Prefix Position
Hungarian Grammar 4
Chapter 4 · Prefix Position
📍 Where the Prefix Goes — Hol áll az igekötő?
Chapters 1 to 3 gave you the prefixes, completed action and prefix meanings. You have already seen the prefix sit in front of the verb and, in a few examples, behind it. This chapter says exactly when each happens. It is the hardest part of the prefix system, but it follows one idea: the prefix and the stressed word compete for the same place directly before the verb.
1. The neutral sentence
With no negative, no stressed word and no question word, the prefix stays in front of the verb and carries the stress of the sentence. A time word, a place or a subject that is only a topic (what you are talking about) does not push it away.
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kimegyek. | I go out. |
| Tegnap kimentem a kertbe. | Yesterday I went out into the garden. |
| Péter elment. | Peter has left. |
| Megírom a levelet. | I'll write the letter. |
| Elmész? | Are you going? (a yes-or-no question) |
A yes-or-no question has no question word, so the prefix stays where it is: Elmész?, Bejelentkezel?.
2. Negation
Nem takes the place before the verb, so the prefix moves behind it.
| Neutral | Negative |
|---|---|
| Kimegyek. | Nem megyek ki. |
| Elolvastam a levelet. | Nem olvastam el a levelet. |
| Megértem. | Nem értem meg. |
| Felhívtalak. | Nem hívtalak fel. |
The order is always nem + verb + prefix. Chapter 2 noted that this is what separates "I haven't read it through" (Nem olvastam el) from "I wasn't reading it" (Nem olvastam).
3. Focus and question words
Hungarian puts the most important new piece of information directly before the verb (Chapter 8 treats this fully). When a word is in that place, the prefix goes behind the verb.
| Type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| focus on the subject | ÉN mentem ki. | It was I who went out. |
| focus on a time word | TEGNAP mentem el. | It was yesterday that I left. |
| focus with nem … hanem | Nem Péter ment el, hanem Anna. | It wasn't Peter who left, but Anna. |
| question word | Mikor mész el? | When are you leaving? |
| question word | Ki ment el? | Who left? |
| question word | Hová mész be? | Where are you going in to? |
4. Commands
A positive command (Hungarian Grammar 3, chapter 7) puts the prefix behind the verb. A prohibition with ne does the same, because ne takes the place before the verb, like nem.
| Positive command | Prohibition |
|---|---|
| Menj ki! · Go out! | Ne menj ki! · Don't go out! |
| Gyere be! · Come in! | Ne gyere be! · Don't come in! |
| Kapcsold ki a gépet! · Switch the machine off! | Ne kapcsold ki a gépet! · Don't switch the machine off! |
| Add vissza a könyvet! · Give the book back! | Ne add vissza a könyvet! · Don't give the book back! |
5. The infinitive and helper verbs
The infinitive (kimenni, to go out) keeps its prefix attached. With a helper verb such as akar, tud, kell, fog, szeretne (Hungarian Grammar 3, chapter 5), the prefix has two possible places:
| Situation | Where the prefix goes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| neutral | before the helper verb | Ki akarok menni. · I want to go out. |
| negative | attached to the infinitive | Nem akarok kimenni. · I don't want to go out. |
| focus | attached to the infinitive | ÉN akarok kimenni. · I'm the one who wants to go out. |
| question word | attached to the infinitive | Ki akar kimenni? · Who wants to go out? |
So with a helper the prefix is attached to the infinitive in the cases where the simple verb would put it behind: the helper verb sits in the place before the verb and the prefix cannot be before it. The same pattern holds for the other helpers:
| Helper | Neutral | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| akar (wants) | Ki akarom kapcsolni. · I want to switch it off. | Nem akarom kikapcsolni. |
| tud (can) | Meg tudom oldani. · I can solve it. | Nem tudom megoldani. |
| fog (will) | El fogok menni. · I will go away. | Nem fogok elmenni. |
| kell (must) | Ki kell menni. · One must go out. | Nem kell kimenni. · One doesn't have to go out. |
6. A one-glance procedure
To place a prefix, ask four questions in order:
| Question | If yes | If no |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is there nem or ne? | prefix after the verb (or on the infinitive) | go on |
| 2. Is a word stressed, or is there a question word, in front of the verb? | prefix after the verb (or on the infinitive) | go on |
| 3. Is it a positive command? | prefix after the verb | go on |
| 4. None of these (neutral sentence) | prefix attached in front of the verb, or in front of the helper | — |
🗣️ In Use — Használatban
The four positions in three short exchanges.
① A trip
② On the support desk
③ A rainy day
📋 Quick Reference — Gyorstábla
| Situation | Prefix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| neutral | attached, in front | Kimegyek. |
| yes-or-no question | attached, in front | Elmész? |
| nem / ne | behind the verb | Nem megyek ki. · Ne menj ki! |
| focus, question word | behind the verb | ÉN mentem ki. · Mikor mész el? |
| positive command | behind the verb | Menj ki! |
| infinitive | attached to it | kimenni |
| helper + infinitive, neutral | in front of the helper | Ki akarok menni. · Ki kell menni. |
| helper + infinitive, blocked | on the infinitive | Nem akarok kimenni. |
✏️ Try It Yourself — Gyakorlás
Say the answer first, then click to check.
1. Make Kimegyek negative.
Show answer
Nem megyek ki.
2. "Go out!" (to one person).
Show answer
Menj ki!
3. "Don't go out!"
Show answer
Ne menj ki!
4. "I want to go out."
Show answer
Ki akarok menni. The prefix stands before the helper.
5. "I don't want to go out."
Show answer
Nem akarok kimenni. The prefix is on the infinitive.
6. "I must hand in the work." Use lead and kell.
Show answer
Le kell adnom a munkát.
7. "It was Péter who left." Put Péter in focus.
Show answer
Péter ment el. (Péter stressed.)
8. "When are you leaving?" (elmegy, mikor)
Show answer
Mikor mész el? The question word takes the place before the verb.
9. "I will go away" and "I will not go away."
Show answer
El fogok menni. and Nem fogok elmenni.
10. Correct this: *Nem elmegyek.
Show answer
Nem megyek el. After nem the prefix goes behind the verb.