Hungarian Basic Course 1732 Studios

Hungarian · Unit 12

Unit 12: Sajtóértekezlet Budapesten

Volume 1

A press conference in Budapest

373 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    Were you at the press conference that the Prime Minister held?

    Ottthere (in that place)
    voltcame up (in discussion)
    azonon that, thereon
    athe
    sajtóértekezleten,press
    amitwhich, that
    athe
    miniszterelnökprime minister
    tartott?It lasted five days.
  2. 2

    I couldn't go because I had some other business. Were there many people there?

  3. 3

    Quite a number. The commercial attachés of almost all the legations were there.

  4. 4

    Wasn't there anyone from the Ministry of Foreign Trade?

miniszterelnök
prime minister
kereskedelmi
commercial
  1. 5

    Oh, yes. The representatives of the government, party and press are always present.

  2. 6

    What did the Prime Minister talk about?

kormány
government, cabinet
Miről
about, of what
  1. 7

    The production, work competition and raising of living standards. He spoke about how high the living standard will be after five years.

  2. 8

    We've already heard that many times. Did he discuss anything else?

a
living standard
arról
of that, from that,
  1. 9

    Yes. He told us that they have recently concluded a new commercial treaty with the Soviet Union. They signed it last Tuesday.

  2. 10

    Where did they sign the treaty? In Moscow?

  3. 11

    As far as I know, in Budapest. This is already the 16th treaty between Hungary and the Soviet Union.

  4. 12

    When did they make the first one?

nemrég
lately, not long ago
között
between, among
  1. 13

    After the war, on the 7th of November, 1945.

  1. 14

    I didn't know that a Soviet delegation had come to Budapest.

szovjet
Soviet
  1. 15

    The newspapers wrote about it two weeks ago. Don't you remember the article in the Népszabadság? It was on the first page.

  2. 16

    I didn't know that they had written about this delegation. And what's in the new treaty?

róla
about, of him, her, it
a
page
  1. 17

    According to the treaty Hungary is increasing its shipments of various types of merchandise.

szerint
according to
különböző
various, different
  1. 18

    Does this mean that from now on Hungary is going to transport more than it has up to the present time?

  2. 19

    Yes. And this treaty has an interesting clause. The times of delivery are short.

jelenti
it means, indicates
ezután
after this
  1. 20

    And what is the Soviet Union sending in exchange?

  2. 21

    It's sending the Moiseyev dance group.

  3. 22

    You're always joking. But tell me, what else did the Prime Minister say?

  1. 23

    He was talking about the five-year plan and about production. Next year we have to grow twice the quantity of crops as last year.

  2. 24

    This year the harvest hasn't been good.

  3. 25

    They hope next year it'll be good.

kétszer
twice
annyi
as much, as many
  1. 26

    When will the next press conference take place?

  2. 27

    It'll be two weeks from now, on the 24th.

  3. 28

    Do you know where they're holding it?

  4. 29

    I don't know exactly, but the Deputy Minister of Finance is holding it.

következő
following, next
  1. 30

    Do you know the Deputy Minister of Finance?

  2. 31

    Yes, I know him well. He's a pleasant and smart man. His name is Kertész.

  3. 32

    I'm going to this conference if I can. I have often wanted to hear Mr. Kertész but have never had the opportunity. What's he going to talk about?

okos
clever, smart
Erre
on this, onto this
fog
you, he, she, it will
  1. 33

    About the economic life and the reasons for the high cost of living. He wants to explain why we don't have enough merchandise in the country. I believe you're familiar with this problem.

  2. 34

    Why, yes, they've tried to explain it many times.

  3. 35

    Everybody knows the reasons. But the fact is that the workers can't make enough money.

gazdasági
economic
drágaság
high cost of living
a
reason
tény
fact, act, deed
munkás
worker, laborer
  1. 36

    Do you think anybody will ask what the government intends to do?

  2. 37

    I'm not going to ask, but somebody will surely ask Mr. Kertész to talk about this question also.

  3. 38

    I hope the government can find a solution to these economic problems.

  4. 39

    I want to ask you to take me in your car on the 24th. My wife's using mine.

tenni
to do
el
carry, take
  1. 40

    I'll be glad to.

  2. 41

    Thank you in advance. In the meantime I'll find out exactly where the meeting will be.

  3. 42

    Were you at the press conference that the Prime Minister held?

  4. 43

    I couldn't go because I had some other business. Were there many people there?

  5. 44

    Quite a number. The commercial attachés of almost all the legations were there.

