blog.basics
The Present Tense
The present tense in Greek, known as "ενεστώτας" (enestótas), is used to describe actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths.
Conjugating Verbs in the Present Tense
Greek verbs are conjugated according to the...
Demonstrative Pronouns
Greek has distinct forms for "this" (αυτός/αυτή/αυτό) and "that" (εκείνος/εκείνη/εκείνο), with variations depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify.
1. Forms Based on Gender
Greek demonst...
Nouns: Gender, Number, and Case in Greek
In Greek, nouns are inflected for three categories: gender, number, and case.
Gender
Greek nouns have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The gender of a noun is inherent and often has no logi...
The Greek alphabet and pronunciation
The Greek alphabet has 24 letters, many of which are the roots of letters in the Latin alphabet, which is used in many European languages.
The Greek Alphabet
The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters, with bo...
Demonstrative Pronouns
Greek has distinct forms for "this" (αυτός/αυτή/αυτό) and "that" (εκείνος/εκείνη/εκείνο), with variations depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify.
1. Forms Based on Gender
Greek demonst...
Articles
In Greek, articles are used to define the gender, number, and case of a noun. Just like in English, where we have "the" (definite article) and "a/an" (indefinite article), Greek has both definite and indefinite articles. Greek articles...
Common Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative Pronoun Meaning Example in Greek Translation
...
Negation in the Greek Language
"Δεν" – Negating Verbs in Indicative Mood
"Δεν" is used to negate verbs in the indicative mood, which is used for statements of fact or descriptions of reality. It is placed directly before the verb.
Examples:
...
Adjectives in the Greek Language
In Greek, adjectives play a key role in describing nouns, and their form changes based on the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify. Greek adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in all three of the...
Modern Greek, unlike many other European languages, does not use the infinitive in the traditional sense. In most European languages, the infinitive is the base form of the verb, which does not change and is independent of person, number, or tense. However...
Possessive Pronouns
1. Basic Forms
In Greek, possessive pronouns come after the noun, unlike in many European langauges where they precede it. The pronouns change according to the person (first, second, third) and whether the noun is singular ...
Conjunctions and Connectives
1. Coordinating Conjunctions
και (kai) – "and":
Εγώ και εσύ (You and I).
ή (i) – "or":
Θέλεις καφέ ή τσάι; (Do you want coffee or tea?).
αλλά (alla) – "but":
Θέλω να πάω, αλλά δεν μπορώ...
Common Greek Prepositions
Preposition Meaning Example
σε in, at, to, on Πάω ...
Aorist in Greek
The aorist tense is commonly referred to as the simple past, as it indicates a completed action that took place at a specific point in the past, without emphasizing the duration or repetition of the action. The aorist tense exis...
The Future Tense
In Modern Greek, the future tense is formed by combining the particle "θα" (tha) with the verb in its present tense form.
1. Forming the Future Tense
This structure is simple and consistent across all persons (I, you, he/...
The Imperfect Tense (Active) in Greek
The Imperfect tense in Greek (παρατατικός) is used to describe past actions that were ongoing, habitual, or repetitive. It's similar to the imperfect tense in languages like Spanish or French, but it has some ...
The Imperative Mood in Greek
The Imperative mood can express both positive and negative commands, and like in many languages, it varies based on the formality and the subject of the command.
Affirmative Imperative (Active)
For regular verb...
The subjunctive mood in Modern Greek is primarily used to express:
Wishes
Hypothetical situations
Uncertainty
Purpose
Commands or requests
It is formed using the particle "να" (na) followed by the present or aorist (perfective) form of the verb...
The optative mood in Modern Greek expresses wishes, hopes, and desires. It is formed using the particle "να" (na) followed by the subjunctive form of the verb. This construction is used in both formal and informal contexts.
Common Expressions
"Να εί...
Reflexive pronouns in Modern Greek are used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is also the object. They are formed by combining the possessive pronoun with the word "εαυτός" (eaftós), meaning "self."
The basic forms of reflexive pronouns are:
S...
Conjugation
The present tense for middle/passive voice in Modern Greek is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem:
1st person singular: ομαι (omai)
2nd person singular: εσαι (esai)
3rd person singular: εται (etai)
1st person p...
Modern Greek employs four main types of conditional sentences:
1. Zero Conditional: Expresses general truths or scientific facts
2. First Conditional: Refers to real or possible situations in the present or future
3. Second Conditional: Descri...
Types of Speech in Modern Greek
Modern Greek employs both direct and indirect speech to report spoken words or thoughts. Each type has its own grammatical rules and usage patterns.
Direct Speech
Introduced by a colon (:) or quotation marks («»)...
Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns in Greek (αναφορικές αντωνυμίες) connect a relative clause to a noun or pronoun, providing additional information about the noun. They need to agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer ...
Perfect Tense (Active)
In Modern Greek, the Perfect Tense (Active), or Παρακείμενος, is used to express actions that were completed in the past but have a present result or relevance. It is similar to the present perfect in English (e.g., "I h...
The imperfect tense in Modern Greek for middle/passive voice is formed using the imperfect stem of the verb and specific endings. The process involves:
1. Identifying the present tense stem
2. Adding the appropriate suffix (όμουν, όσουν, όταν, etc.)
3....
The Perfect Tense (Middle/Passive) in Modern Greek is formed using the auxiliary verb "έχω" (to have) and the passive participle of the main verb. The passive participle is created by adding "μένος, μένη, μένο" to the verb stem.
Usage
This tense is...
The pluperfect tense (middle/passive) in Modern Greek is formed using the following structure:
1. The auxiliary verb "είχα" (ícha) the imperfect of "έχω" (écho, "to have")
2. The passive participle of the main verb
The passive participle is created by ...
Everyday Expressions
Έγινε της Πόπης (Égine tis Pópis) Literal: "It became Popi's"; Meaning: A chaotic situation
Στα καλά καθούμενα (Sta kalá kathoúmena) Literal: "In the good sitting"; Meaning: Out of the blue
Foodrelated Idioms
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The pluperfect tense (middle/passive) in Greek is a combination of the perfect tense stem and the past imperfect endings. It is used to describe an action that was completed before another past action or time. The formation of the pluperfect tense (middle/...