Hungarian Basic Course 1732 Studios

Hungarian · Unit 11

Unit 11: A színházban

Volume 1

At the theater

336 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    I didn't know that you were in Budapest already. When did you come back?

    Nemunless, except
    tudtam,I knew, was able
    hogyhow; that
    máralready, before
    Budapestenin Budapest
    vannak.are (they are, there are)
    Mikorwhen
    jöttekthey came
    vissza?back
  2. 2

    We got back (already) three weeks ago. We arrived in Budapest on April first.

  3. 3

    Did you have a pleasant trip?

  4. 4

    Yes, it was pleasant. Thank goodness everything went well. Only my poor daughter was sick all the time.

hete
three weeks ago
alatt
during the entire time
  1. 5

    Was she seasick?

  2. 6

    Yes, although the sea was quite calm.

  3. 7

    How long did the voyage last?

  4. 8

    It lasted five days.

beteg
seasick
nyugodt
calm, still, tranquil
  1. 9

    Where did your ship land?

  1. 10

    We landed in England. We spent a week in London. My older brother came as far as England with us also.

  1. 11

    What did you do in America?

  2. 12

    That would take long to tell now. Why don't you come over some evening? Then we'll talk about everything.

  3. 13

    I'll be very glad to. Are you still living in your old apartment? I heard that you had been looking for another apartment.

hosszú
long
volna
would be
elmondani
to tell
hozzánk
to our home, to us
  1. 14

    We don't live there anymore. We moved to Városmajor Street two weeks ago. We live in a beautiful villa there.

  2. 15

    The Smiths are also living on Városmajor Street, aren't they?

  1. 16

    They used to live there. Smith was transferred to Switzerland. We moved into the house where they used to live.

  1. 17

    How long was Smith in Hungary?

  2. 18

    He was here for three years.

  3. 19

    And how long are you going to stay in Pest?

  4. 20

    Perhaps one more year.

  1. 21

    I believe that's John Ember sitting over there in the corner.

  2. 22

    Yes. I'm going over to his table. I haven't talked to him for a very long time. Won't you come over too?

  3. 23

    Sorry, I don't have time. My wife has already been waiting for me for ten minutes. We're going to Buda to the Kovácses.

  4. 24

    Then, see you later!

  5. 25

    I didn't know that you were in Budapest already. When did you come back?

  6. 26

    We got back (already) three weeks ago. We arrived in Budapest on April first.

  7. 27

    Did you have a pleasant trip?

  8. 28

    Yes, it was pleasant. Thank goodness everything went well. Only my poor daughter was sick all the time.

  9. 29

    Was she seasick?

  10. 30

    Yes, although the sea was quite calm.

  11. 31

    How long did the voyage last?

  12. 32

    It lasted five days.

  13. 33

    Where did your ship land?

  14. 34

    We landed in England. We spent a week in London. My older brother came as far as England with us also.

  15. 35

    What did you do in America?

  16. 36

    That would take long to tell now. Why don't you come over some evening? Then we'll talk about everything.

  17. 37

    I'll be very glad to. Are you still living in your old apartment? I heard that you had been looking for another apartment.

  18. 38

    We don't live there anymore. We moved to Városmajor Street two weeks ago. We live in a beautiful villa there.

  19. 39

    The Smiths are also living on Városmajor Street, aren't they?

  20. 40

    They used to live there. Smith was transferred to Switzerland. We moved into the house where they used to live.

  21. 41

    How long was Smith in Hungary?

  22. 42

    He was here for three years.

  23. 43

    And how long are you going to stay in Pest?

  24. 44

    Perhaps one more year.

  25. 45

    I believe that's John Ember sitting over there in the corner.

  26. 46

    Yes. I'm going over to his table. I haven't talked to him for a very long time. Won't you come over too?

  27. 47

    Sorry, I don't have time. My wife has already been waiting for me for ten minutes. We're going to Buda to the Kovácses.

  28. 48

    Then, see you later!

Basic Sentences II

  1. 49

    I saw you at the opera last night.

  2. 50

    Yes, we were there. I'm sorry that I didn't see you. Why didn't you come over and talk to us?

  3. 51

    I didn't want to disturb you. You were sitting in the Ambassador's box, weren't you?

  4. 52

    Yes, he has a season ticket and invited us.

zavarni
to disturb
  1. 53

    Aren't you lucky! I had to stand in line an hour and a half for the ticket.

másfél
one and a half
jegyért
for the ticket
  1. 54

    When foreign opera singers are (perform) on the program it's always hard to get a ticket. But it was worth it, wasn't it?

