következthetnek

Következhetnek is a Hungarian verb form meaning “they may follow” or “they could ensue.” It expresses possibility and is used to talk about events or consequences that might occur after some action. The form is the third-person plural present potential mood of the verb következni (to follow, to ensue).

Grammatically, következhetnek is built from the stem következ-, plus the potential suffix -het and the third-person plural ending -nek, resulting in a form that corresponds to “they may follow.” In everyday language it is most common in formal or analytical contexts, such as discussions of outcomes, risks, or sequences of events. The potential mood is used to indicate likelihood rather than certainty, similar to modal expressions in other languages.

Common contexts for következhetnek include legal, policy, and risk-related writing, where speakers describe what might happen if certain conditions are not met or if specific actions are taken. It is often paired with nouns in plural to emphasize multiple possible consequences, such as büntetések (penalties), problémák (problems), or kérdések (questions).

Example sentences:

- Ha a szerződési kötelezettséget nem teljesítik, büntetések következhetnek. (If the contractual obligation is not fulfilled, penalties may follow.)

- Az adatszolgáltatás késése után problémák következhetnek. (Delays in data reporting may lead to problems.)

- A döntés végrehajtása után új kérdések következhetnek. (After implementing the decision, new questions may ensue.)

Etymology: the word stems from következik/következni, itself meaning “to follow” or “to ensue.” The form következhetnek represents the modal sense of possibility applied to the plural subject.