Én lassan eszem.

I

Breakdown of Én lassan eszem.

• lassan: slowly
• enni: to eat

Questions & Answers about Én lassan eszem.

Why is én used if the verb eszem already indicates the subject?

Hungarian verbs do indicate who is doing the action through their conjugation, so stating én (meaning I) is optional. However, native speakers may add én for emphasis or clarity, just as English speakers sometimes add I myself for stress.

Does lassan change its form if we put it somewhere else in the sentence?

In Hungarian, adverbs like lassan (meaning slowly) generally do not change their form based on position in the sentence. You could say Én eszem lassan or Lassan eszem, and lassan remains the same.

Why is the adverb placed before the verb in Én lassan eszem?

Typically, the fundamental word order in Hungarian is subject + adverb + verb. However, Hungarian word order is quite flexible. Placing lassan before eszem often emphasizes how the eating is done. You could change the order to shift emphasis, but Én lassan eszem has a fairly neutral emphasis on the manner of eating.

Is there a reason én comes first? Could we say Lassan eszem én?

Yes, you can place én at the end or omit it entirely. Placing én at the beginning (as in Én lassan eszem) is a common, straightforward way to start a statement. However, putting it at the end (Lassan eszem én) can sound slightly more emphatic or stylistically poetic.

Does Hungarian always drop the subject or can it be used freely?

Hungarian is classified as a pro-drop language, meaning the subject pronoun is usually optional because the verb conjugation shows who is acting. But you can use the pronoun whenever you want to emphasize the subject or add clarity.