Grammar Topic
Using the Imperative Mood
Hungarian uses the imperative more broadly than English. It covers direct commands, questions like “should I do this?”, and certain subordinate clauses.
1. Direct commands and separated verbal prefixes
If a verb has a prefix such as be, ki, meg, or el, the prefix separates in affirmative commands and moves after the verb.
- Bemész. (You go in.) -> Menj be! (Go in!)
- Megcsinálod. (You do it.) -> Csináld meg! (Do it!)
In negative commands, use ne (“do not”), and the prefix does not separate.
- Ne menj be! - Do not go in!
- Ne csináld meg! - Do not do it!
2. Questions like “Should I do this?”
When offering help or asking for advice, such as “Should I open the window?” or “What should we do?”, Hungarian uses 1st-person imperative forms.
- Kinyissam az ablakot? - Should I open the window?
- Hova üljek le? - Where should I sit down?
3. Purpose and wish clauses: hogy + imperative
After verbs and expressions of request, advice, command, wish, need, or purpose, the verb after hogy (“that / so that”) appears in the imperative.
- Azt akarom, hogy gyere ide. - I want you to come here.
- Fontos, hogy tanulj. - It is important that you study.
Reading Practice
- Hívjál egy taxit! [Call a taxi!]
- Ne haragudjon rám! [Please do not be angry with me! Formal.]
- Becsukjam az ajtót? [Should I close the door?]
- Mit írjunk? [What should we write?]
- Az orvos azt mondta, hogy ne egyek sokat. [The doctor said that I should not eat a lot.]
- Az a feladatunk, hogy tanuljunk. [Our task is to study.]
- A szüleim megengedték, hogy eladjam a biciklimet. [My parents allowed me to sell my bicycle.]
- Szükséges, hogy megértsük a szituációt. [It is necessary that we understand the situation.]