Questions & Answers about Ma én is elmegyek a piacra.
Why is én (I) included? Can it be omitted?
Yes, it can usually be omitted. Hungarian verb endings already show the subject, so Ma is elmegyek a piacra. is perfectly natural.
You keep én when you want emphasis or contrast, e.g. Today I am also going (as opposed to someone else).
What does is mean here, and where can it go in the sentence?
is means also/too/as well. It typically comes right after the word it “adds to.”
- Ma én is elmegyek a piacra. = I also am going today (others are going too).
- Ma én elmegyek is a piacra. sounds odd/uncommon in this meaning.
- Ma is elmegyek a piacra. = Today too I’m going (in addition to other days).
So placement changes what is being included: én is (I too), ma is (today too), a piacra is (to the market too).
Why is the word order Ma én is ...? Is Hungarian word order fixed?
Hungarian word order is flexible and mainly reflects topic/focus (what you’re talking about vs what you emphasize).
- Starting with Ma makes today the topic (setting/time).
- én is then adds the idea “I too.”
Other valid orders with slightly different emphasis include: - Én is ma elmegyek a piacra. (emphasizes I too)
- Ma is elmegyek a piacra. (emphasizes today too)
- A piacra ma én is elmegyek. (foregrounds to the market)
What is the difference between megyek and elmegyek?
megyek = I go / I’m going (neutral movement)
elmegyek = I go away / I leave / I’m going (off) to a place
The prefix el- often adds a sense of departure or going off somewhere. In everyday Hungarian, elmegyek a piacra is very common for “I’m going to the market.”
What tense is elmegyek? Is it present or future?
Formally it’s present tense, but Hungarian present tense often covers near-future plans too.
So Ma ... elmegyek naturally means Today I’m going / I will go (a planned action). Context supplies whether English prefers present continuous or future.
How do we know it’s I (first person singular) from elmegyek?
The ending -ek in megyek / elmegyek marks 1st person singular (“I”).
So even without én, elmegyek already means I go / I’m going.
Why is it a piacra and not a piac?
Because Hungarian marks direction/location with case endings.
- piac = market (base form)
- piacra = to the market (motion toward it)
Without the -ra ending, it wouldn’t express “to.”
What does the ending -ra mean, and why not -ba/-be?
-ra/-re means onto / to (a surface or open place) and is commonly used with places like piac (market), tér (square), etc.: a piacra = “to the market.”
-ba/-be means into (inside something): a boltba = “into the shop.”
Markets are often conceptualized as an open area, so -ra fits naturally.
Why is there an article a before piacra? Is it “the” or “a”?
a is the Hungarian definite article = the.
Hungarian often uses the definite article in cases where English might say the market or sometimes simply market. Here, a piacra is most naturally to the market.
Can I say Ma is elmegyek piacra without a?
Sometimes you’ll hear article-dropping in informal or special contexts, but the neutral, standard version is a piacra.
Without the article, piacra can sound more like a set phrase (“to market”) and may feel less specific. For learners, use the article unless you’ve learned a specific idiomatic exception.
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