Learn Hardcore Hungarian: A diák a könyvtárban szokott olvasni. - The student usually reads in the library.

In the construction szokott + infinitive (here: szokott olvasni), szokott means “usually/tends to” and expresses present-time habit.
Although szokott looks like the past 3rd person singular of szokni, it functions as a modal-like verb for habitual aspect in the present.
With a clear past-time adverb, it can also convey past habit: e.g., Régen a könyvtárban szokott olvasni = “He/She used to read in the library.” Many speakers prefer the unambiguous Régen a könyvtárban olvasott for past habit.

Why is it olvasni (the infinitive) and not olvas?

After szokott, the main action appears in the infinitive: szokott olvasni (“is in the habit of reading”).
Without szokott, olvas would be the simple present: A diák a könyvtárban olvas (“The student is reading in the library,” or a generic present).

What does the word order tell me? Is something in focus?

Hungarian places the focused element immediately before the finite verb. In A diák a könyvtárban szokott olvasni, the location a könyvtárban is in the focus slot before szokott.
Implication: “It’s in the library that the student usually reads (as opposed to elsewhere).”
The subject A diák is a topic here (known/given information).

Can I also say A diák szokott olvasni a könyvtárban? Is there a difference?

Yes. A diák szokott olvasni a könyvtárban is a neutral, non-contrastive order (no special focus).
A diák a könyvtárban szokott olvasni puts contrastive emphasis on the location (“in the library, not elsewhere”).
Both are grammatical; choose based on whether you want to emphasize the place.

How do I say “Students usually read in the library”?

Pluralize both noun and verb: A diákok a könyvtárban szoktak olvasni.
If you mean students in general (not specific ones), A diákok still works for a generic statement in Hungarian.

How do I negate it? Is there a difference between “not there” vs “not as a habit”?

Negating the habit: A diák nem szokott a könyvtárban olvasni. = “The student is not in the habit of reading in the library.”
Negating the location (contrastive): A diák nem a könyvtárban szokott olvasni. = “It’s not in the library that the student usually reads (but somewhere else).”
The position of nem and the focus determine the nuance.

How do I make a yes/no question?

Use question intonation or the -e particle:
- A diák a könyvtárban szokott olvasni?
- Szokott a diák a könyvtárban olvasni?
- Szokott-e a diák a könyvtárban olvasni? (formal/literary)

Why is it könyvtárban and not könyvtárben?

Vowel harmony: suffixes with a/á/o/ó/u/ú (back vowels) attach as back-vowel forms if the stem contains any back vowel.
könyvtár contains a back vowel á, so you choose the back variant -ban: könyvtárban.
Words with only front vowels take -ben (e.g., székben, kertben).

What are the related location suffixes I should know (in/into/from/at/near)?

Do I need the article a before könyvtárban? When can I drop it?

A könyvtárban = “in the library” (usually a specific or contextually known library; natural in this sentence).
Dropping it gives a more indefinite reading: Könyvtárban szokott olvasni = “He/She usually reads in a library (some library).”
Some institutional nouns often appear without an article in generic uses (e.g., iskolában, kórházban). With könyvtár, both with and without the article are possible depending on specificity.

Why is it a and not az (a diák, a könyvtárban)? What’s the rule?

a is used before a consonant-initial word; az before a vowel-initial word.
a diák (d- is a consonant), a könyvtárban (k- is a consonant), but az iskola, az egyetem (vowel-initial).

Can I combine szokott with adverbs like gyakran (“often”), általában (“generally”), or mindig (“always”)?

You can, but be mindful of redundancy:
- általában
  - szokott is common: A diák általában a könyvtárban szokott olvasni.
- gyakran can pair with szokott, but often simple present suffices: A diák gyakran a könyvtárban olvas.
- mindig (“always”) typically goes with simple present: A diák mindig a könyvtárban olvas. Using mindig szokott is usually considered redundant or odd.

What happens if there is a definite object? Do I still use szokott?

With a definite object, szokott takes definite conjugation: szokta.
Examples:
- Indefinite object: A diák könyveket szokott olvasni a könyvtárban. (“books” in general)
- Definite object: A diák az újságot szokta a könyvtárban olvasni. (“the newspaper”)
Word order still follows focus rules (the focused constituent goes before szokta).

Is szokik ever used in this meaning?

No. szokik (and hozzászokik) means “to get used to” something, typically with -hoz/-hez/-höz:
- A diák hozzászokik a zajhoz. = “The student gets used to the noise.”
Habitual action is expressed with szokott + infinitive: szokott olvasni.

Any pronunciation tips for könyvtárban and szokott olvasni?

könyvtárban:
- ö is a rounded mid-front vowel (like German ö).
- ny is a palatal “ny” (similar to Spanish ñ).
- á is a long “a” (as in “father,” held longer).
- In rapid speech, the v+t cluster often assimilates, sounding like “nyf-tár” (you may hear something close to “könyftárban”), but it’s always spelled with v.
szokott: sz is like English “s”; double consonants are held a bit longer.
olvasni: the s is “sh” (IPA ʃ), so it sounds like “OL-vash-ni.”

How would I emphasize that it’s this student (and not others) who usually reads there?

Put the subject in focus before the verb: A könyvtárban a diák szokott olvasni.
Meaning: “In the library, it’s the student (as opposed to others) who usually reads.” Different focus, same pieces.

Is there a more neutral, all-purpose version without focusing on the place?

Yes: A diák szokott olvasni a könyvtárban. This states the habit without highlighting the location contrastively.
Use the focused version (A diák a könyvtárban szokott olvasni) when you want to contrast the place with alternatives.