Használhatnak

Használhatnak is a Hungarian verb form meaning they can or may use something. It is the present tense, third-person plural form of használni (to use) in the potential mood, which expresses possibility or ability rather than obligation. The form reflects the stem használ-, the potential suffix -hat/-het, and the third-person plural ending -nak/-nek.

Morphology and usage notes: The construction combines the verb stem with the -hat/-het suffix to indicate potential meaning, followed by the plural 3rd-person ending -nak/-nek to agree with the subject they. This form is used when the subject is őők (they) and the speaker wants to convey that they have the capability or are allowed to use something in a given context. It can appear in statements, questions, or conditional clauses discussing what a group could or may do.

Examples:

- Ők használhatnak egy új szoftvert. (They can use a new software.)

- Ha szükség van rá, használhatnak különféle módszereket. (If needed, they can use various methods.)

Relation to related forms: Használhatnak is related to the base verb használni and to other potential forms such as használhat (he/she/it can use) and használhatnak hozzátartozó mondatrészek nélkül, where the verb would be conjugated for different persons or numbers with corresponding suffixes and mood markers.

See also: használni, the base verb meaning to use; a discussion of Hungarian potential mood (hat/het endings) and present-tense conjugation.