Hungarian Basic Course 1732 Studios

Hungarian · Unit 10

Unit 10: Utazás Dunántúlra

Volume 1

A trip to Transdanubia

385 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    (In the IBUSZ Travel Bureau.)

    (Azthe (before a vowel); also 'that' in 'az a ...'
    IBUSZGovernment Travel Agency
    Utazásitravel
    Irodájában.)office, bureau
  2. 2

    Good morning! I want to go to Siófok. I'd like to inquire about how one can travel to Siófok.

  3. 3

    Do you want to go by train or by bus?

  4. 4

    By train.

Utazási
travel
Érdeklődni
to inquire, show interest in
  1. 5

    There's an express train that starts at nine in the morning from the East Station. It's in Siófok at eleven. There's a local train also which starts at eight, but doesn't arrive in Siófok before noon.

személyvonat
local train
a
railroad station
ami
which, that (relative pronoun)
  1. 6

    Then I'll go on the express. Can I get a ticket here?

  2. 7

    Yes. What do you want? A cushioned seat or a hard one?

  3. 8

    What do you mean by 'párnás'?

Párnás
cushioned, padded (2nd class)
fapados
railway carriage with wooden benches (third class)
  1. 9

    The cushioned is the old first or second class; there the seat is soft.

első
first
második
second
ülés
seat
puha
soft
  1. 10

    And the 'fapados'?

  2. 11

    The 'fapados' is the old third class, where people sit on wooden benches.

  3. 12

    Then I want two 'párnás' tickets. How much is that altogether?

  4. 13

    Ninety forints.

ahol
where
  1. 14

    Here you are. I'd like to ask something else. How can we get out to the station in the morning?

  2. 15

    Where do you live?

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    We live near Szabadság Square.

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    The American Legation is on Szabadság Square. The bus stop is to the left of the building. Get into the bus there. It stops in front of the entrance to the East Station.

a
entrance
a
exit
  1. 18

    Thank you very much for the information.

  2. 19

    Don't mention it. Have a pleasant trip.

  3. 20

    (In the IBUSZ Travel Bureau.)

  4. 21

    Good morning! I want to go to Siófok. I'd like to inquire about how one can travel to Siófok.

  5. 22

    Do you want to go by train or by bus?

  6. 23

    By train.

  7. 24

    There's an express train that starts at nine in the morning from the East Station. It's in Siófok at eleven. There's a local train also which starts at eight, but doesn't arrive in Siófok before noon.

  8. 25

    Then I'll go on the express. Can I get a ticket here?

  9. 26

    Yes. What do you want? A cushioned seat or a hard one?

  10. 27

    What do you mean by 'párnás'?

  11. 28

    The cushioned is the old first or second class; there the seat is soft.

  12. 29

    And the 'fapados'?

  13. 30

    The 'fapados' is the old third class, where people sit on wooden benches.

  14. 31

    Then I want two 'párnás' tickets. How much is that altogether?

  15. 32

    Ninety forints.

  16. 33

    Here you are. I'd like to ask something else. How can we get out to the station in the morning?

  17. 34

    Where do you live?

  18. 35

    We live near Szabadság Square.

  19. 36

    The American Legation is on Szabadság Square. The bus stop is to the left of the building. Get into the bus there. It stops in front of the entrance to the East Station.

  20. 37

    Thank you very much for the information.

  21. 38

    Don't mention it. Have a pleasant trip.

Basic Sentences II

  1. 39

    (At the station.)

  2. 40

    Porter!

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    Is this your luggage, sir?

  4. 42

    These two suitcases are ours. We're going first class to Siófok, on the express. On which track is the train?

Hányadik
which
  1. 43

    Fourth track, on the right side.

  2. 44

    Is it possible to get on board yet?

  3. 45

    You can get on only after 15 minutes. But I'll put the luggage into the train now. I'll reserve two seats. Do you want a smoker?

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    We want a non-smoker. Can I still buy a newspaper?

  5. 47

    Yes. The newsdealer is next to the exit. But please hurry.

  6. 48

    (At the station.)

  7. 49

    Porter!

  8. 50

    Is this your luggage, sir?

  9. 51

    These two suitcases are ours. We're going first class to Siófok, on the express. On which track is the train?

