A munkahelyen hosszú megbeszélés volt, de sokat tanultam.

There was a long meeting at the workplace, but I learned a lot.

Breakdown of A munkahelyen hosszú megbeszélés volt, de sokat tanultam.

• lenni: to be
• tanulni: to learn
• de: but
• hosszú: long
• munkahely: the workplace
• -en: at
• megbeszélés: the meeting
• sok: a lot

Questions & Answers about A munkahelyen hosszú megbeszélés volt, de sokat tanultam.

Why is A used before munkahelyen, and what does munkahelyen mean exactly?

Hungarian normally requires a definite article (a/​az) even when you attach a locative suffix.

• munkahely = workplace, office
• -en = “at” (location suffix)
  So a munkahelyen literally means “at the workplace,” which we naturally translate as “at work” or “in the office.”

How is megbeszélés formed, and why does it mean “meeting” or “discussion”?

megbeszélés is a noun built from the verb megbeszél (“to discuss”):

1. meg- (prefix indicating a completed action)
2. beszél (verb stem “speak/talk”)
3. -és (noun-forming suffix)
   Together, they create megbeszélés, the act of discussing—that is, a meeting or discussion.

Why does hosszú come before megbeszélés? Can you move adjectives around?

Hungarian modifiers (adjectives, numerals) typically precede the noun they describe.

• hosszú megbeszélés = “long meeting”
  Word order in Hungarian is fairly flexible for emphasis, but the most neutral way is always adjective + noun.

What is the function of volt in this sentence? Why not van?

volt is the past tense of “to be” (van = he/she/it is). Here it expresses existence in the past:

• volt = “there was”
  So hosszú megbeszélés volt means “there was a long meeting.” If it were happening now, you’d say hosszú megbeszélés van (“there is a long meeting”).

Could you change the word order in the first clause? For example, A munkahelyen volt hosszú megbeszélés?

Yes. Hungarian allows you to swap the verb and noun phrase in “there is/was” sentences:

• A munkahelyen hosszú megbeszélés volt. (neutral)
• A munkahelyen volt hosszú megbeszélés. (still correct, slightly more emphatic on the fact that it occurred)
  Both are understood; the difference is mostly about which part you emphasize.

What does de mean here, and is its placement fixed?

de means “but” or “however.” It introduces contrast between the two clauses.
Placement: directly before the second clause or attached to the first verb of that clause.

• …, de sokat tanultam. (neutral)
  You wouldn’t normally move de to the very end.

Why is sokat used instead of sok, and what case is it?

sokat is the accusative form of sok (“much/a lot”). When you say sokat tanultam, “a lot” is the object of tanultam (“I learned”), so it takes the -t for accusative.

• sok (dictionary form/adjective)
• sokat = “a lot” (as a pronoun/object)

Why is the pronoun én omitted in tanultam, and how would you stress “I” if needed?

Hungarian is a pro-drop language: the verb ending -tam already tells you the subject is “I,” so you don’t need én.
To add emphasis: place én before the verb or stress it in speech.

• Én tanultam sokat. = “I (and not someone else) learned a lot.”