[#DuolingoForumGems originally posted on 2020-12-11 on the Duolingo Hungarian for English speakers forum by peter.kristof.hu ]
Cleft sentences
Recently, I found that the different word order of Hungarian translations causes difficulties for language learners. In Hungarian, it is possible to highlight a phrase by placing it in the focus position. In languages in which the word order cannot emphasize individual parts, such as English, so-called cleft structures are used. The cleft sentence is a construct that contains information divided into two clauses provide extra focus to one piece of information.
Of course, I do not want to explain the cleft structure, but to show how to interpret particular Hungarian sentences. In the following, using an example, I present the meaning of each sentence, emphasizing the different parts of the sentence. The first line is the neutral sentence. The stressed parts are in bold.
| János stole a book from the library last week. | János ellopott egy könyvet a múlt héten a könyvtárból. |
| It was János who stole a book from the library last week. | János lopott el egy könyvet a múlt héten a könyvtárból. |
| It was a book that János stolen from the library last week. | János egy könyvet lopott el múlt a héten a könyvtárból. |
| It was last week that János stolen a book from the library. | János a múlt héten lopott el egy könyvet a könyvtárból. |
| It was from the library that János stole a book last week. | János a könyvtárból lopott el egy könyvet a múlt héten. |
The Hungarian sentences by position:
| Topic | Focus pos. | Verb | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| János | el- | lopott | egy könyvet a múlt héten a könyvtárból. |
| János | lopott | el egy könyvet a múlt héten a könyvtárból. | |
| János | egy könyvet | lopott | el múlt a héten a könyvtárból. |
| János | a múlt héten | lopott | el egy könyvet a könyvtárból. |
| János | a könyvtárból | lopott | el egy könyvet a múlt héten. |
The separation of the verb shows that the preverb removed from the focus position and the highlighted phrase is placed here instead.
We can also use this structure in Hungarian, but it is rarely needed. For the sake of completeness, I'll also describe this.
(Az) János volt, aki ellopott egy könyvet a múlt héten a könyvtárból.
(Az) egy könyv volt, amit János ellopott a múlt héten a könyvtárból.
(Az) a múlt héten volt, amikor János ellopott egy könyvet a könyvtárból.
(Az) a könyvtár volt, ahonnan János ellopott egy könyvet a múlt héten.
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Comments:
So when the verb is not in the focus position, the preverb is detached?
I think I need to review the five criteria to see if I had this covered or need to make it #6.
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I completed the explanation with a new table.
The focus position is always in front of the verb unless there is a negative particle. In that case, the negative to be placed between the two elements.
As can you see, in the neutral sentence, the preverb occupied the focus position. When we put a phrase into the focus, it takes its place, and the preverb goes behind the verb.
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P.S.
I have tried to explain these problems in a post before. If you haven't seen it yet, check out here: https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/31821286
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Great post! Very detailed breakdown of syntax of each sentences.
However, I wonder if you could enlighten me regarding the usage of "is" (as well, also) with preverb, as I still struggle with whether preverb should remain attached or separated from the verb if placed right after "is".
For example, "A vendég is elfut a szállodából."
I know "is" refers to what came directly before, which is "A vendég". But does that mean "a vendég" then occupies the focus position of the sentence? If that is the case should the sentence be "A vendég is fut el a szállodából"?
Is it possible to split "el" from "fut" after "is"? Thanks!
"A vendég is elfut a szállodából." - this is good
"A vendég is fut el a szállodából." - not good
I would avoid separating preverbs right after "is"
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