hallgatták

Hallgatták is a Hungarian verb form used as the third-person plural past tense of the verb hallgat. In its primary sense, hallgat means to listen or to pay attention, and the past tense form hallgatták corresponds to the English “they listened” or “they were listening.” The form is typically used when the action is directed toward a definite object, such as a speech, a song, or someone speaking.

Grammatically, hallgatták belongs to the definite conjugation pattern in Hungarian. It combines the verb stem hallgat- with the past tense marker and the third-person plural definite suffix, signaling that the direct object is definite in context. Because hallgat can also carry the sense of obeying, the same form can appear in contexts describing obedience, memory of orders, or adherence to commands when a definite object is present.

Usage of hallgatták appears frequently in narrative and reporting styles, where a group is described as listening to something or someone. The subject is explicit in the sentence, while the object is typically a definite noun phrase, such as a person delivering a speech, a teacher’s words, or a piece of music.

Examples:

- A diákok hallgatták a tanárt. The students listened to the teacher.

- A hallgatók hallgatták végig az előadót. The listeners listened to the presenter throughout.

- Zenét hallgattak a kornyékben, amikor felolvasták a beszédet. They listened to the music as the speech was read aloud.

See also: hallgató, hallgatás, hallgatólagos.