When is Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel used?

Az eszközhatározó eset ragja: -val/-vel (magánhangzó-harmónia szerint).

How is Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel formed?

Mássalhangzó-hasonulás: ha a szó mássalhangzóra végződik, a rag mássalhangzója megkettőződik : Jelentése: -val/-vel = with, by (transport): busszal megyek (I go by bus).

What are common mistakes with Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel?

Learners forget consonant assimilation — the most common error. 🇬🇧 English: No case system — 'with' is a preposition. In Hungarian it's a suffix. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian uses instrumental case too (творительный падеж) — same meaning, different form.

Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel | Hungarian Grammar A1

Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel

A1 — Esetragok

Instrumental case -val/-vel (with, by means of) and consonant assimilation

Can use -val/-vel for transport and accompaniment, applying consonant assimilation correctly

Instrumental case -val/-vel (with, by means of) and consonant assimilation

Examples

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.

EsetragokA1

Instrumental Case: -val/-vel

Instrumental case -val/-vel (with, by means of) and consonant assimilation

Learning Goal

Can use -val/-vel for transport and accompaniment, applying consonant assimilation correctly

Exam Skills:BeszédHallás utáni értésÍrásOlvasás

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).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners forget consonant assimilation — the most common error. 🇬🇧 English: No case system — 'with' is a preposition. In Hungarian it's a suffix.

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

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel used?: Az eszközhatározó eset ragja: -val/-vel (magánhangzó-harmónia szerint).
How is Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel formed?: Mássalhangzó-hasonulás: ha a szó mássalhangzóra végződik, a rag mássalhangzója megkettőződik : Jelentése: -val/-vel = with, by (transport): busszal megyek (I go by bus).
What are common mistakes with Eszközhatározó eset: -val/-vel?: Learners forget consonant assimilation — the most common error. 🇬🇧 English: No case system — 'with' is a preposition. In Hungarian it's a suffix. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian uses instrumental case too (творительный падеж) — same meaning, different form.