Noun Clauses

Noun clauses are an important tool in the Hungarian language for expressing complex ideas. They function as subjects, objects, and complements in sentences. In this guide, we'll explore how to use noun clauses effectively in your Hungarian sentences.

Noun Clauses as Subjects

To use a noun clause as a subject in a sentence, follow these steps:

1. Identify the main verb of the sentence.
2. Determine the appropriate introductory word to introduce the noun clause. Some common introductory words are hogy (that), miért (why), and mikor (when).
3. Write the noun clause, which acts as the subject. The noun clause can be either a statement or a question.

Let's see some examples:

• "Hogy sikerült az előadás?" (How did the presentation go?) Here, the noun clause "Hogy sikerült az előadás?" acts as the subject of the sentence.
• "Miért fontos a környezetvédelem?" (Why is environmental protection important?) The noun clause "Miért fontos a környezetvédelem?" functions as the subject.

Noun Clauses as Objects

To use a noun clause as an object in a sentence, follow these steps:

1. Identify the main verb of the sentence.
2. Determine the appropriate introductory word to introduce the noun clause. Some common introductory words are hogy (that), hogy ne (not to), and hogy-e (whether).
3. Write the noun clause, which acts as the object. The noun clause can be either a statement or a question.

Here are some examples:

• "Úgy gondolom, hogy el kell mennem." (I think I need to leave.) In this sentence, the noun clause "hogy el kell mennem" functions as the direct object.
• "Megkérdeztem, hogy eljön-e velem." (I asked if he/she will come with me.) The noun clause "hogy eljön-e velem" serves as the direct object here.

Noun Clauses as Complements

To use a noun clause as a complement in a sentence, take the following steps:

1. Identify the main verb of the sentence, which will be a linking verb (e.g., lenni - to be, tűnik - to seem, vélni - to believe).
2. Determine the appropriate introductory word to introduce the noun clause. Common introductory words for complements are hogy (that), amit (what), and akik (who).
3. Write the noun clause, which acts as the complement.

Examples:

• "Ő az, aki segített nekem." (He/She is the one who helped me.) In this sentence, the noun clause "aki segített nekem" serves as the complement.
• "Hiszem, hogy igazad van." (I believe that you are right.) Here, the noun clause "hogy igazad van" functions as the complement.

Remember that noun clauses can also be used in other sentence structures, such as after prepositions or in relative clauses. By mastering the use of noun clauses, you'll be able to express complex ideas and enhance your Hungarian language skills.