Kötöttnek

Kötöttnek is a predicative form in Hungarian formed from the past participle kötött (bound) with the predicative suffix -nek. The combination functions to express that the subject is considered to be or appears as “bound” or “constrained.” In Hungarian, the -nak/-nek suffix is used to turn adjectives into predicative complements after verbs of perception, judgment, or attribution, such as tűnik, látszik, bizonyul, or tekint.

Usage and meaning

Kötöttnek marks a property assigned to the subject rather than a direct attribute of a noun. It is not a separate noun but a form that makes an adjective operate as a predicative phrase. The meaning shifts slightly with context, often implying a qualitative or evaluative sense rather than a literal physical state. Common verbs that take predicative -nek forms include tűnik (seems), látszik (appears), and bizonyul (proves to be). The construction can also appear with verbs like tekint (to regard) or érez (to feel), yielding phrases such as kötöttnek tűnik or kötöttnek érzi magát.

Examples

- A megoldás kötöttnek tűnik. (The solution seems constrained/bound.)

- Ő kötöttnek érzi magát. (She/He feels bound.)

- A projektet kötöttnek tekintik. (They regard the project as bound/constrained.)

Notes

The form is orthographically determined by vowel harmony: -nek is used after stems with front vowels (as in kötött). The predicative -nek/-nak construction is a standard tool in Hungarian grammar for creating nominalized or adjectival predicate phrases, and kötöttnek is one of many possible realizations with participial bases.