  10. 52

    Fourth track, on the right side.

  11. 53

    Is it possible to get on board yet?

  12. 54

    You can get on only after 15 minutes. But I'll put the luggage into the train now. I'll reserve two seats. Do you want a smoker?

  13. 55

    We want a non-smoker. Can I still buy a newspaper?

  14. 56

    Yes. The newsdealer is next to the exit. But please hurry.

múlva
after, to, till (with reference to time)
újságárus
newsdealer, newsboy

Basic Sentences III

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    (In the train.)

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    Hello, Mr. Horváth! Where are you traveling?

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    I'm going to Dunántúl, to Székesfehérvár.

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    Then we'll travel together. Do you have a seat yet?

együtt
together
  1. 61

    Not yet. I'm looking for a vacant seat now.

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    Do you have a lot of luggage?

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    I never have much luggage when I travel. I have only this one suitcase.

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    I don't have much baggage either. Are you alone?

soha
never
  1. 65

    Yes. My wife doesn't want to go anywhere. She doesn't like to travel.

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    My wife doesn't like to travel either. But now we're going for a few days to Siófok. Come into our compartment - nobody is there yet. Put your coat down on the seat. - Mary, let me introduce Mr. Horváth.

  3. 67

    We have already met. Good morning, Mr. Horváth!

sehova
nowhere
sem
neither, nor, not...either
senki
nobody
le
down
  1. 68

    Good morning, Madam! We're now going over the railway bridge. Perhaps we can see Margaret Island from the corridor. Don't you want to come out?

  2. 69

    Good idea! Now we're passing through to the Dunántúl, aren't we?

át
through, across, over
  1. 70

    Yes. The other side of the Danube is already the Dunántúl. They call this region Dunántúl because it's beyond the Danube.

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    Do you know the Dunántúl well?

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    Yes. I have a small orchard near Székesfehérvár. I go there often. And I go to the Balaton to spend my summer vacation.

  4. 73

    This year we're going to spend our summer vacation also at the Balaton. Is Siófok far from Székesfehérvár?

Azért
therefore (for that reason)
túl
beyond, over
  1. 74

    No, it's not far - about 45 kilometers.

  2. 75

    In Hungary nothing is far. Look how beautiful that cornfield next to the farm is!

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    Yes, the land is good there. But on the other side they don't grow anything at all. It's all meadow.

  4. 77

    It's interesting but I don't see anyone at all working in the fields.

  1. 78

    Since today is a holiday, nobody is working anywhere.

  1. 79

    Look how many children there are playing on the road! One child is just climbing down from the tree and getting on his bicycle.

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    Happy childhood days! - But I'll ask the conductor if there's a dining car on the train. I'd like to have breakfast.

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    I've already asked him. It's the second after our car.

  3. 82

    (In the train.)

  4. 83

    Hello, Mr. Horváth! Where are you traveling?

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    I'm going to Dunántúl, to Székesfehérvár.

  6. 85

    Then we'll travel together. Do you have a seat yet?

  7. 86

    Not yet. I'm looking for a vacant seat now.

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    Do you have a lot of luggage?

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    I never have much luggage when I travel. I have only this one suitcase.

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    I don't have much baggage either. Are you alone?

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    Yes. My wife doesn't want to go anywhere. She doesn't like to travel.

  12. 91

    My wife doesn't like to travel either. But now we're going for a few days to Siófok. Come into our compartment - nobody is there yet. Put your coat down on the seat. - Mary, let me introduce Mr. Horváth.

  13. 92

    We have already met. Good morning, Mr. Horváth!

  14. 93

    Good morning, Madam! We're now going over the railway bridge. Perhaps we can see Margaret Island from the corridor. Don't you want to come out?

  15. 94

    Good idea! Now we're passing through to the Dunántúl, aren't we?

  16. 95

    Yes. The other side of the Danube is already the Dunántúl. They call this region Dunántúl because it's beyond the Danube.

  17. 96

    Do you know the Dunántúl well?

  18. 97

    Yes. I have a small orchard near Székesfehérvár. I go there often. And I go to the Balaton to spend my summer vacation.

  19. 98

    This year we're going to spend our summer vacation also at the Balaton. Is Siófok far from Székesfehérvár?

