Létige

Létige is a term used in Hungarian linguistics to refer to the copular verb form of the verb lenni (to be). It is employed to express existence or to link a subject with a predicate. The létige is irregular and its finite forms vary by person and number. In present tense, the standard forms are: én vagyok, te vagy, ő van, mi vagyunk, ti vagytok, ők vannak. Other tenses follow the same irregular paradigm: voltam, voltál, volt, voltunk, voltatok, voltak (past); leszek, leszel, lesz, leszünk, lesztek, lesznek (future).

Usage and function. The létige primarily marks existence (existential use) and, in nominal predication, links a subject with a predicate to express state or identity. In existential sentences, it appears as van or nincs in the singular or vannak/nincsenek in plural: “Van egy könyv az asztalon” and “Nincsen időm.” In past contexts, the forms volt és voltak are used: “A könyv ott volt.” In predicative statements of identity or classification, the copula can often be omitted in present tense: “Ő tanár” rather than “Ő tanár van,” though both constructions are possible depending on emphasis and style.

Forms and related notes. The modern Hungarian létige paradigm includes present, past, and future forms derived from lenni: vagyok–vagy–van–vagyunk–vagtok–vannak; voltam–voltál–volt–voltunk–voltatok–voltak; leszek–leszel–lesz–leszünk–lesztek–lesznek. The term “létige” emphasizes the verb’s role in expressing existence and state, distinct from non-copular predicates in other grammatical constructions. Etymologically, the word arises from lét, meaning existence or being.