Questions & Answers about A zajforrás a másik lakás.
Why is there no word for is in this sentence?
In Hungarian, the verb to be is usually left out in the present tense, third person when the predicate is a noun or adjective.
So:
- A zajforrás a másik lakás. = The source of the noise is the other apartment.
But in other situations, van / vannak can appear, for example:
- A zajforrás a másik lakás volt. = The source of the noise was the other apartment.
- A zajforrás a másik lakás lesz. = The source of the noise will be the other apartment.
Also compare:
- A lakás csendes. = The apartment is quiet.
- A lakás nem csendes. = The apartment is not quiet.
In negative sentences, forms of to be may reappear depending on the structure, so this omission is something you learn as a pattern rather than a universal rule.
Why is a used twice?