által
által is a Hungarian postposition used to mark the agent or means by which an action is performed. It follows the noun phrase that represents the agent or instrument and introduces the role of that actor in the event described by the verb. In function, it roughly corresponds to the English by or through in passive constructions, and to by means of or via when indicating method or instrument.
The typical pattern is X által Y, where X denotes the agent or instrument and Y denotes
Examples illustrate the usage:
- A könyvet a tanár által írták meg. (The book was written by the teacher.)
- A döntést a közgyűlés által hozták meg. (The decision was made by the assembly.)
In addition to expressing agency, által can also convey means or method in certain contexts, particularly with
Notes: által is a fixed postposition; it does not itself change form. The noun phrase before it