Hungarian language, indefinite vs. definite conjugation
Hungarian, like English, has indefinite and definite articles that indicate whether you are speaking about a specific object or a non specific object. For instance,
Indefinite | a car | egy autó |
Definite | the car | az autó |
Now here is a bit of fun. Hungarian also indicates by verb endings whether the object of the verb is definite or indefinite. Observe:
Indefinite | I see a car | Látok egy autó |
Definite | I see the car | Látom az autó |
Isn't that curious? The definiteness of the direct object is double coded. This distinction of definite/indefinite for the direct object is coded in all the verb forms. For instance, here is the complete conjugation of the verb ‘see’ in the present tense:
Indefinite | Definite | |||
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
1st | látok | látunk | látom | látjuk |
1st to 2nd | látlak | |||
2nd | látsz | láttok | látod | látjátok |
3rd | lát | látnak | látja | látják |
Lots of languages double code things, but this is the first time I've encountered it for definiteness in the verb. It's quite common to double code negativity in languages. For instance,
Spanish | No sé nada. | Not I know nothing. | I don't know anything. |
Russian | Ничего не знаю. | Nothing not I know. | I don't know anything. |
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