  6. 45

    Wasn't there anyone from the Ministry of Foreign Trade?

  7. 46

    Oh, yes. The representatives of the government, party and press are always present.

  8. 47

    What did the Prime Minister talk about?

  9. 48

    The production, work competition and raising of living standards. He spoke about how high the living standard will be after five years.

  10. 49

    We've already heard that many times. Did he discuss anything else?

  11. 50

    Yes. He told us that they have recently concluded a new commercial treaty with the Soviet Union. They signed it last Tuesday.

  12. 51

    Where did they sign the treaty? In Moscow?

  13. 52

    As far as I know, in Budapest. This is already the 16th treaty between Hungary and the Soviet Union.

  14. 53

    When did they make the first one?

  15. 54

    After the war, on the 7th of November, 1945.

  16. 55

    I didn't know that a Soviet delegation had come to Budapest.

  17. 56

    The newspapers wrote about it two weeks ago. Don't you remember the article in the Népszabadság? It was on the first page.

  18. 57

    I didn't know that they had written about this delegation. And what's in the new treaty?

  19. 58

    According to the treaty Hungary is increasing its shipments of various types of merchandise.

  20. 59

    Does this mean that from now on Hungary is going to transport more than it has up to the present time?

  21. 60

    Yes. And this treaty has an interesting clause. The times of delivery are short.

  22. 61

    And what is the Soviet Union sending in exchange?

  23. 62

    It's sending the Moiseyev dance group.

  24. 63

    You're always joking. But tell me, what else did the Prime Minister say?

  25. 64

    He was talking about the five-year plan and about production. Next year we have to grow twice the quantity of crops as last year.

  26. 65

    This year the harvest hasn't been good.

  27. 66

    They hope next year it'll be good.

  28. 67

    When will the next press conference take place?

  29. 68

    It'll be two weeks from now, on the 24th.

  30. 69

    Do you know where they're holding it?

  31. 70

    I don't know exactly, but the Deputy Minister of Finance is holding it.

  32. 71

    Do you know the Deputy Minister of Finance?

  33. 72

    Yes, I know him well. He's a pleasant and smart man. His name is Kertész.

  34. 73

    I'm going to this conference if I can. I have often wanted to hear Mr. Kertész but have never had the opportunity. What's he going to talk about?

  35. 74

    About the economic life and the reasons for the high cost of living. He wants to explain why we don't have enough merchandise in the country. I believe you're familiar with this problem.

  36. 75

    Why, yes, they've tried to explain it many times.

  37. 76

    Everybody knows the reasons. But the fact is that the workers can't make enough money.

  38. 77

    Do you think anybody will ask what the government intends to do?

  39. 78

    I'm not going to ask, but somebody will surely ask Mr. Kertész to talk about this question also.

  40. 79

    I hope the government can find a solution to these economic problems.

  41. 80

    I want to ask you to take me in your car on the 24th. My wife's using mine.

  42. 81

    I'll be glad to.

  43. 82

    Thank you in advance. In the meantime I'll find out exactly where the meeting will be.

Notes on Grammar: Prefixes with Verbs

The prefix joins the verb

János bemegy a házba. John goes into the house.

A prefix before a verb changes its meaning or shows that the action is completed. Be, into, ki, out, el, away, fel, up, and meg, completely, occur only with verbs. Vissza, back, can also stand alone.

In the usual order, subject then verb, the prefix stands before the verb and joins it as one word. The stress falls on the prefix: bemegy.

A prefix with a modal

Ki akarok menni. I want to go out. Nem akarok bemenni. I don't want to go in.

A modal is a verb such as akarok, I want, that takes an infinitive after it. When the prefix and its verb carry the stress, the prefix stands before the modal: ki akarok menni.

When another word carries the stress, that word stands before the modal. The prefix stays joined to the infinitive. In a negative sentence that word is nem: nem akarok bemenni.

The prefix after the verb

Én nem kérdezem meg. I'm not going to ask.

When the verb has a personal ending and another word carries the stress, the prefix comes right after the verb. Ki ül le a székre? Who's sitting down on the chair?

The most emphatic word stands right before the verb. A question word always takes that place, and so does the word that answers it. Ki vitte el a kocsit? Who took the car away? János vitte el a kocsit. John took the car away.

  1. 83

    John goes into the house; or John goes into the house.

  2. 84

    I want to go out.

  3. 85

    We must come back.

  4. 86

    It'll be necessary to spend a lot of money.

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    I don't want to go in.

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    Who's sitting down on the chair?

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    Is the boy going out to the country?

  8. 90

    They didn't cook the dinner.

  9. 91

    Iskolába megy a tanár.

  10. 92

    A kertben játszik a gyerek.

  11. 93

    János vitte el a kocsit.

  12. 94

    Tíz órakor indulunk.

A. Prefixes with Verbs

As we have seen in previous units, some verbs may take prefixes which modify or change the basic meaning of the verb completely, or which emphasize the completion of the action expressed by the verb. There are two types of prefixes: those that may be used alone as well as combined with verbs, such as vissza, 'back', rá, 'onto', and bele, 'into'; and those that occur only with verbs, such as be, 'into', ki, 'out', el, 'away', fel or föl, 'up' and meg, 'wholly' or 'completely'. In the usual word order (subject plus predicate) the prefix combines with the verb it precedes to form one word, with the stress falling on the prefix. This is the normal order also in statements where the emphasis is on the prefix and its verb, if the verb is in a finite form.

János bemegy a házba.  John goes into the house; or John goes into the house.

Under certain circumstances the prefix is separated from its verb, and is treated as a separate word, either preceding the verb or coming after it. If emphasis is on the prefix and its verb and the verb is in the infinitive form following a modal auxiliary or an impersonal expression the prefix comes before the auxiliary, usually at the beginning of the statement. (Note that the placing of the stressed element in the first part of the statement is in accord with the principle that in a Hungarian sentence the most emphatic position is immediately before the verb.)

Ki akarok menni.  I want to go out.
Vissza kell jönni.  We must come back.

When emphasis is on some element other than the prefix or verb, and the verb is in the infinitive form, the stressed element will precede the auxiliary, and the prefix will be attached to the infinitive following. (Note in this connection that in a negative sentence nem occupies the emphatic position before the auxiliary verb, and the prefix will follow, attached to its infinitive.)

Sok pénzt kellkiadni.  It'll be necessary to spend a lot of money.
Nem akarok bemenni.  I don't want to go in.

When the verb is inflected and stress is on any word other than the verb or its prefix, the prefix follows immediately after the verb:

Ki ül le a székre?  Who's sitting down on the chair?
A vidékre megy ki a fiú?  Is the boy going out to the country?
Nem főztek meg a vacsorát.  They didn't cook the dinner.

Keep in mind that in accordance with the principle of placing the stressed element immediately before the verb, an interrogative word always occupies the emphatic position; likewise, an answer to such a question always requires word order paralleling that of the interrogation:

Hova megy a tanár?  Iskolába megy a tanár.
Hol játszik a gyerek?  A kertben játszik a gyerek.
Ki vitte el a kocsit?  János vitte el a kocsit.
Hány órakor indulnak?  Tíz órakor indulunk.

Notes on Grammar: The Future Tense

Fog and the infinitive

Miről fog beszélni? What's he going to talk about?

As in English, the present with a word of time often refers to the future. The other way is the infinitive of the main verb and the present of fogni.

Fizetni fogok. I'll pay. Fizetni fogom. I'll pay it. Fog has definite and indefinite forms like any other verb.

Lesz: will be

Két hét múlva lesz, huszonnegyedikén. It'll be two weeks from now, on the 24th.

The future of 'to be' is the present of 'to become'. Leszek means 'I become' and 'I'll be'. Lesz means 'he becomes' and 'he'll be'.

  1. 95

    I'll pay (it).

  2. 96

    You'll write (it).

  3. 97

    He'll read (it).

  4. 98

    We'll eat (it).

  5. 99

    You'll drink (it).

  6. 100

    They'll give (it).

  7. 101

    I become, I'll be

  8. 102

    you become, you'll be

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    he becomes, he'll be

  10. 104

    we become, we'll be

  11. 105

    you become, you'll be

  12. 106

    they become, they'll be

B. The Future Tense

Hungarian, as English, often uses the present tense with a time expression to indicate future time. Another way of denoting the future in Hungarian is by using the infinitive of the main verb plus the present tense of fogni:

Fizetni fogok (fogom).  I'll pay (it).
Írni fogsz (fogod).  You'll write (it).
Olvasni fog (fogja).  He'll read (it).
Enni fogunk (fogjuk).  We'll eat (it).
Inni fogtok (fogjátok).  You'll drink (it).
Adni fognak (fogják).  They'll give (it).

The future of 'to be' is identical to the present of 'to become' in Hungarian:

leszek  I become, I'll be
leszel  you become, you'll be
lesz  he becomes, he'll be
leszünk  we become, we'll be
lesztek  you become, you'll be
lesznek  they become, they'll be

Notes on Grammar: Demonstratives and Tudni and Ismerni

This and that are two articles

Nem tudtam, hogy erről a bizottságról írtak. I didn't know that they had written about this delegation.

