életét

Életét is a Hungarian grammatical form tied to the noun élet (life). It represents the definite direct object form of a possessed life in the third person, used when the life belongs to someone definite and is the object of the action in the sentence. The base possessed form is élete (his/her life). When the life is treated as a definite direct object, Hungarian adds the definite object suffix -t, producing életét.

In practical terms, életét appears in sentences where someone’s life is being acted upon as a specific, identifiable object. For example: A mentő megmentette a beteg életét. “The medic saved the patient’s life.” Another example: Ő megvédte az életét a támadástól. “He defended his life from the attack.” These constructions contrast with less definite uses where the life would be referred to without the definite object marker.

Usage notes:

- The form is tied to the definite object construction and is not used when the life is not treated as a definite object.

- It is common in narrative and formal prose, medical or legal contexts, and in reporting where the subject’s life is the direct object of the action.

- The underlying morphology reflects Hungarian’s system of possessive forms combined with definite direct object marking.

See also: life (linguistics), Hungarian grammar, possessive forms in Hungarian.