  20. 99

    No, it's not far - about 45 kilometers.

  21. 100

    In Hungary nothing is far. Look how beautiful that cornfield next to the farm is!

  22. 101

    Yes, the land is good there. But on the other side they don't grow anything at all. It's all meadow.

  23. 102

    It's interesting but I don't see anyone at all working in the fields.

  24. 103

    Since today is a holiday, nobody is working anywhere.

  25. 104

    Look how many children there are playing on the road! One child is just climbing down from the tree and getting on his bicycle.

  26. 105

    Happy childhood days! - But I'll ask the conductor if there's a dining car on the train. I'd like to have breakfast.

  27. 106

    I've already asked him. It's the second after our car.

Notes on Grammar: Negative Forms, 1 of 3

Two negatives in one sentence

Nem ismer senkit. He doesn't know anyone. Nem csinálok semmit. I'm not doing anything.

Senki, nobody, semmi, nothing, sehol, nowhere, and soha, never, are negative words. When one comes after the verb, nem stands before the verb. English has one negative here. Hungarian has two.

When the negative word comes first, the verb takes nem or sem. Nem is the stronger. Senki nem jön. Senki sem jön. Nobody is coming.

After a negative word, sincs means the same as nincs. Senki sincs itt. Nobody is here.

Sem means not either

Az én feleségem sem szeret utazni. My wife doesn't like to travel either.

Sem, or se, stands after the word it negates and means 'not either'. It is the negative of is, 'also'. When sem comes after the verb, nem stands before the verb.

Sincs means 'is not either', and sincsenek means 'are not either'. Nekem sincs sok csomagom. I don't have much baggage either.

At all, not even one, neither nor

De a másik oldalon nem termelnek semmit sem. But on the other side they don't grow anything at all.

After a negative word, sem adds force: 'at all'. Egy, a noun and sem mean 'not even one'. Egy tanár se ül. Not even one teacher is sitting.

Sem in a pair means 'neither, nor', and the verb takes nem. Sem Pált sem Pétert nem látom. I see neither Paul nor Peter.

  1. 107

    He doesn't find anything.

  2. 108

    I didn't see him anywhere.

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    We don't speak to anyone.

  4. 110

    He doesn't know anyone.

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    They're never there.

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    I'm not doing anything.

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    Nobody is coming.

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    Nobody is coming.

  9. 115

    I didn't see him anywhere.

  10. 116

    I didn't see him anywhere.

  11. 117

    I don't see anyone.

  12. 118

    I don't see anyone.

  13. 119

    I see neither Paul nor Peter.

  14. 120

    I have neither money nor family.

  15. 121

    I see neither Paul nor Peter.

  16. 122

    I have neither money nor family.

A. Negative Forms

In Unit 2 we had an example of a double negative in Hungarian:

Nem talál semmit.

As illustrated in the above pattern, nem is always used before the verb when the 'compound' negative (sem plus mit, se plus hol) follows the verb. Other examples of double negatives are:

Nem láttam sehol.  I didn't see him anywhere.
Nem beszélünk senkivel.  We don't speak to anyone.
Nem ismer senkit.  He doesn't know anyone.
Nincsenek soha ott.  They're never there.
Nem csinálok semmit.  I'm not doing anything.

If a compound negative precedes the verb, the negative of the predicate will be either nem or sem (se), nem indicating stronger negation than sem. Examples:

Senki nem jön.  Nobody is coming.
Senki sem jön.  Nobody is coming.
Sehol nem láttam.  I didn't see him anywhere.
Sehol sem láttam.  I didn't see him anywhere.
Senkit nem látok.  I don't see anyone.
Senkit sem látok.  I don't see anyone.

Other common negative expressions:

(1) sem (se).....sem (se) corresponds to the English 'neither.....nor'. With this expression, the verb must always be preceded by nem. It may be used only in paired words or phrases, just as the English 'neither...nor'. If the words or phrases they negate precede the verb, sem (se) will also precede each word or phrase negated; if the words or phrases come after the verb, then sem (se) will be placed after the negated items.