Amikor
when
  1. 55

    Yes. I liked the performance very much. The Italian singers sang beautifully.

  2. 56

    I like Italians and Italian operas also.

  3. 57

    Two years ago I worked at the embassy in Rome. Then I had the opportunity to see just about all the Italian operas.

előadás
performance
gyönyörűen
beautifully, magnificently
ezelőtt
formerly, in former times
  1. 58

    I envy you! Up to now I have seen only a few.

  2. 59

    Did you hear that the Vienna Philharmonic is coming to Pest this summer?

  3. 60

    I read about it in the newspaper last week. Are you going to the concert?

eddig
up to the present, till now
  1. 61

    Of course, if I can get a ticket.

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    We already phoned the ticket office from the Legation. They promised us that we'd get enough tickets. Perhaps I can get you one also.

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    I'll be very grateful if you do. I couldn't go in Vienna because I didn't have enough time.

  4. 64

    I thought so. I heard that you had been working hard in Vienna. But this will be a good opportunity.

szerezni
to get, obtain
  1. 65

    Thank you very much in advance.

  2. 66

    Don't mention it. It's nothing at all.

  3. 67

    I saw you at the opera last night.

  4. 68

    Yes, we were there. I'm sorry that I didn't see you. Why didn't you come over and talk to us?

  5. 69

    I didn't want to disturb you. You were sitting in the Ambassador's box, weren't you?

  6. 70

    Yes, he has a season ticket and invited us.

  7. 71

    Aren't you lucky! I had to stand in line an hour and a half for the ticket.

  8. 72

    When foreign opera singers are (perform) on the program it's always hard to get a ticket. But it was worth it, wasn't it?

  9. 73

    Yes. I liked the performance very much. The Italian singers sang beautifully.

  10. 74

    I like Italians and Italian operas also.

  11. 75

    Two years ago I worked at the embassy in Rome. Then I had the opportunity to see just about all the Italian operas.

  12. 76

    I envy you! Up to now I have seen only a few.

  13. 77

    Did you hear that the Vienna Philharmonic is coming to Pest this summer?

  14. 78

    I read about it in the newspaper last week. Are you going to the concert?

  15. 79

    Of course, if I can get a ticket.

  16. 80

    We already phoned the ticket office from the Legation. They promised us that we'd get enough tickets. Perhaps I can get you one also.

  17. 81

    I'll be very grateful if you do. I couldn't go in Vienna because I didn't have enough time.

  18. 82

    I thought so. I heard that you had been working hard in Vienna. But this will be a good opportunity.

  19. 83

    Thank you very much in advance.

  20. 84

    Don't mention it. It's nothing at all.

Előre
in advance, beforehand

Notes on Grammar: Past Tense Forms and Use of the Present and Past Tenses in Hungarian

One past tense, marked by -t

Nem akartam zavarni magukat. I didn't want to disturb you.

Hungarian has one past tense. It covers 'I studied', 'I did study', 'I was studying', 'I have studied' and 'I had studied'.

The sign of the past is -t. It comes after the root, and the personal ending comes after it: akartam, I wanted. Some verbs add a vowel and -tt instead.

The definite and indefinite forms of the past are the same only in the I form: akartam. In every other person they differ: akarta, akart.

Where the he form ends in -ott

Igen, neki bérlete van és meghívott minket. Yes, he has a season ticket and invited us.

Verbs whose root ends in -l, -n, -r, -j, -ad or -ed add -t and the ending: beszéltem, akart.

Verbs whose root ends in -s, -sz, -z, -b, -d, -g, -k, -m, -p or -v do the same in every form but one. So do roots in -t after a short vowel.

That one form is the he form of the indefinite. It ends in -ott, -ett or -ött: kapott, meghívott.

A vowel and -tt, and the irregular verbs

Hallottam, hogy kerestek egy másik lakást. I heard that you had been looking for another apartment.

A root that ends in -t after a long vowel, or in two consonants, takes an auxiliary vowel and -tt in every form: hallottam, tanítottam.

A few verbs are irregular: vettem, ettem, jöttem. Lenni has two pasts. Voltam is 'I was', and lettem is 'I became'.

The tables give a model verb for each group, then the other verbs of that group. The last table gives the irregular verbs.

