A diák szeretne a könyvtárban olvasni.

the student

Breakdown of A diák szeretne a könyvtárban olvasni.

• olvasni: to read
• könyvtár: the library
• -ban: in
• szeretne: would like

Questions & Answers about A diák szeretne a könyvtárban olvasni.

Why does the sentence use “A diák” instead of “Egy diák”?

In Hungarian, using “A diák” emphasizes that we’re talking about a specific student. If we said “Egy diák,” it would mean “a student” in a more indefinite sense. By using the definite article “A,” we treat “diák” as a known or specific person in the context.

What does “szeretne” mean, and how is it used here?

“Szeretne” literally translates to “would like.” It’s the third-person singular conditional form of “szeret” (to like/love). It expresses a polite or softer desire—similar to saying “the student would like to” do something, rather than a more forceful “wants to.”

Why do we say “olvasni” at the end instead of “olvas”?

“Olvasni” is the infinitive form of “olvas,” which means “to read.” In Hungarian, after verbs like “szeretne,” you generally use the infinitive form of the action verb (here “olvasni”) to show what the subject would like to do.

What is the role of “ban” in “könyvtárban”?

“-ban” is a suffix that means “in” for words ending in certain consonant-vowel patterns. “Könyvtárban” is “in the library.” Hungarian uses suffixes instead of separate prepositions, so “-ban” indicates the location “inside” the library.

Could the word order be changed to “A diák a könyvtárban szeretne olvasni”?

Yes, that is grammatically correct and still natural. Hungarian word order is relatively flexible, although the emphasis shifts slightly. Placing “szeretne” later can emphasize that “the student reads in the library.” But the overall meaning remains the same.

What is the difference between “szeretne” and “akar” in this sentence?

“Akar” means “wants” in a stronger, more direct way, while “szeretne” is a softer, more polite way to express desire, akin to “would like.” Both are correct, but “szeretne” sounds more courteous or less demanding.