Sem Pált sem Pétert nem látom.  I see neither Paul nor Peter.
Se pénzem se családom nincs.  I have neither money nor family.
Nem látom Pált se és Pétert se.  I see neither Paul nor Peter.
Nincs pénzem sem és családom sem.  I have neither money nor family.

(2) sincs (sincsen) corresponds to nincs (nincsen) in meaning when it is used with a compound negative which precedes it. (Note that this is similar to the use of nem and sem after a compound negative.)

Senki sincs itt. (Senki nincs itt.)  Nobody is here. (There is nobody here.)
Semmi sincs a dobozban. (Semmi nincs a dobozban.)  There is nothing in the box.

In all other positions sincs (sincsen) means 'is not either'; 'nor is (there)'. The plural form sincsenek means 'are not either'; 'nor are (there)'.

Itt sincs meleg.  It's not warm here either. (Nor is it warm here.)
Ott sincsenek a gyerekek.  The children aren't there either.
A kertben sincs senki.  There's nobody in the garden either. (Nor is there anybody in the garden.)
A dobozban sincs a toll.  The pen isn't in the box either.
Az iskolában sincsenek a tanárok.  The teachers aren't in the school either.
A feleségem sincs Washingtonban.  My wife isn't in Washington either.
A gyerekeim sincsenek otthon.  My children aren't home either.

(3) When sem (se) comes after a compound negative, it serves as an emphasizing particle. (In this construction it is not used to negate the predicate, but instead modifies and reinforces the compound negative.) Likewise the pattern egy plus noun plus sem (se) or sincs is used to stress the negative idea 'not even one'.

Nem láttam sehol sem.  I didn't see him anywhere at all.
Nem csinálunk semmit se.  We're not doing anything at all.
Nem ismernek senkit se.  They don't know anyone at all.
Nem olvasunk sohasem.  We never read.
Egy tanár se ül.  Not even one teacher is sitting.
Egy diák sincs az iskolában.  There's not even one student in the school.

(4) Sem may also be used in a negative sentence with the meaning of '(not) either'. In this construction it is never used with a compound negative. When it comes after the verb, nem must be used before the predicate. Sem is always placed after the word it negates. (Note that in this meaning it is the negative of the Hungarian word is ('also'), just as 'not either' in English is the negative counterpart of the affirmative 'also'.)

Péter nem eszik húst sem.  Peter does not eat meat either.
Péter sem eszik húst.  Nor does Peter eat meat. (Peter likewise does not eat meat.)
Nincs meleg az ebédlőben sem.  It's not warm in the dining room either.
A városban nincs vendéglő sem.  In the town there's no restaurant either.
János sincs az iskolában.  John isn't in school either.

Notes on Grammar: Negative Forms, 2 of 3

  1. 123

    Nobody is here. (There is nobody here.)

  2. 124

    There is nothing in the box.

  3. 125

    It's not warm here either. (Nor is it warm here.)

  4. 126

    The children aren't there either.

  5. 127

    There's nobody in the garden either. (Nor is there anybody in the garden.)

  6. 128

    The pen isn't in the box either.

  7. 129

    The teachers aren't in the school either.

  8. 130

    My wife isn't in Washington either.

  9. 131

    My children aren't home either.

  10. 132

    I didn't see him anywhere at all.

  11. 133

    We're not doing anything at all.

  12. 134

    They don't know anyone at all.

  13. 135

    We never read.

  14. 136

    Not even one teacher is sitting.

  15. 137

    There's not even one student in the school.

  16. 138

    Peter does not eat meat either.

Notes on Grammar: Negative Forms, 3 of 3

  1. 139

    Nor does Peter eat meat. (Peter likewise does not eat meat.)

  2. 140

    It's not warm in the dining room either.

  3. 141

    In the town there's no restaurant either.

  4. 142

    John isn't in school either.

Substitution Drill

Onto a surface: -ra, -re

Tegye le a kabátját az ülésre. Put your coat down on the seat.

The suffix -ra or -re means motion onto a surface, where -ba means motion into a place. With no motion, -n is used: fapadokon ülnek, they sit on wooden benches.

A word that takes -n for 'in' takes -ra for 'into' or 'to'. Az tizenegykor van Siófokon. It's in Siófok at eleven. Siófokra akarok menni. I want to go to Siófok.

