By this it will be seen how rich the Hungarian language is in its capacity for forming words and expressing the finer shades of meaning.
In the following the principal formatives only are given. To give all of them would exceed the limits of this book, and would be, moreover, quite superfluous, as most of the derivatives are to be found in the dictionaries.
I. Substantives are formed:
(a) by adding ság, ség to adjectives; as, szépség, beauty; jóság, goodness.
(b) by adding -ás, -és to verbs: alvás, sleeping; állás (from áll(ni) to stand), position, standing;
(c) by adding -as, -es, -ös, or -ár, -ér to substantives, new substantives are formed; as—
asztal, table; asztalos, joiner.
kés, knife; késes, cutler.
kád, coop, tub; kádár, cooper.
(d) All present participles of the verb may be used as substantives:—
olvasó, reader; arató, reaper.
(e) Diminutives of substantives are formed in different ways. The principal forms are:—
-ka, -ke; lány-ka, a little girl.
-ocska, -ecske; ablak-ocska, a small window.