Past Tense Forms, 1 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 2 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 3 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 4 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 5 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 6 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 7 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 8 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 9 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 10 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 11 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 12 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 13 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 14 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 15 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 16 of 17

Past Tense Forms, 17 of 17

Still going on: the present

A feleségem már tíz perce vár. My wife has already been waiting for me for ten minutes.

For an action that started in the past and still goes on, Hungarian uses the present tense. English uses 'has been' or 'have been'.

The length of time is the possessive form of the noun: tíz perce, három éve. Három éve tanulnak magyarul. They have been studying Hungarian for three years.

Going on at a time in the past

Két éve lakott Amerikában, amikor férjhez ment. She had been living in America for two years when she got married.

For an action that was still going on at a later point in the past, Hungarian uses the past tense. English uses 'had been'.

The tense after hogy

Nem tudtam, hogy már Budapesten vannak. I didn't know that you were in Budapest already.

English puts both verbs in the past. Hungarian keeps the present in the clause after hogy when the two actions happen at the same time. Tudtam, hogy vár. I knew that he was waiting.

The past in that clause means the action came first. Tudtam, hogy várt. I knew that he had been waiting.

  1. 85

    They have been studying Hungarian for three years.

  2. 86

    How long have you been living in the United States?

  3. 87

    I've already been here two months.

  4. 88

    He had been studying Hungarian for three weeks when they got a new teacher.

  5. 89

    She had been living in America for two years when she got married.

  6. 90

    I know that he's waiting.

  7. 91

    I knew that he was waiting.

  8. 92

    I know that he was waiting.

  9. 93

    I knew that he had been waiting.

A. Past Tense Forms

Hungarian has only one past tense which comprises the English simple past ('I studied', 'I used to study'), past emphatic ('I did study'), past progressive ('I was studying'), present perfect ('I have studied'), and pluperfect ('I had studied').

The sign of the past in Hungarian is -t. The basic rule for the formation of the past is the addition of -t (or, in certain cases, a linking vowel plus -tt) and the personal endings to the verb root.

The following classification may assist the student in determining the form of the past for a particular verb:

(1)

Verbs whose root ends in -ad, -ed, -j, -l, (-ly), -n, (-ny), -r generally form the past by adding -t plus the personal endings to the root. (Exception: adni, which ends in -ott in the third person singular of the past indefinite but is otherwise conjugated like akarni below.)

Past Definite | Past Indefinite
akartam | akartam
akartad | akartál
akarta | akart
akartuk | akartunk
akartátok | akartatok
akarták | akartak

Other verbs in this group thus far covered in units:

állni | foglalni | kirándulni | próbálni | találni
ápolni | igérni | kívánni | rajzolni | tanulni
beszélni | indulni | maradni | remélni | telefonálni
csinálni | írni | megkóstolni | repülni | termelni
csókolni | ismerni | menni | sajnálni | ülni
csomagolni | járni | nyaralni | sétálni | várni
ebédelni | képzelni | örülni | szaladni | vásárolni
énekelni | kérni | parancsolni | szerepelni | zavarni

(2)

Verbs whose root ends in a sibilant (-s, -sz and -z), or in -b or -d (other than -ad or -ed), -g, (-gy), -k, -m, -p, -v, or the consonant -t preceded by a short vowel, form the past in the same way as verbs above except for the third person singular of the indefinite which ends in -ott (-ett, -ött). (Exceptions: aludni, feküdni both of which are inflected like 'akarni' in the past. The past of kötni is similar to that of tanítani.)

Past Definite | Past Indefinite
kaptam | kaptam
kaptad | kaptál
kapta | kapott
kaptuk | kaptunk
kaptátok | kaptatok
kapták | kaptak

Other verbs in this group:

adni | dolgozni | hívni | mászni | tudni
bemutatni | golfozni | hozni | mondani | ugatni
búcsúzni | gondozni | járatni | olvasni | úszni
csónakázni | halászni | kopogni | szórakozni | vacsorázni
dohányozni | hallgatni | látni | találkozni
 | esni | áthelyezni | érdeklődni
 | égni | nevezni | költözni
 | érkezni | reggelizni | öntözni
 | fizetni | sietni
 | keresni | teniszezni

(3)

Verbs whose root ends in -t preceded by a long vowel or in a double consonant (which may be two different ones as in ért or the same as in hall) comprise a third group. In order to avoid a cluster of three consonants, these verbs take an auxiliary vowel plus -tt, plus the personal endings in both the definite and indefinite forms of the past. (Note that for these verbs an auxiliary vowel appears in the infinitive also.) (Exceptions: varrni and szállni, which are conjugated like verbs in (1) above, and látni, like (2) above.)

