Coverb Separation (2/3)

Recall from the last section:

The topic goes first, and the thing that is to be emphasised goes before the verb.

So while the coverb remains attached to the verb, the verb is emphasised and the sentence remains neutral. However, when the coverb is detached (and moves to the right), it is no longer blocking the emphasis from the word before. Thus the word order may change and different things can be emphasised.

But it isn’t that simple, let’s explore all the different scenarios.

General Sentence Emphasis

Here is how the situation goes down generally.

• A mohó róka megette a csirkét. - (The greedy fox at the chicken. NEUTRAL)
  • A mohó róka ette meg a csirkét. - (Focus: a mohó róka)
  • A csirkét ette meg a mohó róka. - (Focus: a csirkét)

This detachment can also be seen when a verb and a telic verb in the infinitive are used together. Whatever is in front, is emphasised.

• Próbáltam elnézni. - (I tried to look away)
  • El próbáltam nézni. - (Focus: el. Not fel, le, or ki.)
  • Elnézni próbáltam - (Focus: elnéz. Not lát, hallgat or mond.)

It’s the same deal with the conjugated infinitive.

• Fel kell kelnem. - (Focus: fel. Not át or egybe)
  • Felkelnem kell. - (Focus: felkel. Not lefekszik)
  • Kell felkelnem. - (Focus: kell. As opposed to not needing to.)

Whatever precedes kell or starts the sentence is emphasised. Similar ordering is seen using sikerült and the conjugated infinitive.

• Megoldtuk. - (We solved it.)
  • Sikerült megoldanunk. - (Focus: sikerült. It didn’t fail.)
  • Meg sikerült oldanunk. - (Focus: meg. We set out to solve it, and it was solved.)
  • Megoldanunk sikerült. - (Focus: megold. Not megcsinál.)

Negated Sentences

Whenever a sentence is negated, the coverbs are always detached.

• Megtaláltam a kulcsot. (I found my key. Neutral)

• Nem találtam meg a kulcsot. - (I didn’t find the key. Negated)

• György megoldotta a keresztrejtvényt. - (György solved the crossword. Neutral)
• György nem oldotta meg a keresztrejtvényt. - (György didn’t solve the crossword. Negated)

Because of the coverb always separating when present in a negated sentence, negated verbs are a kind of emphasis.

Expressing the Future

Likewise the detachment is present when using fog as well. The position of the coverb can be placed before a word that is before fog.

• A mohó róka meg fogja enni a csirkét. - (The greedy fox will eat the chicken. Neutral)
• A mohó róka fogja megenni a csirkét. - (Focus: a mohó róka)
• A csirkét meg fogja enni a mohó róka. - (Topic: a csirkét, Focus: megeszik)

Adding fog into a present tense sentence with coverbs changes things up.

• elmegyek » el fogok menni
• megyek el » fogok elmenni

We saw here that a coverb has to jump in front of both verbs, if it wants to be emphasised.

In Questions

When coverbs are present in a non yes-no question, they are usually separated (regardless if negation is present or not).

• Mikor indulunk el? - (When do we leave?)
• Hol találtad meg? - (Where did you find it?)
• Miért nem jött vissza sohasem? (Why did he never even come back?)
• Kiket nem hívtatok meg? - (Who (plural) didn’t you invite?)

In Imperative or Subjunctive Mood

In the imperative mood, the coverb is always detached.

• Hívj fel, ha van időd. - (Ring me if you have time.)
• Kapcsoljátok le a villanyt, mielőtt mentek aludni! ((2nd Person) Turn off the lights before you go to sleep!)

In the subjunctive mood, the coverb is usually attached.

• Azt akarom, hogy kipróbáljátok ezt. - (I want you guys to try this out.)
• Az a célom, hogy átmenjek a vizsgán. - (My goal is to pass the exam.)

Challenge!

Arrange these words into a sentence that puts focus on ötször. Decide if the coverb should be separated.

• ügyetlen
• ötször
• labdát
• a
• olyan
• már
• fiú
• a
• elejtette
• az

Az a fiú olyan ügyetlen, már ötször ejtette el a labdát.

Got questions? Join our discord server!: https://discord.gg/VsqppQ6