Cleft Sentences: Understanding and Using Emphatic Structures

In Hungarian, cleft sentences are used to place emphasis on a particular part of a sentence. This can help in clarifying meaning or highlighting important information. In this guide, we will explore the structure and usage of cleft sentences in Hungarian.

What is a cleft sentence?

A cleft sentence is a construction in which a single sentence is divided into two parts: the main clause and the subordinate clause. The purpose of this division is to shift the focus onto a specific element of the sentence. This element usually appears in the subordinate clause.

Structure of a cleft sentence

The structure of a cleft sentence in Hungarian typically follows this pattern:

Emphasized element (subordinate clause), main clause.

For example:

• A könyvet olvassa a lány. (The girl is reading the book.)
• A könyvet olvassa a LÁNY. (It is the girl who is reading the book.)

In the second sentence, the focus is on the fact that it is the girl who is doing the reading.

Using cleft sentences effectively

Cleft sentences are used to add emphasis to a particular part of the sentence. Here are some common scenarios where cleft sentences can be used effectively:

1. Emphasizing the subject:

   • Két férfi beszél a pódiumon. (Two men are speaking on the podium.)
   • Két férfi BESZÉL a pódiumon. (It is two men who are speaking on the podium.)

2. Emphasizing the object:

   • A fiú megvette a könyvet. (The boy bought the book.)
   • A fiú A KÖNYVET vette meg. (It is the book that the boy bought.)

3. Emphasizing a specific time or place:

   • Holnap megyünk a piacra. (We are going to the market tomorrow.)
   • HOLNAP megyünk a piacra. (It is tomorrow that we are going to the market.)

4. Emphasizing a particular action:

   • Végigfutott az egész utcán. (He ran through the whole street.)
   • VÉGIGFUTOTT az egész utcán. (It is running through the whole street that he did.)

5. Emphasizing a reason or cause:

   • A baleset az eső miatt történt. (The accident happened because of the rain.)
   • A baleset AZ ESŐ miatt történt. (It is because of the rain that the accident happened.)

Remember, cleft sentences are used to bring attention to a specific part of a sentence for emphasis, clarification, or contrast. It's important to choose the appropriate structure and word order to achieve the desired effect.

Conclusion

Cleft sentences are a powerful tool for placing emphasis on a specific element within a sentence. By using this structure, you can effectively draw attention to important information or clarify the meaning of a statement. Keep practicing and experimenting with cleft sentences to master this useful aspect of Hungarian grammar.