Past Definite | Past Indefinite
tanítottam | tanítottam
tanítottad | tanítottál
tanította | tanított
tanítottuk | tanítottunk
tanítottátok | tanítottatok
tanították | tanítottak

Other verbs in this group:

ajánlani | hallani | érteni | fürdeni
beváltani | játszani | segíteni | költeni
gyújtani | szállítani | tetszeni | tölteni

(4)

The following verbs are irregular in the past:

venni | Definite: | vettem | vetted | vette | vettük | vettétek | vették
 | Indefinite: | vettem | vettél | vett | vettünk | vettetek | vettek
tenni | Definite: | tettem | tetted | tette | tettük | tettétek | tették
 | Indefinite: | tettem | tettél | tett | tettünk | tettetek | tettek
vinni | Definite: | vittem | vitted | vitte | vittük | vittétek | vitték
 | Indefinite: | vittem | vittél | vitt | vittünk | vittetek | vittek
hinni | Definite: | hittem | hitted | hitte | hittük | hittétek | hitték
 | Indefinite: | hittem | hittél | hitt | hittünk | hittetek | hittek
enni | Definite: | ettem | etted | ette | ettük | ettétek | ették
 | Indefinite: | ettem | ettél | evett | ettünk | ettetek | ettek
inni | Definite: | ittam | ittad | itta | ittuk | ittátok | itták
 | Indefinite: | ittam | ittál | ivott | ittunk | ittatok | ittak
jönni | (Intransitive): | jöttem | jöttél | jött | jöttünk | jöttetek | jöttek
lenni | (Intransitive): | voltam | voltál | volt | voltunk | voltatok | voltak
 |  | lettem | lettél | lett | lettünk | lettetek | lettek

(Note: The two forms of the past tense of lenni are different in meaning: voltam corresponds to 'I was', whereas lettem denotes 'I became'.)
B. Use of the Present and Past Tenses in Hungarian

Although the Hungarian past tense encompasses various past forms as expressed in English, Hungarian usage sometimes requires a different tense from the corresponding English:

(1)

In speaking about an action or occurrence that started in the past and is still going on, Hungarian uses the present tense, where English uses the present perfect. (Note that the period of time is rendered by the possessive form of the noun in Hungarian.)

Három éve tanulnak magyarul.  They have been studying Hungarian for three years.
Mióta lakik az Egyesült Államokban?  How long have you been living in the United States?
Már két hónapja vagyok itt.  I've already been here two months.

(2)

With reference to an action that started in the past and was still continuing at a later period in the past, Hungarian uses the past tense, where English uses the past perfect progressive.

Három hete tanult magyarul, amikor új tanárt kaptak.  He had been studying Hungarian for three weeks when they got a new teacher.
Két éve lakott Amerikában, amikor férjhez ment.  She had been living in America for two years when she got married.

(3)

Our rules of sequence of tenses do not always apply in Hungarian. Compare the following English sentences with the corresponding Hungarian:

a. Tudom, hogy vár.  I know that he's waiting.
b. Tudtam, hogy vár.  I knew that he was waiting.
c. Tudom, hogy várt.  I know that he was waiting.
d. Tudtam, hogy várt.  I knew that he had been waiting.

In the Hungarian sentences a and b, the present tense of the verb in the dependent clause (vár) refers to action simultaneous to the action expressed by the verb in the main clause. Note that in the first sentence vár is translated as 'is waiting', whereas in the second sentence English requires the past, 'was waiting'.

In sentences c and d, the past tense (várt) of the verb, the dependent clause refers to an action preceding or antecedent to that indicated by the main verb.

Thus, in this kind of construction, the present tense of the verb in a dependent clause expresses action simultaneous with the action of the main verb; the past tense of the dependent verb expresses action antecedent to that of the main verb.

Notes on Grammar: The Suffixes -ig and -hoz, -hez, -höz

As far as, and to

A bátyám is velünk jött Angliáig. My older brother came as far as England with us also.

The suffix -ig means 'until', 'up to' or 'as far as', for place and for time. Tízig dolgozik. He works until ten. It stresses the end point.

The suffix -hoz, -hez or -höz means 'to', as far as the outside of a thing. It stresses the direction and usually goes with a verb of motion. Odamegyek az asztalához. I'm going over to his table.

For how long: -ig or the accusative

Meddig volt Smith Magyarországon? How long was Smith in Hungary? Három évig volt itt. He was here for three years.

