közelíthet

Közelíthet is a finite verb form of the Hungarian verb közelít, meaning to approach or draw near. It belongs to the potential mood, which expresses possibility or hypothetical action. In usage, közelíthet can be translated as can approach, may approach, or could approach, depending on context and time reference.

Formation and function: közelíthet is formed by adding the suffix -het to the verb stem közelít-, following Hungarian vowel harmony rules. The form shown here corresponds to the third-person singular present potential: it denotes that the subject may approach in the present or under a given condition. Like other potential forms, it is not a fully independent tense but a modality indicating possibility.

Usage examples: A hajó közelíthet a kikötőhöz. (The ship may approach the harbor.) This construction is used when the speaker discusses what could happen under certain circumstances, rather than stating a definite action. The same pattern applies to many Hungarian verbs, allowing speakers to express possibility without committing to certainty.

Notes and related forms: közelíthet is distinct from közelít, the present indicative meaning “approaches,” and from közelíthető, an adjective or participle meaning “approachable” or “potentially approachable.” The potential form is a common way to express probability, permission, or hypothetical capability in Hungarian and can be combined with other grammatical elements to convey nuanced meaning.

See also: közelítés (the act of approaching) and közelítő (relating to approaching or approximate).