Breakdown of A szkennert használjuk anélkül, hogy segítséget kérnénk a közösségi menedzsertől.
Questions & Answers about A szkennert használjuk anélkül, hogy segítséget kérnénk a közösségi menedzsertől.
Where is the word we in this sentence?
Hungarian often leaves subject pronouns out because the verb ending already shows the subject.
Here:
- használjuk = we use it / we use the
- kérnénk = we would ask
So there is no separate mi (we) because it is already built into the verb forms.
Why is it használjuk and not használunk?
Because Hungarian uses two kinds of verb conjugation:
- indefinite conjugation: when there is no definite object
- definite conjugation: when the object is definite
Here the object is a szkennert = the scanner, which is definite, so the verb must be in the definite form:
- használjuk = we use the/it
- használunk = we use something, but not a specific definite object
So A szkennert használjuk needs használjuk.
Why does szkennert end in -t?
The -t marks the accusative case, which is usually used for the direct object.
- szkenner = scanner
- szkennert = scanner + accusative = the scanner as the thing being used
Since the scanner is what we use, it takes the accusative ending.
What does anélkül, hogy mean?
anélkül, hogy is a very common Hungarian structure meaning:
- without doing something
- literally something like without it that...
In this sentence:
- anélkül, hogy segítséget kérnénk = without asking for help
It introduces a subordinate clause describing something that does not happen while the main action happens.
A very useful pattern is:
- anélkül, hogy + verb
- without + -ing in English
For example:
- Elment anélkül, hogy szólt volna. = He left without saying anything.
Why is the verb kérnénk in a conditional form?
After anélkül, hogy, Hungarian normally uses the conditional form of the verb.
So:
- kérnénk literally looks like we would ask
- but in this structure it is best translated simply as we ask in English:
- without asking for help
This is just how the construction works in standard Hungarian.
So even though English uses without asking, Hungarian says:
- anélkül, hogy kérnénk
This is a fixed and very important grammar pattern.
Why is it segítséget kérnénk? Why not a single verb meaning to ask for help?
In Hungarian, help is usually expressed here as a noun:
- segítség = help
- segítséget kérni = to ask for help
Literally this is to ask help.
So:
- segítséget is the direct object of kérnénk
- kérnénk = we would ask
This is a normal Hungarian expression:
- segítséget kérek = I’m asking for help
- segítséget kért = he/she asked for help
Why does segítséget also have an accusative ending?
Because it is the direct object of kérnénk.
In the clause:
- segítséget kérnénk
the thing being asked for is help, so segítség takes the accusative:
- segítség = help
- segítséget = help (as direct object)
This means:
- we would ask for help
So the sentence has two different direct objects in two different parts:
- a szkennert — object of használjuk
- segítséget — object of kérnénk
Why is it a közösségi menedzsertől? What does -től mean?
The ending -tól / -től means from.
Here:
- menedzser = manager
- menedzsertől = from the manager
Hungarian says:
- segítséget kér valakitől = ask someone for help
- literally: ask help from someone
So:
- a közösségi menedzsertől = from the community manager
This is different from English structure, because English says:
- ask someone for help
but Hungarian more literally says:
- ask help from someone
Why is there an article before közösségi menedzsertől?
Because it refers to a specific person:
- a közösségi menedzsertől = from the community manager
Hungarian uses a / az as the definite article, just like English the.
So:
- a szkennert = the scanner
- a közösségi menedzsertől = from the community manager
Both refer to specific, identifiable things/persons.
Why is there no article before segítséget?
Because help here is being used as an uncountable, indefinite idea, not as a specific item.
Hungarian often leaves out the article in this kind of expression:
- segítséget kérni = to ask for help
Using no article here is natural and standard. English does something similar:
- we say ask for help, not usually ask for the help unless we mean some specific help already mentioned.
Why does the sentence start with A szkennert instead of the verb?
Hungarian word order is flexible and often depends on topic and focus, not just fixed sentence position.
Starting with A szkennert makes the scanner the topic — the thing we are talking about.
So:
- A szkennert használjuk... = As for the scanner, we use it... / We use the scanner...
In many contexts this is a natural neutral order, especially when the object is already known in the conversation.
Hungarian does not always need to start with the subject the way English often does.
What do the words közösségi menedzser mean exactly?
- közösségi = community / social
- menedzser = manager
Together:
- közösségi menedzser = community manager
Also, menedzser is a loanword. Hungarian can attach normal Hungarian endings to loanwords, which is why you get:
- menedzser
- menedzsertől
This is completely normal in Hungarian.
Can this sentence be translated literally word for word?
Only partly. A more literal breakdown is:
- A szkennert = the scanner-ACC
- használjuk = we use it/the
- anélkül, hogy = without
- segítséget = help-ACC
- kérnénk = we would ask
- a közösségi menedzsertől = from the community manager
Very literal:
- We use the scanner without that we would ask help from the community manager.
Natural English:
- We use the scanner without asking the community manager for help.
- or We use the scanner without asking for help from the community manager.
So the structure is not translated word-for-word into natural English, especially in the anélkül, hogy part.
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