Learn Hardcore Hungarian: Én is küldök ajándékot, és ő ír nekem. - I also send a present, and she writes to me.

is means “also/too.” It always attaches to the word it follows, and that word is the one being added. So Én is küldök… means “I also send…,” adding “I” to someone else who is sending. If you move is, you change what is being added:

Én is küldök ajándékot = I also send a gift (I, too).
Ajándékot is küldök = I send a gift too (in addition to something else).
Ő is ír nekem = He/She also writes to me (he/she, too).
Ő nekem is ír = He/She writes to me too (I’m one of the recipients).

Can I omit the subject pronouns Én and ő?

Yes. Hungarian verbs show person/number, so Küldök ajándékot, és ír nekem is fine in context. However, when you want to say “also,” is needs a host. If the “also” applies to the subject, you typically keep the pronoun: Én is küldök…. You could also shift the “also” to another element (e.g., Ajándékot is küldök), but that changes the meaning.

Why is it ajándékot and not just ajándék?

Because it’s a direct object. Hungarian marks the accusative with -t, often with a linking vowel. ajándék + -ot → ajándékot. The linking vowel o is chosen by vowel harmony: since the word contains a back vowel (á), it takes a back linking vowel (o) rather than e.

Why is it küldök and not küldöm?

Hungarian has indefinite vs. definite verb conjugation.

küldök (1SG indefinite) is used because the object ajándékot is indefinite (“a gift”).
If the object were definite, you’d use definite conjugation: Küldöm az ajándékot (“I’m sending the gift.”) or Küldöm azt (“I’m sending it.”).

Why ír nekem and not ír engem?

The verb ír (“to write”) takes a dative recipient: ír valakinek = “write to someone.” So “to me” is nekem (dative), not engem (accusative). The dative pronouns are: nekem, neked, neki, nekünk, nektek, nekik.

Where can nekem go, and does the position change the meaning?

Both ír nekem and nekem ír are correct. Putting nekem immediately before the verb highlights it (focus):

Ő nekem ír = He/She writes to me (as opposed to someone else).
Ő ír nekem = He/She writes to me (neutral).

Does ő mean “he” or “she”?

Both. ő is gender-neutral (he/she). Context tells you the gender, if relevant. For plural “they,” use ők. For inanimate “it,” Hungarian usually avoids a personal pronoun and either omits the subject or uses a demonstrative (az/ez) when needed.

Do I need egy to say “a gift,” as in egy ajándékot?

No. Objects are often bare without egy. Küldök ajándékot naturally means “I’m sending a gift.” Adding egy (Küldök egy ajándékot) tends to stress the quantity (“one single gift”) or introduce it more explicitly.

Does the present tense here mean “I send” or “I am sending”?

Hungarian present covers both simple and progressive readings; context decides:

Most küldök ajándékot = I’m sending a gift now.
Gyakran küldök ajándékot = I (often) send gifts. For future time, use an adverb or a perfective prefix: Holnap elküldök egy ajándékot = I’ll send off a gift tomorrow.

Should the verb have a prefix, like elküldök or megírom?

Not necessarily. Without a prefix, küldök/ír are neutral (habitual/in-progress). Prefixes add a “completed”/resultative feel:

Elküldök egy ajándékot = I’ll send off a gift (completion).
With a concrete direct object, ír vs. megír:
- Ő ír nekem egy levelet = He/She writes me a letter (neutral).
- Ő megírja nekem a levelet = He/She writes the letter for me (and completes it). Note the definite conjugation (-ja) with a levelet.

Is the comma before és required?

Yes here. Hungarian typically separates two independent clauses with a comma when they have different subjects: … küldök ajándékot, és ő ír nekem.
If the subject is the same (or shared), you usually omit the comma: Én is küldök ajándékot és írok neki.

Are other word orders possible?

Yes; Hungarian word order is flexible and used for emphasis:

Ajándékot is küldök, és ő is ír nekem. (I’m also sending a gift; he/she also writes to me.)
Én ajándékot küldök, és ő nekem ír. (Topic highlighting “I” and “to me.”) Moving elements changes what’s highlighted, but all these are grammatical.

How do I say “He also writes to me” vs. “He writes to me too”?

Ő is ír nekem = He also writes to me (he/she, too, does this).
Ő nekem is ír = He writes to me too (I’m also a recipient). Both are correct; the position of is shows what is being added.

How do I negate this, including the “also”?

Use nem for plain negation, and sem (“also not/neither”) for the “also” part:

Én nem küldök ajándékot, és ő sem ír nekem. = I’m not sending a gift, and he/she doesn’t write to me either.
Én sem küldök ajándékot, és ő sem ír nekem. = I’m not sending a gift either, and he/she isn’t writing to me either.

Any quick pronunciation tips for ő and í?

ő is a long front rounded vowel (like German long “ö”); keep the lips rounded and make it long: ő.
í is a long “ee” sound.
Primary stress is always on the first syllable of each word: Én is, KÜLdök, ajánDÉkot, ÉS, Ő, ÍR, NEkem.