Hungarian Grammar Guide: Conditional Sentences

In this lesson, we will focus on conditional sentences in Hungarian. Conditional sentences are used to talk about hypothetical situations or events that depend on certain conditions. We will cover if-clauses and how to express these hypothetical situations in Hungarian.

If-Clauses in Hungarian

If-clauses are the starting point of conditional sentences. They express the condition that needs to be met for the result to occur. In Hungarian, if-clauses are typically introduced by the word ha, which means "if". Here's an example:

English: If it rains, I will take an umbrella. Hungarian: Ha esik az eső, viszek egy esernyőt.

In this sentence, the if-clause is "Ha esik az eső" (If it rains), and the result clause is "viszek egy esernyőt" (I will take an umbrella).

Expressing Hypothetical Situations

When expressing hypothetical situations in Hungarian, we use the conditional mood. The conditional mood indicates that the action or event depends on a certain condition. Here is how to form the conditional mood in Hungarian:

• For verbs ending in a vowel, add the conditional suffix -na/-ne to the verb stem:

  • Péter vinne egy esernyőt, ha esne az eső. (Peter would take an umbrella if it rained.)

• For verbs ending in a consonant, add the conditional suffix -na/-ne after the last vowel of the verb stem:

  • Én olvasnék többet, ha több időm lenne. (I would read more if I had more time.)

Conditional Constructions

In addition to if-clauses and the conditional mood, Hungarian also uses certain words and phrases to express conditional situations. Here are a few common ones:

• "In case" or "if by chance" is expressed by the phrase hátha:

  • Hátha találkozunk a koncerten. (In case we meet at the concert.)

• "Suppose" or "let's say" is expressed by the word tegyük fel:

  • Tegyük fel, hogy megnyered a lottót. (Suppose you win the lottery.)

• "Otherwise" is expressed by the word különben:

  • Tanulj, különben megbukol. (Study, otherwise you will fail.)

Conditional Sentences with Double Conditions

Sometimes we need to express conditional sentences with multiple conditions. In Hungarian, we can use the conjunction ha (if) to join the conditions. Here's an example:

English: If I have time and it's not raining, I will go for a walk. Hungarian: Ha van időm és nem esik az eső, elmegyek sétálni.

• Note that in Hungarian, the verb is repeated for each condition, unlike in English.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have explored conditional sentences in Hungarian. We have learned about if-clauses, the conditional mood, and expressions used to denote hypothetical situations. Remember to practice forming sentences using conditional constructions to reinforce your understanding.