When is Igekötők: meg-, el-, ki-, be- used?

Igekötők — az ige elé járuló előtagok, amelyek módosítják a jelentést:

What are common mistakes with Igekötők: meg-, el-, ki-, be-?

Learners keep prefix attached in negation. 🇬🇧 English: No direct equivalent. 'meg-' completion is like English perfect aspect. 🇷🇺 Russian: Prefix verbs exist (написать, уйти). But in negation Hungarian splits them: не пишу → Nem írom meg. 🇨🇿 Czech: Prefix verbs (napsat, odejít). Split in negation is uniquely Hungarian. 🇩🇪 German: Separable verbs (aufmachen → macht auf). Same split logic! Negation: 'nicht' comes before the separated prefix.

Igekötők: meg-, el-, ki-, be-

A1 — Igék

Verbal prefixes that modify meaning; separation rules in negation and questions

Can use common verbal prefixes and separate them correctly in negation

Verbal prefixes that modify meaning; separation rules in negation and questions

Examples

Megeszem az ebédet. — I eat up the lunch (finish it).
Nem eszem meg az ebédet. — I won't eat up the lunch.
Bemegy az irodába. — He/she goes into the office.

IgékA1

Verbal prefixes: meg-, el-, ki-, be-

Common verbal prefixes and their separation in negation

Learning Goal

Can use verbal prefixes and separate them in negation

Exam Skills:BeszédHallás utáni értésÍrásOlvasás

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Megeszem az ebédet.

I eat up the lunch (finish it).

Nem eszem meg az ebédet.

I won't eat up the lunch.

Bemegy az irodába.

He/she goes into the office.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Verbal prefixes change meaning. In negation the prefix separates from the verb: Nem megy el (not Nem elmegy).

Keeping prefix attached in negation. Always split: Nem + verb + prefix.

Common Error Patterns

Keeping prefix attached to verb in negation

In negation, the prefix goes AFTER the verb: 'Nem megy el' (not 'Nem elmegy').

Confusing directional prefix meanings

be- = into, ki- = out, el- = away/mis-, meg- = completeness. Learn with example pairs.

Megeszem az ebédet.

I eat up the lunch (finish it).

meg- adds completion. Definite object (az ebédet) → definite conj (megeszem).

Nem eszem meg az ebédet.

I won't eat up the lunch.

In negation, the prefix separates: 'meg' moves after the verb. 'Nem megeszem' is wrong!

Bemegy az irodába.

He/she goes into the office.

be- = into (inward direction). bemegy = go into. Contrast: kimegy = go out.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

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Frequently asked questions

When is Igekötők: meg-, el-, ki-, be- used?: Igekötők — az ige elé járuló előtagok, amelyek módosítják a jelentést:
What are common mistakes with Igekötők: meg-, el-, ki-, be-?: Learners keep prefix attached in negation. 🇬🇧 English: No direct equivalent. 'meg-' completion is like English perfect aspect. 🇷🇺 Russian: Prefix verbs exist (написать, уйти). But in negation Hungarian splits them: не пишу → Nem írom meg. 🇨🇿 Czech: Prefix verbs (napsat, odejít). Split in negation is uniquely Hungarian. 🇩🇪 German: Separable verbs (aufmachen → macht auf). Same split logic! Negation: 'nicht' comes before the separated prefix.