Hány évet töltöttek Franciaországban? How many years did you spend in France? Here the accusative, évet, gives the length of time.

For a period of time, -ig marks where it ends, and the accusative gives how long it lasts. English uses 'for' for both. The suffix -ig is more common with intransitive verbs, the accusative with transitive verbs.

  1. 94

    He works until ten.

  2. 95

    He ran as far as the door.

  3. 96

    He hasn't come up to now.

  4. 97

    They fly as far as Vienna.

  5. 98

    We walked as far as the park.

  6. 99

    I'm going over to his table.

  7. 100

    We're walking down to the river.

  8. 101

    I drove to the Kovácses' house.

  9. 102

    He studied Hungarian for three years.

  10. 103

    She was in Budapest for two weeks.

  11. 104

    I'll be here for four days.

  12. 105

    How long did you live in Washington?

  13. 106

    How many years did you spend in France?

C. The Suffixes -ig and -hoz, -hez, -höz

The ending -ig corresponds in meaning to the English 'until', 'up to', 'as far as', and may refer to place as well as time:

Tízig dolgozik.  He works until ten.
Az ajtóig szaladt.  He ran as far as the door.
Eddig nem jött.  He hasn't come up to now.

The basic distinction between -ig, and -hoz (-hez, -höz) which has the connotation of 'to', 'as far as (the outside of)', is that -ig emphasizes the limit or termination of an action or period of time; -hoz (-hez, -höz) on the other hand is more concerned with direction of movement. The suffix -hoz is usually used with a verb indicating motion; -ig does not always require a motion verb when used with time expressions.

Bécsig repülnek.  They fly as far as Vienna.
A parkig sétáltunk.  We walked as far as the park.
Odamegyek az asztalához.  I'm going over to his table.
Lesétálunk a folyóhoz.  We're walking down to the river.
Kovácsék házához hajtottam.  I drove to the Kovácses' house.

In the sentences below the suffix -ig denotes the limit or termination of a period of time, corresponding, for example, to English 'for...'. The accusative, on the other hand, indicates the duration of a period of time. While either may be used in many instances (and with the same English equivalent), -ig is more common with intransitive verbs, whereas the accusative is used with transitive verbs.

Három évig (évet) tanult magyarul.  He studied Hungarian for three years.
Két hétig (hetet) volt Budapesten.  She was in Budapest for two weeks.
Négy napig (napot) leszek itt.  I'll be here for four days.
Meddig laktak Washingtonban?  How long did you live in Washington?
Hány évet töltöttek Franciaországban?  How many years did you spend in France?

Notes on Grammar: How to Express 'Ago' in Hungarian

Ago: the time word in the his form

Egy órája jöttem ide. I came here an hour ago. Öt éve tanultam németül. I studied German five years ago.

Hungarian says 'ago' with the third person singular possessive of the word for the time: órája, éve, hete. The verb is in the past.

Ago with ezelőtt

Két évvel ezelőtt Rómában dolgoztam a követségen. Two years ago I worked at the embassy in Rome.

The time word can also take -val or -vel and be followed by ezelőtt. The meaning is the same: két évvel ezelőtt, két éve.

The table sets the two ways side by side. Each row says the same thing twice.

How to Express 'Ago' in Hungarian

  1. 107

    I came here an hour ago.

  2. 108

    I studied German five years ago.

  3. 109

    They went back to Budapest three months ago.

D. How to Express 'Ago' in Hungarian

Egy órája jöttem ide.  I came here an hour ago.
Öt éve tanultam németül.  I studied German five years ago.
Három hónapja visszamentek Budapestre.  They went back to Budapest three months ago.

As illustrated in the above sentences, Hungarian uses the third person singular possessive form of the word denoting time to express the idea of the English 'ago'. (Compare with usage outlined in B(2).)

This concept may also be expressed by the -val (-vel) suffix added to the noun indicating time plus ezelőtt.

Két órával ezelőtt jöttem ide. | Két órája jöttem ide.
Három évvel ezelőtt jártam egyetemre. | Három éve jártam egyetemre.
Két héttel ezelőtt Párizsban volt. | Két hete Párizsban volt.
Hány hónappal ezelőtt volt New Yorkban? | Hány hónapja volt New Yorkban?

(The variants -tel, -pal etc. are discussed in a later unit.)

Substitution Drill

  1. 110

    When did they come back to Budapest?

  2. 111

    I saw you at the opera.

