Understanding Past Progressive in Hungarian Grammar

Formation of Past Progressive in Hungarian

The Past Progressive in Hungarian Grammar, also known as past continuous, is formed by combining the auxiliary verb “volt” (was/were) with the present participle of the main verb. This tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing, incomplete or in progress in the past.

To create the past progressive tense, follow these steps:

1. Identify the base form of the verb to be conjugated.
2. Form the present participle by adding the suffix -ó or -ő to the base verb.
3. Use the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb “volt”, based on the subject.

Examples of Past Progressive in Hungarian

Let’s examine some examples to understand the past progressive tense in Hungarian:

1. Eszik (to eat) – Base form: Esz-.
2. Add the suffix -ó to form the present participle: esz+ó=esző.
3. Volt (was/were) – Use the appropriate form of “volt” with the subject. For example:
• Az én házamban voltam esző (I was eating in my house).
• Ti a parkban voltatok esző (You were eating in the park).

Past Progressive in Hungarian and English Comparison

While the past progressive in Hungarian shares similarities with the English past continuous, there are notable differences. In English, the past continuous is formed by the auxiliary verb “to be” (was or were) and the main verb’s present participle (-ing form). The general structure is often subject + was/were + verb-ing. On the other hand, Hungarian past progressive uses the auxiliary verb “volt” and forms the present participle differently.

Usage of Past Progressive in Hungarian

The past progressive in Hungarian is employed in various contexts to describe past actions, such as:

1. Describing events in progress at a specific point in the past:
• Múlt héten ebben az időben voltam úszó (Last week at this time, I was swimming).
2. Illustrating ongoing actions interrupted by another event:
• Amikor megcsörrent a telefon, éppen voltam olvasó (I was reading when the phone rang).
3. Describing parallel actions in the past:
• Miközben én az egyik oldalon voltam keresó, ő a másik oldalon volt kereső (While I was searching on one side, he was searching on the other side).

Common Mistakes and Correct Usage

When using the past progressive in Hungarian, it is essential to avoid these typical mistakes:

1. Incorrectly forming present participles:
• Incorrect: Beszéllő – Correct: Beszélő (to talk)
• Incorrect: Iró – Correct: Író (to write)
2. Using the incorrect form of “volt”:
• Incorrect: Ő voltam sétáló – Correct: Ő volt sétáló (He/She was walking)

In conclusion, mastering the past progressive in Hungarian grammar involves understanding its formation and usage in various contexts. By practicing the correct conjugation of verbs and employing the appropriate form of “volt” as the auxiliary verb, learners can effectively communicate using the Past Progressive tense in Hungarian.