Ez a, this, and az a, that, are two definite articles in a row. The first takes the same case and number as the noun: erről a bizottságról.

The plurals are ezek a, these, and azok a, those: ezeknek a gyerekeknek, to these children.

The z of ez and az changes

És van ennek a szerződésnek egy érdekes pontja. And this treaty has an interesting clause.

Before many suffixes, the -z of ez and az becomes the consonant that follows it. The result is a double consonant: ennek, annak, ebben, abban, erre, arra.

The table lists ez a and az a with the suffixes met so far. Each row gives the singular, then the plural.

Demonstratives, 1 of 2

Demonstratives, 2 of 2

Two verbs for to know

Tudja, hogy hol tartják? Do you know where they're holding it? Igen, jól ismerem. Yes, I know him well.

Tudni is to know a fact, to know how, or to be able. Tud magyarul beszélni? Can you speak Hungarian? Jól tud főzni. You can cook well.

Ismerni is to know a person, a place or a thing, to be acquainted with it. Ismerem Európát. I know Europe. Ismeri ezt a könyvet? Do you know this book?

  1. 107

    Do you know where the station is?

  2. 108

    What time can he start?

  3. 109

    Can you speak Hungarian?

  4. 110

    You can cook well.

  5. 111

    I know his daughter.

  6. 112

    I know Europe.

  7. 113

    Do you know this book?

C. Demonstratives

The words ez a, 'this' and az a, 'that', with their plurals ezek a, 'these', and azok a, 'those', point out, designate, and so are called 'demonstratives'. We have already had many examples of demonstratives in Hungarian. Basically this form before a noun consists of two definite articles, the first of which agrees in number and case with the noun it precedes or refers to. The following list contains the demonstratives in combination with various suffixes that we have studied. You will note that in many of the forms the -z of the basic form of the article is assimilated by the following consonant, resulting in a double (long) consonant:

 | 
ez a lány | ezek a lányok
az a lány | azok a lányok
ezt a képet | ezeket a képeket
azt a képet | azokat a képeket
ezen az asztalon | ezeken az asztalokon
azon az asztalon | azokon az asztalokon
ebben a szállodában | ezekben a szállodákban
abban a szállodában | azokban a szállodákban
ebbe a vendéglőbe | ezekbe a vendéglőkbe
abba a vendéglőbe | azokba a vendéglőkbe
ebből a szobából | ezekből a szobákból
abból a szobából | azokból a szobákból
erről a fáról | ezekről a fákról
arról a fáról | azokról a fákról
erre a székre | ezekre a székekre
arra a székre | azokra a székekre
ettől a fiútól | ezektől a fiúktól
attól a fiútól | azoktól a fiúktól
ennek a gyereknek | ezeknek a gyerekeknek
annak a gyereknek | azoknak a gyerekeknek
D. Tudni and Ismerni

The English verb 'to know' may be rendered into Hungarian in two different ways, depending on the meaning. If the verb means 'to know' in the sense of having information or intellectual knowledge of, being able, knowing how, then the form tudni is used. However, if 'to know' means to be acquainted with, the corresponding form in Hungarian is ismerni.

Tudja, hogy hol van az állomás?  Do you know where the station is?
Hány órakor tud indulni?  What time can he start?
Tud magyarul beszélni?  Can you speak Hungarian?
Jól tud főzni.  You can cook well.
Ismerem a lányát.  I know his daughter.
Ismerem Európát.  I know Europe.
Ismeri ezt a könyvet?  Do you know this book?

Notes on Grammar: Kérni and Kérdezni

Two verbs for to ask

Én nem kérdezem meg, de valaki biztosan megkéri Kertész urat, hogy beszéljen erről a kérdésről is. I'm not going to ask, but somebody will surely ask Mr. Kertész to talk about this question also.

Kérdezni is to ask a question. The person asked takes the ending -tól or -től, 'from'. Megkérdezi, hogy hány óra van. He's asking what time it is.

Kérni never asks a question. It means to ask for, to request. Kérek egy pohár bort. I want a glass of wine. Bocsánatot kérek. I beg your pardon.

  1. 114

    He's asking what time it is.

  2. 115

    They're asking what we're doing.

  3. 116

    I beg your pardon.

  4. 117

    I want a glass of wine.

  5. 118

    I'd like to ask for a book.

