Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Negation

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Hungarian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Questions and Negation → Negation

Introduction: Welcome to the lesson on negation in Hungarian! In this lesson, we will learn how to negate sentences using the word "nem." Negation is an important aspect of any language as it allows us to express negation or denial. Understanding negation in Hungarian is crucial for effective communication and will greatly enhance your language skills. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently negate sentences and engage in conversations with native Hungarian speakers. So, let's dive in!

Negation in Hungarian: In Hungarian, the word "nem" is used to express negation. It is equivalent to the English word "not." By placing "nem" in front of a verb, adjective, or noun, we can create negative sentences in Hungarian. Let's take a look at some examples:

- I am not hungry. - Nem vagyok éhes.

- She does not speak Hungarian. - Nem beszél magyarul.

- We do not have a car. - Nincs autónk.

As you can see, by using "nem" before the verb or adjective, we create a negative sentence. It's important to note that "nem" remains the same regardless of the subject or tense of the sentence.

Negating Verbs: To negate a verb in Hungarian, simply place "nem" before the verb. Let's look at some examples:

- He does not eat meat. - Nem eszik húst.

- They do not play tennis. - Nem játszanak teniszt.

- We do not work on Sundays. - Nem dolgozunk vasárnap.

Negating Adjectives and Nouns: To negate an adjective or a noun in Hungarian, we also use "nem" before the adjective or noun. Here are some examples:

- It is not a big house. - Nem nagy ház.

- She is not a doctor. - Nem orvos.

- They are not Hungarian. - Nem magyarok.

As you can see, the word order in Hungarian negation is different from English. In English, we say "not a big house," while in Hungarian, we say "nem nagy ház."

Cultural Insight: In Hungarian culture, negation is used to express politeness and humility. It is common for Hungarians to use negation when talking about their achievements or abilities, as a way of avoiding arrogance. For example, instead of saying "I am a great cook," a Hungarian might say "Nem vagyok rossz szakács" which translates to "I am not a bad cook." This cultural aspect is important to keep in mind when engaging in conversations with native Hungarian speakers.

Negating Questions: When negating a question in Hungarian, we use the word "nem" at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb. Let's look at some examples:

- Don't you speak English? - Nem beszélsz angolul?

- Aren't you coming to the party? - Nem jössz a buliba?

- Don't they like coffee? - Nem szeretik a kávét?

In these examples, "nem" is used to negate the question, indicating a negative response is expected.

Negation with Adverbs: In Hungarian, we can also use adverbs to strengthen the negation. Some common adverbs used for negation include "soha" (never), "sehol" (nowhere), and "senki" (nobody). Let's see how they are used in sentences:

- She never goes to the gym. - Soha nem jár edzőterembe.

- We have nowhere to go. - Sehol nincs hova mennünk.

- Nobody wants to help me. - Senki nem akar segíteni nekem.

By using these adverbs, we emphasize the negation in the sentence and convey a stronger sense of denial or absence.

Exercise: Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Try to negate the following sentences in Hungarian using "nem."

1. He speaks Hungarian. 2. I like coffee. 3. They are friends. 4. We have a cat. 5. She is a good student.

Solutions: 1. Nem beszél magyarul. 2. Nem szeretem a kávét. 3. Nem barátok. 4. Nincs macskánk. 5. Nem jó tanuló.

Great job! You're getting the hang of negation in Hungarian! Keep practicing to reinforce your understanding and improve your skills.

Summary: In this lesson, we have learned how to negate sentences in Hungarian using the word "nem." We have seen how to negate verbs, adjectives, and nouns, as well as how to negate questions and use adverbs for stronger negation. Remember to pay attention to the word order in Hungarian negation and to the cultural aspect of using negation to express politeness and humility. Keep practicing and incorporating negation into your conversations to become more fluent and confident in Hungarian.

Table of Contents - Hungarian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

• Personal Pronouns
• Present Tense Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negation

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time and Frequency

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Food and Dining

• Common Foods and Drinks
• Ordering at a Restaurant

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Prepositions and Location

• Common Prepositions
• Expressing Location

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Hungarian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Foods

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Possessive Pronouns and Plurals

• Possessive Pronouns
• Forming Plurals

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Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Discussing Interests

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Hungarian History and Geography

• Important Historical Events
• Geography of Hungary

Sources

• Hungarian Negation: Learn How to Form Negative Sentences
• Negatives - nem, ne, sem, se [HungarianReference.com > Grammar ...
• Expletive negation in exclamatives – Evidence from Hungarian in ...

Other Lessons

• Conditional Mood
• Possessor
• Nouns
• Gender
• Possessed object
• Future Tense
• How to form the feminine
• Give your Opinion
• How to Use Have

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