Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Ez a zöld alma jó.

In Hungarian, when you refer to a specific object using Ez (this) or Az (that) followed by a noun, you also use a definite article (a or az) before the noun. So Ez a zöld alma literally translates to This the green apple, which is correct Hungarian for This green apple.

Should I include van in this sentence?

No. In Hungarian, you usually omit van in the third-person singular when you’re describing someone or something with an adjective. That’s why Ez a zöld alma jó is correct, rather than Ez a zöld alma van jó.

Why does the adjective zöld come before alma?

In Hungarian, adjectives almost always precede the nouns they modify. It’s the standard order: adjective + noun. So zöld alma means green apple, just like in English.

Could I say Ez a jó alma zöld instead?

Grammatically, you could reorder words for emphasis in Hungarian, but Ez a jó alma zöld changes the focus. It emphasizes that the apple is green rather than that it is good. Most naturally, if you want to say This green apple is good, you keep the order as in the original sentence.

Does jó only mean good in terms of taste?

Jó can mean good in general (quality, condition, taste, etc.). If you specifically want to say something tastes good or is delicious, you might use finom instead. But jó is a perfectly fine way to say the apple is good in general.