E. Kérni and Kérdezni

The Hungarian verbs kérni and kérdezni both mean 'to ask', but they cannot be used interchangeably. Kérdezni always means 'to ask a question', and with that meaning requires the 'from' ending (-tól, -től) added to the word indicating the person 'from' whom the question is asked. Thus, 'I'm asking you a question' is equal to 'I'm asking a question from you', and must be thus rendered into Hungarian.

Kérni never implies a question, and basically means 'to ask for', 'to request', 'to beg'.

Megkérdezi, hogy hány óra van.  He's asking what time it is.
Azt kérdezik, hogy mit csinálunk.  They're asking what we're doing.
Bocsánatot kérek.  I beg your pardon.
Kérek egy pohár bort.  I want a glass of wine.
Egy könyvet szeretnék kérni.  I'd like to ask for a book.

Notes on Grammar: Ordinal Numbers, 1 of 2

Ordinals end in -dik

Ez már a tizenhatodik szerződés Magyarország és a Szovjetunió között. This is already the 16th treaty between Hungary and the Soviet Union.

The first three are első, második, harmadik. From negyedik, fourth, on, the ordinal is the cardinal with an auxiliary vowel and -dik. A long vowel of the cardinal becomes short: tíz, tizedik.

Ordinals are generally used as in English. With a name, the ordinal comes first, with no article: Második János, John the Second.

Dates: tizedike, tizedikén

A háború után, 1945. november hetedikén. After the war, on the 7th of November, 1945.

The day of the month is the third person singular possessive of the ordinal, after the month. Július tizedike. July 10th. Január elseje. January 1st.

For 'on' a date, the final vowel of that form becomes long before -n. Július tizedikén. On July 10th.

  1. 119

    first

  2. 120

    second

  3. 121

    third

  4. 122

    fourth

  5. 123

    fifth

  6. 124

    sixth

  7. 125

    seventh

  8. 126

    eighth

  9. 127

    ninth

  10. 128

    tenth

  11. 129

    eleventh

  12. 130

    twelfth

  13. 131

    thirteenth

  14. 132

    twenty-first

  15. 133

    thirty-second

  16. 134

    December huszonötödike

F. Ordinal Numbers

The ordinal numbers in Hungarian are:

első  first
második  second
harmadik  third
negyedik  fourth
ötödik  fifth
hatodik  sixth
hetedik  seventh
nyolcadik  eighth
kilencedik  ninth
tizedik  tenth
tizenegyedik  eleventh
tizenkettedik  twelfth
tizenharmadik  thirteenth
huszonegyedik  twenty-first
harminckettedik  thirty-second

Note that the ordinals beginning with negyedik are formed by adding an auxiliary vowel plus -dik to the cardinal, with shortening of long vowels wherever they occur in the basic form.

Ordinals generally are used as in English. However, the following patterns require special attention:

(1) A proper noun in English followed by an ordinal, as 'John the Second' in Hungarian becomes Második János. Note that in the Hungarian pattern the ordinal precedes the name and that no definite article is required.

(2) To express the day of the month: e.g., 'July 10th', and 'the 10th of July', both are rendered into Hungarian as Július tizedike. Note in this pattern that Hungarian requires the third person singular possessive form of the ordinal, which is always placed after the month. Other examples:

December 25th  December huszonötödike
April 3rd  Április harmadika
January 1st  Január elseje

(3) 'On July 10th' and 'On the tenth of July' are expressed as Július tizedikén. In this pattern the final vowel of the possessive form of the ordinal is lengthened before the suffix -n. Other examples:

On December 25th  December huszonötödikén
On the Fourth of July  Július negyedikén

Notes on Grammar: Ordinal Numbers, 2 of 2

  1. 135

    Április harmadika

  2. 136

    Január elseje

  3. 137

    December huszonötödikén

  4. 138

    Július negyedikén

Substitution Drill

  1. 139

    Were you at the press conference which the Prime Minister held?

  2. 140

    I didn't know that they had written about this delegation.

  3. 141

    Mr. Kovács is in this restaurant.

  4. 142

    I'm going to this school.

  1. 143

    I'm going to this school.

  2. 144

    Can you cook?

  3. 145

    Do you know where the American Legation is?

  4. 146

    Do you know this man?

  1. 147

    Do you know this man?

  2. 148

    He was asking for his books.

  3. 149

    I'm asking what time it is.

  4. 150

    I'm first in the class.

  1. 151

    I'm first in the class.

  2. 152

    It's the first of May.

  1. 153

    It's the first of May.

  2. 154

    I'm starting on the 15th of March.