  1. 112

    How did you like the performance?

  2. 113

    We already phoned from the Legation.

  3. 114

    We landed in England.

  1. 115

    We landed in England.

  2. 116

    He was here for three years.

  3. 117

    We came back three weeks ago.

  4. 118

    I was in Rome two years ago.

  1. 119

    I was in Rome two years ago.

  2. 120

    We spent a week in London.

  3. 121

    My brother came with us as far as England.

  1. 122

    I went over to the table.

Variation Drill

  1. 123

    I had dinner in a restaurant at noon.

  2. 124

    I read a book.

  3. 125

    I cashed the check.

  1. 126

    I cashed the check.

  2. 127

    I drank tea.

  3. 128

    What did you do yesterday?

  4. 129

    She listened to gypsy music.

  1. 130

    She listened to gypsy music.

  2. 131

    He recommended a good hotel.

  3. 132

    He drank the wine. (He finished drinking the wine.)

  4. 133

    We sat in front of the house.

  1. 134

    We sat in front of the house.

  2. 135

    We taught the girls.

  3. 136

    They were very glad.

  4. 137

    The children were playing in the garden.

  1. 138

    The children were playing in the garden.

  2. 139

    They drank Hungarian wine.

  3. 140

    They lighted the lamps.

  4. 141

    The trip was pleasant.

  1. 142

    The trip was pleasant.

  2. 143

    The children were good.

  3. 144

    I was in Hungary for three years.

  1. 145

    He came to America two months ago.

  2. 146

    She has already been waiting for ten minutes.

  3. 147

    He had been studying Hungarian for two weeks when they got a new teacher.

  4. 148

    I went over to his table.

  1. 149

    I went over to his table.

Transformation Drill

  1. 150

    Beteget ápolt.

    He nursed a sick person.

  1. 151

    Beteget ápolt.

    He nursed a sick person.

  2. 152

    Ajándékot vettünk.

    We bought a present.

  1. 153

    Ajándékot vettünk.

    We bought a present.

  2. 154

    Virágot hoztak.

    They brought flowers.

  1. 155

    Virágot hoztak.

    They brought flowers.

  2. 156

    Engem kért.

    He asked for me.

  1. 157

    Engem kért.

    He asked for me.

  2. 158

    Három hónap óta van itt.

    He has been here for three months.

  3. 159

    Három hete voltam New Yorkban.

    I was in New York three weeks ago.

  4. 160

    Két évig tanult angolul.

    He studied English for two years.

  1. 161

    Két évig tanult angolul.

    He studied English for two years.

Translation Drill

  1. 162

    This year I spent the summer in England.

  2. 163

    I came back to Budapest two weeks ago.

  3. 164

    My friend didn't know that I had returned.

  4. 165

    My wife and my small daughter aren't arriving from Vienna until tomorrow.

  5. 166

    My friend asked me to tell him what we were doing.

  6. 167

    We went by train from Budapest to Vienna.

  7. 168

    We flew from Vienna to London. The trip lasted three hours.

  8. 169

    My small daughter was sick on the plane. The weather was bad.

  9. 170

    My brother came with us as far as London. From there he went to America a week later.

  10. 171

    We spent two months in England.

  11. 172

    I invited my friend over one evening.

  12. 173

    He has heard that we don't live in our old apartment any more.

  13. 174

    We moved to Balaton Street a week ago.

  1. 175

    We live where the Johnsons used to live.

  2. 176

    Johnson was transferred to Sweden last month.

  3. 177

    Johnson was in Hungary for two years.

  4. 178

    We didn't like our old apartment because there was no garden.

  5. 179

    My wife and my daughter were happy when we moved into the new house.

  6. 180

    The children were already playing in the garden the first day.

  7. 181

    We went to the theater last night.

  8. 182

    Mr. Kovács was there also; he was sitting in the ambassador's box.

  9. 183

    We saw him, but he didn't see us.

  10. 184

    We didn't go over because we didn't want to disturb him.

  11. 185

    The secretary invited Kovács to the theater. The ambassador wasn't in Budapest.

  12. 186

    We had to stand in line for the tickets for an hour.

  13. 187

    Some German singers were coming to Budapest.

  1. 188

    When foreigners sing it's always hard to get tickets.

  2. 189

    The singers sang beautifully.

  3. 190

    I liked the performance very much. I hadn't seen this opera before.

  4. 191

    A year ago I was in Rome.

  5. 192

    There I had the chance to hear many Italian singers.

