Better Hungarian

HUNGARIAN VERB TENSES

Present (Definite)
Present (Indefinite)
Past (Definite & Indefinite)
Conditional (Definite & Indefinite)
※ Conditional Tense: Usage – YOU ARE HERE
Subjunctive/Imperative (Definite & Indefinite)
Subjunctive Tense: Usage
Imperative Tense: Usage

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Posts to Review First:

Conditional Tense – Conjugation

Past Tense – Conjugation

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If you aren’t familiar with the technical terms, the conditional tense is basically the “what if” tense, and it is used to express potential outcomes or situations, or to more politely ask a question. In English, it’s usually defined by the word ‘would’ (and ‘could’, but we will be covering that in a separate post).

Example 1: “I wouldn’t do that if I were you”

Example 2: “I would have more money if I had a better job”

Example 3: “Would you like to see a movie?” (more formal than ‘do you want to see a movie?’)

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Structure

The first thing to know about conditional tense in Hungarian is that it works a bit differently than in English.

In English, we might say “I would like it if you were here” (‘were’ technically being past tense), however in Hungarian the conditional form is used for both verbs in this case. “Azt szeretném, ha itt lennél” would essentially translate to “I would like it if you would be here”. Remembering this will help to form conditional sentences correctly in Hungarian.

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Conditional Past (“would have”)

This is simple enough, but you will need to review the post on past tense conjugation if you haven’t already.

To express conditional past (“would have”), you just add “volna” after the past-tense conjugated verb.

• Írtam volna neked, de… – (I would have written to you, but…)

• Moziba mentem volna, ha nem voltam beteg – (I would have gone to the movies, if I wasn’t sick)

Simple enough, yeah?

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Volna vs Lenne

Before I give more examples, I would like to note the distinction between these two verbs. Both of these come from the verb “van” (to be), and both are used to express conditional tense, but (traditionally) which one you use depends on the context of the sentence.

These days, they can be used interchangably for the most part. “Lenne” is more frequent, especially in speaking, and “volna” is something that appears in more formal texts or novels and such. I will still teach you the official “rules”, but just remember that in most situations you can use either one and it won’t matter much.

In the case of conditional past (see above), you cannot replace “volna” with “lenne”. These cases will always be “volna”.

Volna

This form is traditionally associated with the present (a potential situation at that moment). These are usually situations where English would use the past tense (“if I were you”, “if I had the money”…)

Azt nem tenném, ha én volnék¹ a helyedben (or “a maga helyében” if you want to be more polite).
(I wouldn’t do that, if I were you – lit. ‘if I would be in your place’)

¹Volnék (volna) is traditionally more appropriate here, because you are speaking of a present conditional situation (If I were in your place, right now).

Ha ő volna az apád, akkor nem viselkednél így
(If he were your father, you wouldn’t behave like this)

Remember, those are just the traditional rules and these days it is okay (and more common) to also use “lenne” (except for conditional past). When speaking, “volna” may sound a bit more old-fashioned now.

Lenne

Traditionally more associated with the future (a potential outcome of something, a future possibility, or a change). These days, it is used more frequently than “volna”. Besides the conditional past, pretty much any situation you can replace “volna” with “lenne”.

• Réka jó tanár lenne – (Réka would be a good teacher)

• Nagyon boldog lennék, ha látnálak ma – (I would be really happy if I saw you today)

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More Examples

Ha azt mondanád anyukának, ő nagyon dühös lenne
(If you were to tell mom that, she would be very angry)

Szeretnék jönni, de aznap dolgozom
(I would like to come, but I work that day)

Mit tennél, ha macska lennél?
(What would you do if you were a cat?)

Sosem mennék az erdőbe, mert veszélyes
(I would never go into the forest, because it is dangerous)

Ha több pénzem lenne, elhagynám a várost
(If I had more money, I would leave the city)