Instrumental Case: -val/-vel
Instrumental case -val/-vel (with, by means of) and consonant assimilation
Can use -val/-vel for transport and accompaniment, applying consonant assimilation correctly
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Busszal megyek dolgozni.
I go to work by bus.
A barátommal moziba mentem.
I went to the cinema with my friend.
Kézzel írta a levelet.
She/he wrote the letter by hand.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
-val/-vel = with / by means of. Vowel harmony: back→-val, front→-vel. Consonant assimilation: final consonant doubles (vonat+val=vonattal, kéz+vel=kézzel).
Common Error Patterns
Writes -val/-vel without doubling the final consonant (e.g. *vonatval instead of vonattal)
When the word ends in a consonant, the v of -val/-vel assimilates to that consonant: t+val→ttal, z+vel→zzel, n+nel→nnel.
Uses -val after front-vowel word or -vel after back-vowel word
Check last vowel: a/o/u → -val; e/é/i/ö/ü → -vel. Exception: i/í can go either way — follow the other vowels in the word.
Busszal megyek dolgozni.
I go to work by bus.
busz+szal → busszal: final sz doubles before -al (back vowel harmony).
A barátommal moziba mentem.
I went to the cinema with my friend.
barát+om+mal → barátommal: possessive -om first, then -mal (assimilation of -val after m).
Kézzel írta a levelet.
She/he wrote the letter by hand.
kéz+zel → kézzel: front vowel → -vel, final z doubles to zz.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises