Határozóeset

Határozóeset is a term used in Hungarian grammar to describe the set of inflected forms that express adverbial relations to a verb. These forms attach to nouns or pronouns and function as határozói módosítókat (adverbial modifiers), indicating circumstances such as place, time, manner, means, purpose, or cause. In traditional grammars, the határozóeset encompasses several subcategories, including helyhatározó (place), időhatározó (time), módhatározó (manner), eszközhatározó (means/instrument), céllhatározó (goal), and okhatározó (cause). The exact set of endings and their naming can vary between grammars, but the general idea is that these forms mark how an action relates to the surrounding situation rather than marking a grammatical object or subject.

Formation and usage extend beyond a single uniform ending. Many határozóeseti forms are realized by suffixes attached to nouns or pronouns, and they often interact with postpositions to convey the intended adverbial meaning. The endings reflect Hungarian vowel harmony and may appear in different phonological shapes depending on the base word. In addition to suffixal inflection, some adverbial meanings are expressed by fixed adverbial words or phrases that do not change form.

Examples of határozóeseti usage include: házban (in the house) as a helyhatározó, utcán (on the street); hétfőn (on Monday) as an időhatározó; kézzel (with the hand) or képpel (with a picture) as eszközhatározó. The concept remains a traditional organizing principle in Hungarian grammar, helping to classify forms that attach to verbs to express circumstances.

See also: case, locative, instrumental, adverbial phrases.