Page:Simplified grammar of the Hungarian language.djvu/57

Rh The question for multiplicatives is: hányszor? = how often? or, how many times?

 

Words which express some action, motion, or suffering of the substantive, are called verbs.

The Hungarian language has two kinds of verbs: active and medial.

Active verbs express always some action of the substantive.

If this action passes on to a noun following, the verb is called transitive; as, hajtok (lovakat), I drive (horses).

If the action does not pass over to another noun, but remains in the acting subject itself, the verb is called intransitive, as járok, I walk.

Verbs which are at the same time active and passive—that is, if the subject acting is at the same time the substantive acted upon—are called medial.

According as action, or the state of being acted upon, are predominant, they are said to be of an active or passive character; for instance: eszik—he is eating—is active; and vérzik—he is bleeding—is passive.

If neither is the case—that is, if action and suffering are both implied—they are called neuter verbs; as, alszik, he is sleeping.

Note.—Medial verbs with an active signification might be