  6. 193

    I like Italian singers very much.

  7. 194

    I read in the newspaper that the Berlin Philharmonic is coming to Pest.

  8. 195

    I'm going to try to get two tickets.

  9. 196

    In the ticket office they promised that they'd have enough tickets.

  10. 197

    I couldn't go to the theater in Berlin because I didn't have time.

  11. 198

    I worked a great deal and didn't have the opportunity.

  12. 199

    Now this will be a good opportunity to hear them.

Response Drill

  1. 200

    When did the Johnsons come back to Budapest?

  2. 201

    Did they come by ship from America?

  3. 202

    How long did the ocean voyage last?

  4. 203

    What was the sea like?

  5. 204

    Where did they land?

  6. 205

    How much time did they spend in England?

  7. 206

    Did they stop in Paris too?

  8. 207

    Do they still live in their old apartment in Budapest?

  9. 208

    Where did they move, to which street?

  1. 209

    Who else lived on that street?

  2. 210

    Does Smith still live there?

  3. 211

    Where was Smith transferred to?

  4. 212

    Who saw the Johnsons at the opera?

  5. 213

    Did Hungarian singers sing in the opera?

  6. 214

    Did Johnson see Ember at the opera?

  7. 215

    Where did the Johnsons sit?

  8. 216

    Why didn't the Johnsons have to buy tickets for the opera?

  9. 217

    Is it easy to get tickets for performances when foreign opera singers sing?

  1. 218

    Where did Ember have the occasion to see many Italian operas?

  2. 219

    How many has Johnson seen up to now?

  3. 220

    Who are coming to Budapest this summer to give a concert?

  4. 221

    Where did they phone from the Legation for concert tickets?

  5. 222

    Why couldn't Ember hear them in Vienna?

  6. 223

    Do you usually attend concerts?

  7. 224

    Have you ever heard the Philadelphia Philharmonic?

  8. 225

    Have you had the opportunity to go to the opera often?

  9. 226

    Did you have season tickets for the opera?

  1. 227

    Do you like Italian or German operas?

  2. 228

    Have you worked abroad yet?

  3. 229

    Where did you work abroad?

  4. 230

    When were you transferred abroad?

  5. 231

    How many years did you spend abroad?

  6. 232

    How did you like it there?

  7. 233

    When did you move to Washington?

  8. 234

    How long are you staying in Washington?

Conversation Practice 1

  1. 235

    I didn't know you had already come back from Washington. When did you arrive?

  2. 236

    We arrived last week.

  3. 237

    Did you come by plane?

  4. 238

    No, we came by ship as far as France. From there we came by train.

  5. 239

    How was your trip? Pleasant?

  6. 240

    Thank goodness everything went well. Only my little boy was sick for two days.

  7. 241

    Was she seasick?

  8. 242

    Yes, although the sea was quite calm.

  9. 243

    How long did you travel on the ship?

  10. 244

    Five days. We landed on the fourth.

Conversation Practice 2

  1. 245

    Did you stop in Paris?

  2. 246

    Yes, we spent a few days there. My older brother came with us as far as Paris too.

  3. 247

    What did you do in Paris?

  4. 248

    That would take long to tell now. Wouldn't you like to come over to our place tomorrow evening?

  5. 249

    I'd be very glad to. Then will you tell me everything?

  6. 250

    Of course. Do you know our new address?

  7. 251

    I know only the address of your old apartment. Did you move?

  8. 252

    Yes, now we live on Balaton Street.

  9. 253

    I think the Johnsons live on that street too.

  10. 254

    They don't live there anymore. Johnson was transferred to Austria. We moved into the apartment where they lived.

Conversation Practice 3

  1. 255

    We saw you at the theater one evening.

  2. 256

    Yes, I was there. But I didn't see you. Why didn't you come over?

  3. 257

    We didn't want to disturb you. You were sitting in the chargé d'affaires' box, weren't you?

  4. 258

    Yes, they have a season ticket and he invited me. His wife couldn't come.

  5. 259

    You're lucky. We stood in line for half an hour for tickets.

  6. 260

    When foreign singers perform, it isn't easy to get a ticket.

  7. 261

    Did you like the performance?

  8. 262

    I liked it very much. The Russians sang beautifully.

  9. 263

    Do you like Russian songs?

  10. 264

    Yes. Two years ago in Moscow I heard a lot of Russian songs.

Conversation Practice 4

  1. 265

    Did you hear that the Berlin Philharmonic is coming to Pest next month?

