative Sentences in Hungarian

To form negative sentences in Hungarian, you need to use the appropriate negative word along with the verb. However, there are a few rules that you need to keep in mind while forming negative sentences.

1. The negative word always comes before the verb.

For example:

• I drink coffee.

 * Én kávét iszom.

• I don't drink coffee.

 * Én nem iszom kávét.

In this example, the negative word "nem" comes before the verb "iszom" to express negation.

2. The negative word always comes before the auxiliary verb for compound tenses.

For example:

• I have eaten breakfast.

 * Én reggelit ettem.

• I have not eaten breakfast.

 * Én nem ettem reggelit.

In this example, the auxiliary verb "ettem" is used with the main verb "enni" to form the perfect past tense. Here, the negative word "nem" comes before the auxiliary verb "ettem" to express negation.

3. When using reflexive verbs, the negative word comes before the reflexive pronoun.

For example:

• I wash myself.

 * Én mosakodom.

• I don't wash myself.

 * Én nem mosakodom.

In this example, the reflexive verb "mosakodom" is used with the reflexive pronoun "magam" to express that the subject is washing himself or herself. Here, the negative word "nem" comes before the reflexive pronoun "magam" to express negation.

Dialogue

Here is a dialogue that illustrates the use of negation in Hungarian:

• Person 1: Szeretsz te füstölni? (Do you like smoking?)
• Person 2: Nem, soha nem dohányzom. (No, I never smoke.)

Tips for Learning Negation in Hungarian

To improve your understanding of negation in Hungarian grammar, you can follow these tips:

1. Practice negation with simple sentences first.

Start with simple sentences and use negation words to express their opposite meanings. This will help you get a hang of how negation works in Hungarian.

2. Learn common negative words and their usage.

Some of the common negative words in Hungarian have multiple meanings depending on the sentence structure. By learning their usage, you can express negation more effectively.

3. Use online resources and speak with native speakers.

You can use Polyglot Club to find native speakers and ask them any questions related to negation. You can also use online resources to practice negation exercises and examples.

Sources

• Hungarian language
• Hungarian grammar
• Magyar nyelvtan