érkezhetett

érkezhetett is a Hungarian verb form that expresses past possibility or uncertainty about an arrival. It is derived from the verb érkezik (to arrive) with the suffix -het, which marks the potential mood, and the past-tense suffix -ett, yielding érkezhetett. Thus this form indicates that something could have arrived in the past, rather than stating a definite event.

Morphology and usage

The base is érkez- from érkezik. Adding -het creates érkezhet (present potential: could arrive / may arrive). Adding the past suffix -ett results in érkezhetett, the past potential form: the subject could have arrived in the past. This form is commonly used in narrative, reported speech, or when expressing uncertainty about a past event. It does not assert that the arrival actually occurred.

Related forms include érkezhetet, which is less common, and phrases like érkezhetett volna, which combines past potential with a conditional mood to mean “could have arrived” or “might have arrived” depending on context.

Examples

- A vonat érkezhetett későn. (The train could have arrived late.)

- A levél érkezhetett a postán, de nem biztos, hogy megszállt. (The letter may have arrived at the post office, though it isn’t certain that it did.)

Etymology and related grammar

érkezhetett follows Hungarian pattern for past potential forms: verb stem + -het (potential) + -ett (past). It sits within the broader category of mood and tense systems used to convey possibility about past events.

See also

Hungarian grammar, mood: lehetőségmód (potential mood), past tense forms, -het/-hetet suffixes.