A kilenc gyümölcs az asztalon van.

The nine fruits are on the table.

Breakdown of A kilenc gyümölcs az asztalon van.

• lenni: to be
• gyümölcs: the fruit
• asztal: the table
• -on: on
• kilenc: the nine

Questions & Answers about A kilenc gyümölcs az asztalon van.

Why is "gyümölcs" in singular form here, even though "kilenc" indicates multiple fruits?

In Hungarian, when a noun is preceded by a number (like kilenc), the noun stays in the singular form. So instead of saying gyümölcsök, you just say kilenc gyümölcs to mean "nine fruits."

Why is the word "van" (meaning "is") placed at the end of the sentence?

Hungarian has flexible word order, but a neutral sentence that states a fact often ends with the verb. Here, "A kilenc gyümölcs az asztalon van" is a straightforward statement: Subject + Location + Verb.

Is it necessary to use "van" in this sentence at all?

Yes. In Hungarian, the copula (van, meaning "is/are") is required when identifying a location or stating existence for third-person singular and plural. You omit it only in third-person statements describing characteristics ("Ő szép" = "She is pretty"), but for location statements, you keep van.

Why does the sentence start with "A kilenc gyümölcs"?

Hungarian often places the topic (what the sentence is about) at the beginning. In this case, A kilenc gyümölcs is the topic, so it goes first. The rest of the sentence gives more information about it (i.e., it’s on the table).

What does "az asztalon" signify, and why the ending "-on"?

Az asztalon means "on the table." The suffix -on is a locative suffix that tells you where something is (on top of something). Hungarians use these suffixes instead of separate prepositions like "on" or "at."