Off a surface, away from a place

Egy gyerek éppen most mászik le a fáról. One child is climbing down from the tree now.

The suffix -ról or -ről means motion off a surface, where -ból means motion out of the inside.

The suffix -tól or -től means away from the area near a thing or person. Messze van Siófok Székesfehérvártól? Is Siófok far from Székesfehérvár?

Each suffix also has other meanings in set expressions: megkérdezem a kalauztól, I'll ask the conductor.

From him, from them

Én már megkérdeztem tőle. I've already asked him.

These suffixes can also stand alone as words and take an ending for the person. Tőle is 'from him' and tőlük is 'from them'.

The table gives the personal forms of -ra, -től and -ról. Each row is one person.

The Suffixes -ra, -re, -ról, -ről, and -tól, -től

  1. 143

    He gets on the bus.

  2. 144

    I get off the train.

  3. 145

    She puts the pencil down on the box.

B. The Suffixes -ra, -re, -ról, -ről, and -tól, -től

The relationship of motion onto is given to a word by the suffix -ra, -re. This suffix contrasts with -ba, -be in that the latter signifies penetration into, whereas -ra, -re implies only as far as the surface, onto the surface. It also contrasts with -n, -on, -en, in that it is used when the verb implies motion of the object, whereas -n, -on, -en is used when the verb does not indicate motion. (In connection with the ending -n, -on, -en, note that all those words which require the -n suffix to express the idea of 'in', e.g., Budapesten, Magyarországon, will also require the ending -ra, -re to express the concept 'into'.)

The suffix -ról, -ről signifies away from, off the outside of. It is used when motion is expressed or implied, and contrasts with the suffix -ból, -ből, which expresses motion from the inside of; -ról, -ről implies movement from the surface of. (Note again here that all words requiring the -n suffix to express the idea of 'in' will also require the ending -ról, -ről to express the concept of 'from the inside of'.)

The ending -tól, -től implies from the vicinity of, from near, and is used when motion is expressed or implied. The chart below shows the position differences between the suffixes -ból, -ról, and -tól:

Besides the literal meanings of the suffixes given above and others we have had, each is used in certain constructions with extended meanings. The student must memorize these special constructions as he comes across them.

The above analysis of the suffixes -ra, -ról, -tól is in their relation to nouns. However, they may all be used as independent forms which themselves may take personal suffixes. Note the following:

-ra | -től | -ról
rám | tőlem | rólam
rád | tőled | rólad
rá (rája) | tőle | róla
ránk | tőlünk | rólunk
rátok | tőletek | rólatok
rájuk | tőlük | róluk
  1. 146

    She puts the pencil down on the box.

  2. 147

    The pen drops on the floor.

  3. 148

    He picks the paper up from the floor.

  4. 149

    I pick the letter up from the table.

  1. 150

    I pick the letter up from the table.

  2. 151

    The child's climbing up on the table.

  3. 152

    The boy's stepping on the chair.

  4. 153

    The little girl's climbing down from the tree.

  1. 154

    The little girl's climbing down from the tree.

  2. 155

    The girl sits down on the bench.

  3. 156

    The woman's getting up from the chair.

  1. 157

    The woman's getting up from the chair.

  2. 158

    He starts from the South Station at ten o'clock.

  3. 159

    He arrives in Siófok at noon.

  4. 160

    We start from Budapest at noon.

  1. 161

    We start from Budapest at noon.

  2. 162

    Is Budapest far from Siófok?

  3. 163

    I'm going to ask the conductor.

  1. 164

    I'm going to ask the conductor.

  2. 165

    Nobody at all is speaking.

  3. 166

    My wife doesn't like to travel either.

  1. 167

    My wife doesn't like to travel either.

Variation Drill

  1. 168

    The child climbs on the gate.

  2. 169

    I sit down on the bench.

  3. 170

    People get off the train.

  4. 171

    Is Siófok far from Székesfehérvár?

  1. 172

    Is Siófok far from Székesfehérvár?

  2. 173

    Budapest isn't far from the Balaton.

  3. 174

    The student's asking the teacher something.

  1. 175

    I'm buying a book from him.

  2. 176

    Nobody's studying.

  3. 177

    I don't see anyone.

  1. 178

    I don't see anyone.