Variation Drill

  1. 155

    This man drinks a lot.

  2. 156

    I have already looked at this picture.

  3. 157

    He lives in this region.

  1. 158

    He lives in this region.

  2. 159

    There are pretty girls in this town.

  3. 160

    We went into this restaurant.

  4. 161

    They got out of that airplane.

  1. 162

    They got out of that airplane.

  2. 163

    I got the book from this girl.

  3. 164

    This girl has a pretty dress.

  4. 165

    I'm sitting down on this chair.

  5. 166

    People are coming down from this mountain.

  1. 167

    People are coming down from this mountain.

  2. 168

    Alexander the Second.

  3. 169

    It's the first of May.

  4. 170

    Today is Sunday, the 20th of September.

  1. 171

    Today is Sunday, the 20th of September.

  2. 172

    On March the 15th.

  3. 173

    On July 4, 1776.

Transformation Drill

  1. 174

    Éva bement a konyhába. (nappaliba)

    Éva went into the kitchen. (living room)

  2. 175

    A kislány felszállt a kerékpárra.

    The little girl got on the bicycle.

  1. 176

    A kislány felszállt a kerékpárra.

    The little girl got on the bicycle.

  2. 177

    Be lehet szállni a vonatba.

    It is possible to get on the train.

  1. 178

    A férfi felszállt a vonatra.

    The man got on the train.

  2. 179

    Sok pénzt kell kiadni.

    A lot of money has to be spent.

  1. 180

    Megvette a házat. (Ki?)

    He bought the house. (Who?)

  2. 181

    Megvette a ruhát. (Mikor?)

    He bought the dress. (When?)

  3. 182

    Ki öntözte meg a kertet? (Péter)

    Who watered the garden? (Péter)

  1. 183

    Ki öntözte meg a kertet? (Péter)

    Who watered the garden? (Péter)

  2. 184

    Honnan szálltak ki? (kocsi)

    Where did they get out from? (car)

  3. 185

    Mit csinált a katona?

    What did the soldier do?

  4. 186

    Mit csinált Kovács?

    What did Kovács do?

  1. 187

    Mit csináltak a lányok?

    What did the girls do?

  2. 188

    Mit csináltak az emberek?

    What did the people do?

  3. 189

    Mit csinált az apa?

    What did the father do?

  4. 190

    Melyik iskolában tanultak?

    Which school did they study in?

  1. 191

    Melyik iskolában tanultak?

    Which school did they study in?

  1. 192

    Melyik iskolában tanultak?

    Which school did they study in?

  2. 193

    Ez az ember sokat iszik.

    This man drinks a lot.

  1. 194

    Ez az ember sokat iszik.

    This man drinks a lot.

  2. 195

    Az az én könyvem.

    That is my book.

  3. 196

    Megkérdezem,hány óra van.

    I'm asking what time it is.

  1. 197

    Megkérdezem,hány óra van.

    I'm asking what time it is.

  2. 198

    Kovács felszáll a vonatra.

    Kovács gets on the train.

  1. 199

    Engem visznek.

    They are taking me.

Vocabulary Drill

  1. 200

    Do you know where the American Legation is?

  2. 201

    Do you know what time it is?

  3. 202

    Do you know how far New York is?

  4. 203

    Do you know what the roads are like?

  5. 204

    I can't recommend anyone.

  6. 205

    I can't go anywhere.

  7. 206

    They can't travel to Hungary.

  8. 207

    What time can she start?

  9. 208

    Can the girl cook well?

  1. 209

    I can't eat the dinner.

  2. 210

    Can you tell me what time the express starts?

  3. 211

    Does he know how much a ticket to Budapest costs?

  4. 212

    Can you speak Hungarian?

  5. 213

    We have a lot of free time, so we can read many books.

  6. 214

    Are they able to come?

  7. 215

    Do they know what they're speaking?

  8. 216

    He knows French very well.

  9. 217

    I know that they know.

  1. 218

    I know your wife already.

  2. 219

    Do you know Dunántúl well?

  3. 220

    Do you know this book?

  4. 221

    I know the new Hungarian writers.

  5. 222

    Don't you know my father?

  6. 223

    Do you know Hungary?

  7. 224

    I know that they know me.

  8. 225

    Do they know the American diplomats?

  9. 226

    I don't know the Ambassador.

  1. 227

    We know the Kovácses.

  2. 228

    I don't know any doctor in the city.

  3. 229

    We know many people in Washington.

  4. 230

    I'm asking you for a few dollars.

  5. 231

    I want a cup of tea.

