Munka közben gyakran vagyok szomjas, mert kevés vizet iszom.

During work, I am often thirsty because I drink little water.

Breakdown of Munka közben gyakran vagyok szomjas, mert kevés vizet iszom.

• lenni: to be
• víz: the water
• gyakran: often
• mert: because
• szomjas: thirsty
• inni: to drink
• munka: the work
• közben: during
• kevés: little

Questions & Answers about Munka közben gyakran vagyok szomjas, mert kevés vizet iszom.

What does Munka közben mean in this sentence?

Munka közben literally translates to "while working" or "on the job." It sets the time frame for the condition described in the sentence, indicating that the speaker experiences this state during work.

How is the adverb gyakran used in this sentence?

Gyakran means "often." It modifies the verb phrase to indicate frequency. In this sentence, it tells us that the state of being thirsty occurs frequently while working.

Why doesn’t the sentence include a separate subject like "én" (I)?

In Hungarian, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb form provides enough information about the subject. The conjugation in vagyok clearly indicates that the speaker is referring to "I" (first person singular), so adding "én" isn’t necessary.

How does the structure vagyok szomjas compare to the English equivalent?

Vagyok szomjas translates to "I am thirsty." The structure is similar to English in that it links the subject (implied by the verb ending) with a predicate adjective. However, Hungarian word order is more flexible, and the adjective follows the verb directly without needing an extra linking word.

Why is vizet used instead of víz when saying kevés vizet?

The word vizet is in the partitive form. In Hungarian, when quantifying an uncountable noun with expressions like kevés (meaning "little" or "not much"), the noun takes a partitive ending (here, -t) to indicate an indefinite amount. This construction shows that only a small amount of water is being drunk.

What role does the conjunction mert play in this sentence?

Mert means "because." It introduces the reason for the condition mentioned in the first part of the sentence. In this case, it connects the feeling of being thirsty with the explanation that the speaker drinks little water, establishing a cause-and-effect relationship.