Complex Sentences and Subordination
In Hungarian, complex sentences are formed using subordination to show relationships between ideas. Subordination is the process of making one clause dependent on another clause.
The subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are used to introduce subordinate clauses. Here are some common subordinating conjunctions in Hungarian:
- hogy - that
- amint - as soon as
- miután - after
- míg - while
- mikor - when
Word order in subordinate clauses
In subordinate clauses, the word order differs from main clauses. The subject typically comes after the verb in subordinate clauses, and the verb takes the third person singular form.
Example:
Main clause: A tanár elmegy. (The teacher leaves.) Subordinate clause: Hogy a tanár elmegy, hogy tanulhatok. (That the teacher leaves, I can study.)
Using infinitive clauses
Another way to express subordination in Hungarian is by using infinitive clauses. Infinitive clauses are formed by using the infinitive verb form followed by a noun or pronoun.
Example:
Main clause: Szeretek olvasni. (I like reading.) Infinitive clause: Szeretek olvasni egy jó könyvet. (I like reading a good book.)
Relative clauses
Relative clauses are also a form of subordination in Hungarian. They provide additional information about a noun. Relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns or relative adverbs.
Common relative pronouns in Hungarian include:
- aki/akik - who, whom
- ami/amik - which
Relative pronouns agree in number and case with the antecedent (the noun they refer to).
Example:
Az ember, aki néma, meghallgatja az állatokat. (The person who is mute, listens to animals.)
Summary
To construct complex sentences and show relationships between ideas in Hungarian, remember the following points:
- Use subordinating conjunctions to introduce subordinate clauses.
- Pay attention to word order in subordinate clauses, where the subject often comes after the verb.
- Consider using infinitive clauses to express subordination.
- Utilize relative clauses to provide additional information about a noun.
With these tools, you can master the art of constructing complex sentences and effectively express nuanced ideas in Hungarian. Practice using these structures in your own sentences to become more proficient.