  6. 232

    May I ask for the address?

  7. 233

    I'd like to ask for a good book.

  8. 234

    Please tell me what time it is.

  9. 235

    I beg your pardon.

  1. 236

    I'm going to ask the conductor if there's a dining car on the train.

  2. 237

    He's asking what time it is.

  3. 238

    They're asking what time the train leaves.

  4. 239

    John's asking what we're doing.

  5. 240

    He was asking where there's a restaurant.

  6. 241

    They're asking if there's a good doctor in the city.

  7. 242

    I want to ask something.

  8. 243

    He asked how much the car cost.

Translation Drill

  1. 244

    Yesterday I went to the press conference.

  2. 245

    The conference was held by the Minister of Foreign Trade.

  3. 246

    Johnson couldn't go because he had some other business.

  4. 247

    The legation commercial attachés were there.

  5. 248

    The representatives of the party, government and press were there also.

  6. 249

    The Minister talked about foreign trade.

  7. 250

    He told us that they had made a commercial treaty with East Germany.

  8. 251

    This is the seventh treaty between the governments of the two countries.

  9. 252

    They concluded the first treaty on the 22nd of May, 1950.

  10. 253

    A Hungarian delegation went to Berlin.

  11. 254

    Every newspaper wrote about it two weeks ago.

  12. 255

    I read the article on the first page.

  13. 256

    At that time they didn't write what there was in the new treaty.

  1. 257

    At the conference the Minister talked about the treaty.

  2. 258

    Hungary will increase its shipments of poultry and grain next year.

  3. 259

    According to the treaty it's going to transport more than it has up to the present time.

  4. 260

    One of the interesting clauses of this treaty is the short delivery time.

  5. 261

    East Germany is sending in exchange machines and other merchandise.

  6. 262

    The representative of the government talked about the 5-year plan.

  7. 263

    He told us how high the living standard will be after a few years.

  8. 264

    Next year we have to grow twice the quantity of grain as last year.

  9. 265

    This year the harvest was bad.

  10. 266

    He also talked about the economic life of Hungary and the reasons for the high cost of living.

  11. 267

    I've never yet heard anyone talk about this problem.

  12. 268

    He wanted to explain why there isn't enough merchandise in the country.

  13. 269

    If they just talk and don't do anything, then there won't be more merchandise in the shops.

  1. 270

    The workers don't make enough money and can't buy.

  2. 271

    Nobody knows what the government intends to do.

  3. 272

    Someone asked the Minister to talk about this problem.

  4. 273

    He said the government will soon find a solution to these problems.

  5. 274

    I'd like to go to the next press conference also.

  6. 275

    Next week, on the 14th, my wife is taking my car.

  7. 276

    My friend promised to take me in his car.

  8. 277

    Meanwhile he'll find out exactly where the conference will be.

Response Drill

  1. 278

    Have you ever been at a press conference?

  2. 279

    Are there many people at the press conference?

  3. 280

    Could Johnson go to the press conference?

  4. 281

    Who held the conference?

  5. 282

    Were the representatives of the government there also?

  6. 283

    What did the Prime Minister talk about?

  7. 284

    What kind of treaty did the Hungarian Government make?

  8. 285

    When did they sign it?

  9. 286

    Where did they sign the treaty?

  1. 287

    What (number) was the treaty between Hungary and the Soviet Union?

  2. 288

    When did they make the first one?

  3. 289

    What delegation came to Budapest?

  4. 290

    When did the newspapers write about that?

  5. 291

    On which page was the article?

  6. 292

    What's in the new treaty?

  7. 293

    Who transports more merchandise?

  8. 294

    What's the interesting point of the treaty?

  9. 295

    What do they send in exchange to Hungary?

  1. 296

    What else did the Prime Minister talk about?

  2. 297

    What will the living standard be after five years?

  3. 298

    In what quantity must they produce crops next year?

  4. 299

    Was the harvest good this year?

  5. 300

    Where are they holding the next press conference?

  6. 301

    Who's holding it?

  7. 302

    What kind of a man is the Deputy Minister of Finance?

  8. 303

    Have you had an opportunity to hear him yet?

  9. 304

    What's he going to talk about?

  1. 305

    What does he want to explain?

  2. 306

    Does everybody know the reasons?

  3. 307

    Does the government want to do anything about it?

  4. 308

    Are you familiar with this problem?

  5. 309

    Does the worker make enough money in Hungary?

  6. 310

    Can they explain the reasons for the high cost of living?

  7. 311

    Does the worker make enough money in the United States?

