Az előző könyv is érdekes volt.

The previous book was also interesting.

Breakdown of Az előző könyv is érdekes volt.

• lenni: to be
• is: also
• könyv: the book
• érdekes: interesting
• előző: the previous

Questions & Answers about Az előző könyv is érdekes volt.

Why is is used in the sentence Az előző könyv is érdekes volt?

In Hungarian, is means "also" or "too". It emphasizes that the previous book was also interesting, in addition to something else (e.g., another book) mentioned or implied earlier.

Does word order matter here? Could I place is somewhere else?

Hungarian word order is fairly flexible, but putting is after könyv stresses that the book, too was interesting. You could place is after előző to emphasize the previous aspect, or at the end of the sentence to shift the focus slightly. However, the most common phrasing is exactly as in Az előző könyv is érdekes volt.

Why do we use volt at the end? Is that typical in Hungarian?

Yes, it’s typical to place the verb (in this case volt, past tense of van, "to be") towards the end of the sentence. Hungarian often follows a topic–comment structure. Here, the topic is Az előző könyv and the comment includes is érdekes volt.

What part of speech is érdekes, and why does it come before volt?

Érdekes is an adjective meaning "interesting". In Hungarian sentences, adjectives describing the subject usually come before the verb that completes the clause (here, volt). Since volt is the past-tense verb, it naturally follows the adjective in a descriptive statement like this.

Can I replace előző with korábbi or some other word meaning "previous"?

Yes, korábbi ("earlier") is another option. It’s close in meaning to előző. For style or nuance, előző might feel more specific to something just mentioned, whereas korábbi can imply a slightly broader “earlier” timeframe. Generally, both can work, and the sentence remains grammatically correct.