  2. 179

    The pen isn't in the box either.

  3. 180

    There's nothing at all in the cabinet.

  4. 181

    Nobody at all is studying.

  1. 182

    Nobody at all is studying.

  2. 183

    There's nobody in the compartment.

  3. 184

    There's nothing in the box.

  4. 185

    I don't see anyone at all.

  1. 186

    I don't see anyone at all.

  2. 187

    I don't see anything at all.

  3. 188

    I never have much luggage.

  4. 189

    My wife doesn't want to go anywhere.

  1. 190

    My wife doesn't want to go anywhere.

  2. 191

    My daughter doesn't like to travel either.

  3. 192

    The child's never hungry.

  4. 193

    They're not working anywhere in the fields.

  1. 194

    They're not working anywhere in the fields.

Transformation Drill

  1. 195

    Leteszem a tollat a dobozra.

    I put the pen down on the box.

  2. 196

    A faluból kijárnak a mezőre.

    They go out from the village to the field.

  3. 197

    Az emberek felszállnak a vonatra.

    The people get on the train.

  1. 198

    Az emberek felszállnak a vonatra.

    The people get on the train.

  2. 199

    Az asszony leszáll a vonatról.

    The woman gets off the train.

  3. 200

    Ha Péter megy, én is megyek.

    If Péter goes, I'll go too.

  4. 201

    Az anya is szép és a lánya is.

    The mother is pretty and the daughter is too.

  1. 202

    Az anya is szép és a lánya is.

    The mother is pretty and the daughter is too.

Translation Drill

  1. 203

    I want to travel from Budapest to Debrecen.

  2. 204

    I want to go by bus or train, not by plane.

  3. 205

    I inquire at the IBUSZ Travel Bureau.

  4. 206

    There's a local train at 7 o'clock in the morning, but that's too slow.

  5. 207

    I'll go on an express train which starts at 8.

  6. 208

    It's already in Debrecen at 3 in the afternoon.

  7. 209

    One can get a ticket at the IBUSZ Bureau.

  8. 210

    There aren't always enough seats on the 'fapados.'

  9. 211

    The 'fapados' is the old third class; there people sit on wooden benches.

  10. 212

    The 'párnás' is the old first or second class. There are always seats there.

  11. 213

    I'm buying two tickets for the 'párnás'.

  12. 214

    The two tickets cost 150 forints.

  13. 215

    In the morning we go to the station by bus.

  1. 216

    The bus stops just in front of the station entrance.

  2. 217

    The train is on the fifth track to the left.

  3. 218

    You can't get in until after a half an hour.

  4. 219

    The redcap puts the luggage on the train.

  5. 220

    We want a non-smoker. He reserves seats there.

  6. 221

    We want to sit next to the window.

  7. 222

    We want to see the 'Alföld'.

  8. 223

    We meet Mr. Horváth on the train. He's traveling to the Alföld also, to Szolnok.

  9. 224

    He's now looking for a vacant seat.

  10. 225

    He has only one suitcase. He never has much luggage.

  11. 226

    He doesn't take much luggage anywhere.

  12. 227

    My wife doesn't like to take much luggage either.

  13. 228

    She didn't bring her coat either because it's summer.

  1. 229

    In our compartment nobody's sitting yet.

  2. 230

    Nobody's standing in the corridor yet.

  3. 231

    We're just going over the railway bridge.

  4. 232

    From the corridor one can see the 'Tisza', Hungary's second largest river.

  5. 233

    We're already in Szolnok, at the gate of the 'Alföld'.

  6. 234

    Many people are traveling to the Alföld.

  7. 235

    Szolnok is about 100 kilometers from Budapest.

  8. 236

    In Hungary nothing's far because the country's small.

  9. 237

    My brother doesn't live far from Budapest either.

  10. 238

    In the field there they don't grow anything.

  11. 239

    Today's a Communist holiday; therefore nobody's working.

  12. 240

    One can't see people anywhere in the fields.

  13. 241

    Only children are playing on the road everywhere.

  1. 242

    One of the children is climbing up the tree.

  2. 243

    The other child's getting on his bicycle.

  3. 244

    They're all having a very good time.

  4. 245

    I don't know if there's a dining car on the train.