  8. 312

    What's the living standard like in the United States?

Conversation Practice 1

  1. 313

    Who held the press conference yesterday?

  2. 314

    The Prime Minister did.

  3. 315

    Were there many people at the conference?

  4. 316

    Yes, there were many foreign commercial attachés there.

  5. 317

    Weren't the representatives of the government there?

  6. 318

    Of course they were there. There were people from the party and from the newspapers too.

  7. 319

    What did the Prime Minister talk about?

  8. 320

    About economic and political questions.

  9. 321

    I think that was interesting. Didn't he say anything else?

  10. 322

    Yes, he did. He said that they concluded a new commercial treaty last week.

Conversation Practice 2

  1. 323

    Did the government conclude the commercial treaty with the Soviet Union?

  2. 324

    No, with Czechoslovakia. This is already the eighth treaty between the two countries.

  3. 325

    When did they make the first one?

  4. 326

    After the war, in 1947.

  5. 327

    Did a delegation go from Budapest to Prague, or did one come here from there?

  6. 328

    A delegation came to Pest from Prague. Didn't you read it in the newspapers?

  7. 329

    I thought they had written about some other delegation. What's in the treaty?

  8. 330

    Hungary is increasing its grain shipments to Czechoslovakia.

  9. 331

    It has been shipping a lot up to now too!

  10. 332

    Yes, but from now on it will ship even more.

Conversation Practice 3

  1. 333

    When are they holding the next press conference?

  2. 334

    I think on the third, in two weeks.

  3. 335

    Do you know who is holding it?

  4. 336

    Kertész, the Deputy Minister of Finance, is holding it.

  5. 337

    What will Mr. Kertész talk about?

  6. 338

    About Hungarian economic life and the reasons for the high cost of living.

  7. 339

    Do you think he can explain the reasons for the high cost of living?

  8. 340

    I don't think so.

  9. 341

    I'd like to know when there will be more goods in the stores!

  10. 342

    That's a hard question. But who will buy, if the workers don't earn enough!

  11. 343

    Will you take me to the conference in your car?

  12. 344

    I'd be glad to.

Narrative

  1. 345

    Last week the Austrian government concluded a commercial treaty with the Yugoslav government.

  2. 346

    The newspapers wrote long ago that a Yugoslav delegation was arriving in the Austrian capital.

  3. 347

    After the signing of the treaty the Austrian Prime Minister held a press conference.

  4. 348

    At the conference were the commercial attachés of the foreign legations and the representatives of the press.

  5. 349

    The Austrian Prime Minister said that this is already the eighth treaty between the two countries since the war.

  6. 350

    The first treaty was concluded on January 14, 1949.

  7. 351

    According to the new treaty the two countries will ship three times as many goods as ten years ago.

  8. 352

    It is worthwhile for the two countries to make a commercial treaty, because they are neighbors and shipping doesn't cost much.

  9. 353

    According to the treaty Austria ships machines, bicycles, dishes and trucks.

  10. 354

    The Austrian machines are very good, because they are made of good material.

  11. 355

    Yugoslavia gladly buys them.

  12. 356

    Many Austrian trucks and bicycles run on the Yugoslav roads.

  13. 357

    In this new treaty the Austrian government is increasing the shipment of machines and various goods to Yugoslavia.

  14. 358

    It ships more than up to now.

  15. 359

    In exchange Yugoslavia sends grain, mostly wheat and corn, to Austria.

  16. 360

    Austria cannot grow enough grain, because the country has many mountains and little good land.

  17. 361

    In Yugoslavia there is a lot of good land, and so they grow a lot of grain.

  18. 362

    This year they grew twice as much wheat and corn as last year, when the crop was not good.

  1. 363

    The machines and the various goods are shipped by boat from Vienna to Yugoslavia.

  2. 364

    Shipping on the Danube is cheap and fairly fast.

  3. 365

    The boats go through Budapest.

  4. 366

    The grain arrives in Austria from Yugoslavia by train.

  5. 367

    By train the trip is not as long as on the Danube.

  6. 368

    Planes also fly between the capitals of the two countries.

  7. 369

    The delegation arrived in Vienna by plane.

  8. 370

    The Austrian Prime Minister also said that next month they will make commercial treaties with Denmark and Hungary too.

  9. 371

    One of the journalists asked when the government would raise the standard of living.

  10. 372

    The Prime Minister said that the government has already found a solution to many difficult economic questions, so he hopes it will find a solution to this one too.

  11. 373

    But until then they will increase production and help the businessmen.

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.