- 1. Present; as, írok, I write.
- 2. Imperfect; as, írék, I wrote.
- 3. Perfect or past; as, írtam, I have written.
- 4. Pluperfect; as, írtam vala, I had written.
- 5. Future; as, írni fogok, I will or shall write.
The Hungarian has no future past, but expresses it by the perfect tense, preceded by adverbs denoting a future time; as, akkorára, until then, by that time; egy hét mulva, in a week's time, &c.
Note.—The earlier Hungarian writers made a future past in imitation of the Latin by putting légyen after the past tense; but this is quite against the spirit of the Hungarian language, and is now hardly—if ever—used.
The future is seldom used, and is generally expressed by the present tense, especially when an adverb expressing future time stands before it; as, holnap barátomhoz megyek, to-morrow I (will) go to my friend's; instead of holnap barátomhoz fogok menni. The first form is more commendable, and the latter (compound) form only used, if the verb is not preceded or followed by words already expressing the time.
Of Numbers, Person, and Form.
Verbs have two numbers—singular and plural; and three persons in each number.