  5. 246

    The conductor says that the third car is the dining car.

  6. 247

    We go into the dining car and have breakfast.

Response Drill

  1. 248

    Which is the East Station?

  2. 249

    Which is the South Station?

  3. 250

    Where's the West Station?

  4. 251

    Do you want to sit by the window?

  5. 252

    Do you want to go on the express?

  6. 253

    How much does a 'párnás' ticket to Budapest cost?

  7. 254

    On the express or the local?

  8. 255

    Where's the baggage?

  9. 256

    Do you like to look out of the window?

  1. 257

    In what city are we arriving now?

  2. 258

    Does this train stop in Baltimore?

  3. 259

    Does the train leave in six minutes?

  4. 260

    Where does the soldier jump?

  5. 261

    Where are you going?

  6. 262

    Where does the pen drop?

  7. 263

    Where does the man get down from?

  8. 264

    Where does the woman get off from?

  9. 265

    Where does the pencil drop from?

  1. 266

    Where does the pencil drop?

  2. 267

    Where does the child run out from?

  3. 268

    Where does the child run out?

  4. 269

    Where do the birds fly?

  5. 270

    Where (to what place) do the birds fly?

  6. 271

    Where do you sit down?

  7. 272

    Where are you sitting?

  8. 273

    Where are you getting up from?

  9. 274

    How far is New York from Washington?

  1. 275

    How far is Budapest from Vienna?

  2. 276

    How far is France from Hungary?

  3. 277

    How far is Sweden from Italy?

  4. 278

    What time is it?

  5. 279

    At what time do you start for school?

  6. 280

    At what time do you go home from school?

  7. 281

    What time do you go to bed?

  8. 282

    What time does the express start for New York?

  9. 283

    What kind of trains go to New York?

  1. 284

    Are there many stations in New York?

  2. 285

    Are you fast or slow?

  3. 286

    Does the express train stop at every station?

  4. 287

    How much does a ticket to New York cost on the express?

Conversation Practice 1

  1. 288

    Good morning. I'd like to inquire how one can travel to Szeged.

  2. 289

    Do you want to travel by train, by bus or by plane?

  3. 290

    By train. I want to see the Hungarian Alföld.

  4. 291

    An express train starts at eight in the morning from the East Station.

  5. 292

    When is that in Szeged?

  6. 293

    It arrives in Szeged at noon. But there is also a local train at nine.

  7. 294

    I'll go on the express. Can I get a ticket here?

  8. 295

    Yes. What kind do you want? A hard seat or a cushioned one?

  9. 296

    Is there always enough room on the hard seats?

  10. 297

    Unfortunately, there isn't always enough room there.

Conversation Practice 2

  1. 298

    Two tickets on the cushioned, please. How much is that altogether?

  2. 299

    One hundred forty forints... Thank you... Here is your change.

  3. 300

    How do we get out to the station in the morning?

  4. 301

    Where do you live?

  5. 302

    We live nearby.

  6. 303

    The bus stop is in front of the IBUSZ. The bus stops next to the station.

  7. 304

    Can one get a porter at the station?

  8. 305

    Yes, you'll surely find a porter there.

Conversation Practice 3

  1. 306

    Which track is the train on?

  2. 307

    On the right side, on the fifth.

  3. 308

    When can we get on board?

  4. 309

    You can get on in half an hour. Do you want a smoker?

  5. 310

    A non-smoker, please. By the window, if possible.

  6. 311

    Then I'll reserve two seats by the window.

  7. 312

    I still have time to buy a newspaper. Where is the newsdealer?

  8. 313

    He's to the right of the exit.

Conversation Practice 4

  1. 314

    I don't see anyone in the fields.

  2. 315

    Today is a holiday, so nobody is working anywhere.

  3. 316

    How beautiful that wheat field is!

  4. 317

    Yes, the land is good in the Alföld.

  5. 318

    Will there be a good crop this year?

  6. 319

    They say it will be very good.

  7. 320

    I don't know whether there is a dining car on the train.

  8. 321

    The second car from here is the dining car. Do you want to have breakfast?

  9. 322

    Yes, I'm going to have breakfast.

Narrative

  1. 323

    Johnson and his wife want to travel to the Balaton.

