A modem és a vezeték az asztalon van.

The modem and the cable are on the table.

Breakdown of A modem és a vezeték az asztalon van.

• lenni: to be
• asztal: the table
• és: and
• az: the

Questions & Answers about A modem és a vezeték az asztalon van.

Why are there both a and az in the sentence?

They are the same word: the Hungarian definite article, meaning the.

• Use a before a consonant sound: a modem, a vezeték
• Use az before a vowel sound: az asztalon

So this is just a pronunciation-based alternation, like choosing the easier form to say.

Why does asztalon mean on the table? Where is the word on?

Hungarian usually uses a case ending instead of a separate preposition.

• asztal = table
• -on = a suffix meaning on

So:

• asztalon = on the table

With the article included, az asztalon literally looks like the table-on.

Why is there still an article in az asztalon?

Because in Hungarian, the article and the case ending do different jobs:

• az = the
• asztalon = on the table

The case ending goes on the noun, not on the article. So Hungarian says:

• az asztalon = on the table

This is completely normal.

Why is van used here? I thought Hungarian often leaves out is.