The Infinitive in -ni: Contrasts and Learner Traps

Hungarian -ni forms are nonfinite verbs, not general-purpose equivalents of English to + verb or verb + -ing. The main boundary is participant structure: a bare infinitive usually shares an understood participant with its governing expression, while a different or specifically identified participant may require a finite hogy clause, a personal infinitive, or one of a few lexically licensed constructions.

Review formation on the infinitive forms page and common functions on the usage page. The contrasts below are neutral modern standard Hungarian unless labeled.

Shared subject versus a different subject

With akar, the finite subject normally controls the bare infinitive:

If the wanter and the person leaving differ, ordinary Hungarian uses a finite subordinate clause:

English can use the compact pattern I want Peter to go. Hungarian does not generally turn Pétert into an infinitival subject after akar. The demonstrative correlate azt can be omitted, but the hogy clause and imperative-subjunctive menjen remain.

The same contrast appears with purpose. A motion infinitive normally shares the mover:

When another participant performs the purpose action, a finite clause is clearer:

Bare infinitive versus personal infinitive

An impersonal modal can leave the participant generic:

A personal infinitive identifies who bears the obligation:

Viselni is bare and applies generally; viselnem contains first-person singular morphology. With an overt logical subject, Hungarian normally marks it dative:

The finite-looking English subject visitors corresponds to dative a látogatóknak, while the person-number relation appears again in viselniük. See personal-infinitive contrasts for when the dative can be omitted.

Infinitive versus action noun

English -ing can correspond to a Hungarian infinitive or a derived noun. The infinitive keeps the event vivid and verbal; a nominalization presents an activity as a concept, institution, or referential entity.

The first evaluates an event and lets futni retain adverbial material. A rendszeres futás is a noun phrase with an article and adjective, and it serves as the subject of javítja. Hungarian cannot add an article directly to an infinitive in the same way.

After preference verbs, a bare infinitive is ordinary:

Szeretem az úszást “I like swimming/the sport of swimming” is also grammatical, but it treats az úszást as a definite nominal object and therefore uses definite szeretem. The choice changes both category and agreement.

Infinitive versus participle

An infinitive names an action; a participle modifies a noun or participates in another nonfinite construction.

Bare olvasni complements akar. Present participle olvasó modifies gyerek. English uses reading in many environments and to read in others; Hungarian selects a category based on syntax, not English surface form.

Another common English -ing translation is a finite ongoing event:

Hungarian does not need an infinitive or participle for the ordinary progressive meaning; éppen plus a finite present form supplies it.

General control versus licensed accusative participants

The different-subject rule has lexical exceptions. Perception verbs and verbs of permission can license an accusative participant with a bare infinitive:

Annát is the object of perception and the understood subject of felszállni; a gyerekeket is the participant permitted to sleep. These frames are lexical. They do not license forms such as akarom Annát elmenni after an ordinary desire verb.

Regular versus irregular formation

Direct -ni and linking-vowel forms must be distinguished: várni, kérni, olvasni, but mondani, választani, segíteni, tanítani. Frequent irregulars replace the present stem shape:

The doubled nn is pronounced long. Veszni is actually the infinitive of a different verb, vész “perish/be lost,” so writing it for venni changes the lexical item rather than merely producing a small suffix error.

Prefix position changes information structure

In a neutral infinitive chain, the prefix can climb before the finite carrier:

Negation or focus normally leaves it attached to the infinitive:

The definite form akarom is controlled by a jelentést in all three. Moving el- does not turn the infinitive into a participle or alter its object relation.

Citation form versus activity label

Traditional dictionary headwords use third-person singular present: megy, jön, tesz. Infinitives name the corresponding activities and are common in course lists or prompts: menni, jönni, tenni. Thus a teacher may ask Hogy mondjuk magyarul azt, hogy „to go”? and elicit menni, while a dictionary alphabetizes the verb under megy.

Formal public rules favor generic infinitives (formal/public-notice):

Conversation more often addresses a person with a finite form (informal):

The two sentences can regulate the same behavior, but their participant structure and register differ.

Decision tree

1. Does a finite control verb govern an action by its own subject? Use a bare infinitive: Szeretnék pihenni.
2. Is an impersonal necessity, permission, or evaluation meant generically? Use a bare infinitive: Itt lehet várni.
3. Must a specific person bear that necessity or permission? Use a personal infinitive: Itt kell várnom.
4. Does an ordinary desire or purpose introduce a different actor? Use hogy plus a finite form: Azt akarom, hogy várj.
5. Is a noun being modified? Use the relevant participle: a várakozó utas.
6. Is the activity treated as a referential concept? Consider a nominalization: a várakozás.
7. Is the form lexicalized or irregular? Retrieve the stored infinitive rather than adding -ni mechanically.

Short diagnostic

1. “I want Eszter to call.” Choose Azt akarom, hogy Eszter telefonáljon, not a bare-infinitive transfer. The actors of wanting and calling differ.
2. “Smoking is prohibited here.” Choose generic Itt dohányozni tilos. No specific logical subject needs a personal ending.
3. “I must call today.” Choose Ma telefonálnom kell or neutral Ma fel kell hívnom őt, depending on meaning. First-person -nom identifies the obligated person.
4. “The woman waiting outside is my doctor.” Choose participial A kint várakozó nő az orvosom, because the form modifies nő.

Common Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• A bare infinitive normally shares a participant with its governor or receives a generic interpretation.
• A different actor usually requires a finite hogy clause; perception and permission verbs license important accusative exceptions.
• A personal infinitive identifies a specific participant in modal and evaluative environments.
• Infinitives, participles, finite presents, and action nouns correspond to different Hungarian structures even when English uses -ing.
• Prefix position responds to focus and negation while object agreement remains on the finite carrier.
• Learn linking-vowel and irregular infinitives as full forms, including long nn in menni, jönni, tenni, venni, vinni, hinni.