  2. 266

    I read about it in the newspaper yesterday. Are you going to the concert?

  3. 267

    Yes, if I can get a ticket.

  4. 268

    I already phoned the ticket office. They promised that I would get a ticket.

  5. 269

    If you can get one for me too, I'll be grateful.

  6. 270

    I'll try. Haven't you heard them yet?

  7. 271

    Not yet. When I was in Berlin, I didn't have time to listen to them.

  8. 272

    They told me you worked a lot. This will be a good opportunity now.

Narrative

  1. 273

    Johnson had a month's vacation in the summer.

  2. 274

    Last year he and his family went to the Balaton for a vacation.

  3. 275

    This year they traveled to England and visited Mrs. Johnson's older brother.

  4. 276

    They hadn't met him for four years.

  5. 277

    They left Budapest on the second of June.

  6. 278

    It was already a warm summer in Budapest.

  7. 279

    Johnson bought the tickets in the IBUSZ office.

  8. 280

    They went by train as far as Frankfurt.

  9. 281

    The train started at half past eight in the morning from the East Station.

  10. 282

    Not many people traveled on the train.

  11. 283

    As far as Vienna they traveled pleasantly.

  12. 284

    There they changed to another train.

  13. 285

    The porter put their luggage in their compartment.

  14. 286

    Then the express train started.

  15. 287

    The Johnsons went to the dining car and had dinner.

  16. 288

    After dinner the children ate ice cream and Johnson drank beer.

  1. 289

    It was evening when they arrived in Frankfurt.

  2. 290

    Mr. Smith, Johnson's friend, was waiting for them at the station.

  3. 291

    Johnson had phoned him from Vienna.

  4. 292

    Smith took them to the hotel, where he had reserved a room for them.

  5. 293

    There they got a nice big room.

  6. 294

    They were tired and hungry.

  7. 295

    They went to a restaurant for supper.

  8. 296

    After supper they went back to the hotel and went to bed.

  9. 297

    They spent a week in Frankfurt.

  10. 298

    They looked at the city and took a trip to the mountains.

  11. 299

    In the city there are many beautiful old buildings and museums.

  12. 300

    They also went to the American consulate.

  13. 301

    Johnson's friend works there.

  14. 302

    He got tickets for the theater, and on Friday evening they saw a German opera.

  1. 303

    In the theater they sat in the consul's box.

  2. 304

    The consul and his wife were not there, because they had traveled to Washington.

  3. 305

    They hadn't come back yet.

  4. 306

    Only the Johnsons, the children, Mr. Smith and his wife sat in the box.

  5. 307

    In the other box two French diplomats sat.

  6. 308

    Johnson knew them.

  7. 309

    They had met two years ago in Rome.

  8. 310

    At that time Johnson was working at the embassy there.

  9. 311

    The German singers sang very beautifully.

  10. 312

    Mrs. Johnson didn't understand what they were singing, because she doesn't understand German, but she already knew the opera.

  11. 313

    An Italian woman singer sang there too, whom they had already heard sing in Rome.

  12. 314

    They liked the performance very much.

  13. 315

    After the performance the two French diplomats and the Johnsons went together to a little restaurant to drink good German beer.

  14. 316

    There they talked about the performance and the singers.

  15. 317

    On Sunday they flew to London.

  16. 318

    Smith drove them out to the airport in his car.

  17. 319

    He said that he would visit them in Budapest next year.

  18. 320

    He has wanted to see Budapest for a long time, but so far he hasn't had the chance.

  19. 321

    Then he said goodbye and left.

  1. 322

    It was cool in London when they arrived.

  2. 323

    Mrs. Johnson was sorry that she had packed the coats.

  3. 324

    From the station they went by bus into the center of town.

  4. 325

    Mrs. Johnson's older brother lived there.

  5. 326

    They were very glad when they arrived.

  6. 327

    They spent three weeks in London.

  7. 328

    They looked at the museums and took trips to the surrounding area to see the old castles.

  8. 329

    In the second week they went to a concert.

  9. 330

    The Vienna Philharmonic came to London.

  10. 331

    Johnson was glad that he heard them play.

  11. 332

    In Vienna he never had time to listen to the Philharmonic.

  12. 333

    Then, one morning, they went to the airport.

  13. 334

    They bought tickets and boarded the plane.

  14. 335

    Four hours later they arrived in Budapest.

  15. 336

    They enjoyed themselves very much during the whole vacation.

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.