Az orvos kedvenc hangszere a zongora, mert munka után szeret játszani rajta.

to be

Breakdown of Az orvos kedvenc hangszere a zongora, mert munka után szeret játszani rajta.

• játszani: to play
• szeretni: to like
• orvos: the doctor
• mert: because
• kedvenc: favorite
• hangszer: the instrument
• zongora: the piano
• munka: the work
• után: after

Questions & Answers about Az orvos kedvenc hangszere a zongora, mert munka után szeret játszani rajta.

What is the overall meaning and translation of this sentence?

The sentence “Az orvos kedvenc hangszere a zongora, mert munka után szeret játszani rajta.” translates as “The doctor's favorite instrument is the piano, because he (or she) likes to play it after work.” It is composed of two parts: the first states the doctor’s favorite instrument, while the second explains the reason for it.

How does the possessive structure work in the phrase kedvenc hangszere?

In Hungarian, possession is often indicated by adding a suffix directly to the noun. Here, hangszer means “instrument” and the suffix -e indicates that this instrument belongs to someone—in this context, the doctor. Thus, kedvenc hangszere means “his or her favorite instrument.”

Why is the word rajta used in the sentence, and how is it formed?

The word rajta is a combination of the postposition ra (meaning “on”) and a clitic suffix that refers back to a previously mentioned noun. In this sentence, rajta means “on it,” referring to the piano. This construction is common in Hungarian when indicating location relative to an already mentioned object.

What does the phrase munka után mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Munka után translates to “after work.” It serves as a time expression, setting the scene for when the doctor likes to play the piano. In Hungarian, such expressions typically appear at the beginning of the clause to provide context for the action that follows.

Why is the subject omitted in the clause szeret játszani rajta?

Hungarian often omits the subject when it is clear from context. Although the second clause lacks an explicit subject, it is understood that the doctor—mentioned in the first clause—is the one who likes to play. This omission avoids redundancy and is a common feature in Hungarian sentence structure.

What is the function of the article Az at the beginning of the sentence?

Az is the definite article in Hungarian, equivalent to “the” in English. It is used before orvos (doctor) to indicate that a specific, known doctor is being referred to. The use of definite articles in Hungarian is similar to English, marking the noun as particular or previously identified.