Marking of function P on pronouns (Hungarian)

PAff: The function P is marked with affixation.


(1) juli ő-t keres-i

Juli (s)he-acc look_for-prs.obj.3sg

‘Juli is looking for him/her.’


(2) ő engem keres.

(s)he I.acc look_for.prs.3sg

‘(S)he is looking for me.’


(3) juli énekel.

Juli sing.prs.3sg

’Juli is singing.’


In Hungarian, if the P is expressed by a pronoun, it takes the accusative suffix (-t) irrespective of whether the conjugation of the verb is determinate (1) or indetermnate (2). Personal pronouns in the third person are morphologically marked (őt ‘him’, őket ‘them’), while first and second person personal pronouns do not take the accusative suffix (2). The P is always marked, contrary to the A (1)–(2) and the S (3) functions. The marking of the P is not dependent on whether the A is presented by a noun (1), (3), or a pronoun (2) (cf. Kugler 2000a: 104‒123, Kiefer 2003:  212‒222, Havas 2005, 2008, Csepregi 2010b, É. Kiss 2002, 2010, 2013).

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás