HOW DO WE WRITE VERBAL PREFIXES?

Here are the grammatical situtation when you MUST write the verbal prefix together or separately from the verb.

-If the verbal prefix precedes the verb, it is written together with the verb:

megnéz, odafut, szétszed…

-If the verbal prefix follows the verb, it is written separately from the verb. Reason for this can be an imperative sense or negation!

Mondd meg! Nézzen oda! Keljenek fel!
Nem eszem meg. Nem kel fel.

-The verbal prefix is written separately if a third word is wedged between the verbal prefix and its verb:

El ne áruld! Meg is teszem. Fel szabad menni…

In this case you should deal with verbs like: megtud, leszokik, megvan. Watch their use!

1a. Megtudta, hogy átment a vizsgán. – He learned he passed the exam.
1b. Meg tudta írni a tesztet. – He could write the test.

2a. Leszokott a dohányzásról. – He gave up smoking.
2b. Le szokott menni a parkba. – Usually he goes down the park.

3a. Megvan a megoldás! – I’ve got the solution!
3b. Meg van ijedve. – He’s frightened.

1a. megtud = to get to know, to learn
1b. meg tud írni = auxiliary verb ’can’

2a. leszokik = to give up
2b. le szokott menni = auxiliary verb equivalent to ’usually’

3a. megvan = to have it; „I’ve got it!”
3b. meg van ijedve = adverbial construction derived from megijed ’to get scared’

-If a verbal prefix is repeated, it is written with a hyphen and together with the verb:

vissza-visszanéz, meg-megáll…

-If two verbal prefixes have an opposite meaning, they’re written with a hyphen and separately from the verb they refer to:

le-fel járkál, ki-be szalad, oda-vissza utazik

So much for phrasal verbs. Next time we start with modal verbs and then we’re done with verbs for good and all.