Breakdown of Miután megjavítja az autót, elvisz minket a tóhoz.
Questions & Answers about Miután megjavítja az autót, elvisz minket a tóhoz.
Miután means after and introduces a subordinate time clause (an “after”-clause).
So Miután megjavítja az autót = After (he/she) fixes the car.
The main clause is elvisz minket a tóhoz = (he/she) takes us to the lake.
In Hungarian, a subordinate clause introduced by words like miután is typically separated from the main clause by a comma, especially when it comes first:
- Miután …, elvisz …
This is more regular in Hungarian than in English.
Hungarian often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending carries the information.
Here, both verbs are 3rd person singular:
- megjavítja = he/she fixes
- elvisz = he/she takes (away)
If you wanted to add the pronoun for emphasis, you could use ő, but it’s usually unnecessary.
Hungarian frequently uses the present tense to talk about future or scheduled actions, especially in subordinate time clauses:
- Miután megjavítja… can naturally refer to a future fixing (“after he fixes it”).
The timing relationship (after) is carried by miután, not by a special future tense.
This is the definite vs. indefinite conjugation:
- megjavítja (definite) is used when the verb has a definite, specific object (something identifiable).
- megjavít (indefinite) is used with no object or an indefinite/non-specific object.
Here the object is az autót (the car), so Hungarian uses the definite form: megjavítja.
meg- is a common verbal prefix that often makes the action completed or result-oriented:
- javít = fixes/repairs (more like “is repairing” / general fixing)
- megjavít = fixes it (to completion), “gets it repaired”
With miután (after), this “completed” sense fits very well.
Because the sentence refers to a specific car: the car.
- az autót = the car in the accusative case (direct object)
If you said Miután megjavít autót…, that would sound like “after he repairs a car (some car)”, i.e., less specific (and it would also trigger the indefinite conjugation: megjavít).
-t is the accusative ending, marking the direct object of the verb:
- autó = car (dictionary form)
- autót = car (as the thing being fixed)
Hungarian marks this role on the noun, so word order can be more flexible.
- a is the definite article = the (before most consonant sounds; az before vowel sounds).
- tóhoz uses the directional suffix -hoz/-hez/-höz, meaning to/toward.
So a tóhoz = to the lake (movement toward it).
Other common related endings:
- a tónál = at the lake
- a tóba = into the lake
- a tótól = from the lake
It’s vowel harmony. The stem’s vowels influence the suffix form:
- back vowels → -hoz
- front unrounded vowels → -hez
- front rounded vowels → -höz
tó has a back vowel (ó), so it takes -hoz: tóhoz.
visz means takes/carries. The prefix el- adds a sense like away / off / to another place:
- visz minket = takes us (neutral)
- elvisz minket = takes us away / takes us (there), often implying departure from the current place
With a tóhoz it naturally means “take us to the lake (from here).”
minket is the accusative form of we/us:
- mi = we
- minket = us (as the direct object)
Because elvisz is acting on us (he/she takes us), Hungarian uses the accusative pronoun form.
The structure is very natural, but Hungarian word order is often about focus and emphasis. For example:
- Miután megjavítja az autót, elvisz minket a tóhoz. (neutral: first fix, then take)
- Miután megjavítja az autót, a tóhoz visz el minket. (more focus on to the lake)
- Miután az autót megjavítja, elvisz minket a tóhoz. (more focus on the car)
The endings (like -t, -hoz) keep the roles clear even if you move things.