Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Possessor
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Expression of the possessor
No suffix
The complement of the name expressing the possessor does not receive any specific suffix. Only the possessed object has the possessive third person suffix:
- a lány autója
the girl's car
- a lány autói
the girl's cars
- a lányok autója
the girls' car
- a lányok autói
the girls' cars
suffix -é
The attribute expressing the possessor receives the suffix -é, the verb "to be" being implied. In this case, the plural of the objects owned is marked a second time by the suffix -i added to the suffix -é :
1 item, 1 owner
- Az autó a lányé.
The car is the girl's.
1 item, X owners
- Az autó a lányoké.
The car is for the girls.
X items, 1 owner
- Az autók a lányéi.
The cars are the girl's.
X items, X owners
- Az autók a lányokéi.
The cars belong to the girls.
Suffix -nak/-nek
The equivalent of a sentence like "The girl has a car" is in Hungarian a construction with the verb van (to be), the possessor being added the suffix -nak / -nek:
- A lánynak van autója
The girl has a car