Understanding Negative Sentences in Magyar
In Magyar, or Hungarian, negative sentences are used to say that something is not happening or not true. Just like in English, where we use words like 'not' or 'no' to make sentences negative, Magyar has its own way of forming negative sentences.
Key Elements of Magyar Negative Sentences
Important Points
- The word 'nem' is used to make sentences negative.
- Place 'nem' before the verb to show the action is not happening.
- If you want to say you don't have something, use 'nincs' instead of 'van'.
- For more emphasis, you can use 'se' or 'sem' to mean 'neither' or 'nor'.
When you want to say that something is not true or not happening, you put 'nem' right before the verb. This is the most common way to make a sentence negative in Magyar.
Examples
- Nem eszem almát. (I do not eat apples.)
- Nem látom a kutyát. (I do not see the dog.)
- Nincs pénzem. (I do not have money.)
If you are talking about something you don't have, instead of using 'van', which means 'there is' or 'I have', you use 'nincs'. This is a special rule for showing negation with possession.
To express neither/nor situations, you can use 'se' or 'sem'. These help to show that two things are not true at the same time.
Examples
- Se almát, se körtét nem eszem. (I eat neither apples nor pears.)
- Sem a fiú, sem a lány nem látja a kutyát. (Neither the boy nor the girl sees the dog.)
By practicing these rules, you will be able to make negative sentences in Magyar easily. Just remember where to place 'nem' and when to use 'nincs'. Happy learning!