  2. 324

    His car isn't good, so they want to go by train or by bus.

  3. 325

    He goes to the IBUSZ Travel Bureau to inquire.

  4. 326

    There they tell him exactly when and from where the trains and buses start.

  5. 327

    Johnson wants to go by train because he wants to see the countryside.

  6. 328

    He wants to look at the Dunántúl.

  7. 329

    The IBUSZ clerk tells him that a local train starts at seven in the morning and is in Siófok at noon.

  8. 330

    An express train starts at eight o'clock, and it is there after ten.

  9. 331

    Johnson asks from where the train starts.

  10. 332

    There are three railroad stations in Budapest, the East, the West and the South Station.

  11. 333

    The trains to the Balaton usually start from the South Station, but there are one or two trains that start from the East Station.

  12. 334

    Johnson's train starts from the East Station.

  13. 335

    Tickets can be bought in the IBUSZ Office.

  14. 336

    The clerk asks whether he wants to travel in the hard-seat or the cushioned class.

  15. 337

    Johnson doesn't know either one.

  16. 338

    The clerk tells him that the "fapados" is the old third class, where people sit on wooden benches.

  17. 339

    In the cushioned class there are soft seats, and that used to be first and second class.

  18. 340

    Johnson buys two tickets for the cushioned class.

  1. 341

    In the morning the Johnsons go out to the station.

  2. 342

    Johnson calls a porter and gives the porter his luggage.

  3. 343

    The porter puts the luggage on the train and reserves two seats for the Johnsons.

  4. 344

    He reserves seats in a non-smoking car, where smoking is not allowed, except in the corridor.

  5. 345

    The train starts only in half an hour.

  6. 346

    It isn't yet possible to get on board.

  7. 347

    Many people are waiting at the station; they are traveling to the Balaton for the weekend.

  8. 348

    The train is on the right, on the third track.

  9. 349

    There is still enough time.

  10. 350

    Johnson goes to buy a newspaper.

  11. 351

    The newsdealer is to the left of the exit.

  12. 352

    When he comes back, they get on the train.

  13. 353

    The train slowly starts.

  14. 354

    Mr. Horváth arrives at the last minute.

  15. 355

    He is very tired.

  16. 356

    He has no luggage, because he never takes luggage when he travels.

  17. 357

    He doesn't bring his coat either, because it is warm.

  18. 358

    He doesn't have a seat yet.

  19. 359

    In the Johnsons' compartment there is an empty seat.

  20. 360

    Johnson introduces Horváth to his wife.

  1. 361

    The train goes over the railway bridge.

  2. 362

    They go out into the corridor.

  3. 363

    Not many people are standing in the corridor.

  4. 364

    From the window one can see Margaret Island and the bridges well.

  5. 365

    Mr. Horváth is traveling to Veszprém.

  6. 366

    He will get off at Székesfehérvár and travel to Veszprém on another train.

  7. 367

    He is going to visit his son.

  8. 368

    He has a small orchard there too.

  9. 369

    Veszprém is not far from Székesfehérvár.

  10. 370

    In Hungary nothing is very far.

  11. 371

    The conductor asks for the tickets.

  12. 372

    He looks at them, then gives them back to the people.

  13. 373

    Johnson asks the conductor whether there is a dining car on the train.

  14. 374

    The conductor says that the third car is the dining car.

  15. 375

    The Johnsons go to have breakfast.

  16. 376

    The train is already traveling in the Dunántúl.

  17. 377

    No one can be seen in the fields.

  18. 378

    The people are not working anywhere.

  19. 379

    There aren't even any animals in the fields.

  20. 380

    It is a holiday.

  1. 381

    The people in the compartment are talking.

  2. 382

    They tell where they come from, where they are going and what they do.

  3. 383

    They say that everything is expensive not only in the city, but in the countryside too.

  4. 384

    They tell how the crop was this year, what the woman is cooking for dinner and how big the children are.

  5. 385

    Then they just keep quiet and look at the Hungarian countryside through the window.

The particulars

The course
Foreign Service Institute, Hungarian Basic Course, Washington, 1962. Public domain. The teaching pages, the glosses and the narration of lines the tape lacks are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Gulliver’s Fifth and Sixth Voyages, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.