Verbs

When to use οτι or που?

οτι after verbs

που after nouns

Understanding Greek Sentence Structure

Breaking Down the Sentence

• Start with the main subject and action: 'Don't you know'

• Identify the verb: 'he's staying'

• Determine the subject of the verb: 'he'

• Combine the elements: 'Don't you know where he's staying'

Understanding Interrogative Phrases

• Focus on the question: 'What was the word for why'

• Clarify the subject: 'he'

• Explore the context: 'doesn't he know why you're staying'

Learning Verb Conjugation in Greek

Conjugating 'I Want'

• The verb for 'I want' is 'F'

• Differentiate between English 'th' sounds: 'this' and 'thank'

• Practice pronunciation of 'I want': 'then'

• Use 'thy' for 'he wants, she wants, it wants'

• Connect verbs with 'na' to express 'I want to know'

• Formulate 'I want to know' in Greek: 'I want na I know'

Expressing Desire to Know

• Formulate 'you want to know': 'you want you know'

• Construct 'I want to know where I'm staying'

• Create longer sentences by combining smaller structures

• Practice 'she wants to know why you're not waiting for me'

• Form sentences like 'I don't want to wait' and 'Don't you want to wait for me'

• Perfective (Closed): Similar to imperfective, it also adds 'ε-' for short verbs (e.g., 'I finished').

• Past Perfect: Formed using 'είχα' + third person closed firm tense conjugate (e.g., 'I had seen').

• The ‘would’ or ‘was going to’ can be formed using the structure 'θα + continued past tense verb', which conveys a conditional meaning of 'would' (e.g., 'I would go').

• “I should” is formed with θα πρεπεί να

• “I could” θα μπορούσα

• “It must have had” πρεπεί να past tense verb

• “It is necessary or have to” πρεπεί να

• “It was necessary or had to” έπρεπε να

Imperative Mood (Commands, requests, desires)

• Place after the stem the following endings for the

• A group: -ε, -ετε

  • B1 group: -α, -άτε

  • B2 group: -ει (seldom used, however some verbs take -α), -είτε

• Participles (in english as the -ing) - is a verb that is modified as an adjective by adding -ing. In greek it is -οντας or -ώντας.

• For medio-verbs: that typically end in -μαι

• Place the following endings in the end:

• if the omitted letter is θ : -μένος, -μένη, -μένο

  • if the omitted letters are στ: -σμένος, -σμένη, -σμένο

  • if the omitted letters are φτ: -μμένος, -μμένη, -μμένο (apply the following rule: use dubble μμ when the present stem of the verbs of the A group ends in -π, -β, -φ)

  • if the omitted letters are χτ: -γμένος, -γμένη, -γμένο

Verb Conjugation and Tenses

• Present Tense: Most verbs are conjugated to express current actions. Example: "Εγώ τρώω" (I eat).

• Past Tense: Indicates actions that have already occurred.

  • Open: if only two syllables then ε- is added and ending has -α.

    • Example: ετρωγα

  • Closed: If only two syllables then add ε- is added and ending has -α.

    • Example: "Έφαγα" (I ate).

• Future Tense: Indicates actions that will occur. Add a θα

  • Example: "Θα φάω" (I will eat).

• Imperative Mood: Used for commands. Add an ε

  • Example: "Φάε!" (Eat!).

• Subjunctive Mood: Used for wishes or hypotheticals.

  • Example: "Αν φάω..." (If I eat...). Examples: να, ή για να, αν, ας, εάν ή άμα, όταν, μήπως, πριν, (να) μην

• Continuous Aspect: Indicates ongoing actions.

  • Example: "Τρώω τώρα" (I am eating now).

Overview of Greek Verb Conjugation

Common Verb Stem Conjugates

• Greek verbs can be categorized into open and closed patterns based on their present stems.

• The present stem of a verb is crucial for determining its conjugation in various tenses.

• Understanding the changes in consonants when forming the aorist or participles is essential for correct verb usage.

Closed and Open Patterns

• Open verbs retain their stem consonants when conjugated, while closed verbs undergo specific changes.

• Example of open verb: χανω (I lose) becomes χασω (I will lose) in the closed pattern.

• Example of closed verb: πιανω (I catch) becomes πιασω (I will catch).

Consonant Changes in Closed Stems

• Stems ending in -ζ- change to -ξ- in closed forms: ἀλλάζω (I change) becomes ἀλλαξω.

• Stems ending in -π-, -β-, -ϕ-, etc., combine with -σ- to form -ψ-: λείπω (I am absent) becomes λειψω.

• Stems ending in -κ-, -γ-, -χ- combine with -σ- to form -ξ- in closed stems.

• Stems ending in -ζ- change to -σ- in closed forms.

• stems ending in -ν- will drop the -ν

Present and Past Participles

Present Participle Formation

• Present participles in Greek are formed by adding -ονταζ or -ωνταζ to the verb stem.

• This form indicates ongoing action or something that is happening at the same time, similar to the English '-ing' form. Usually indicates while or as. It can be used to describe a noun. It can be used to indicate cause or reason using because or since. It can be used the describe an action that is perceived as happening at the same time.

Past Participles Formation

• Past participles are formed differently based on gender: masculine, feminine, and neuter forms exist.

• Examples include: Ο παππούς είναι κουρασμένος (The grandfather is tired) for masculine, and Η πόρτα είναι κλειδωμένη (The door is locked) for feminine.

Examples of Past Participles

• Τα βιβλία είναι διαβασμένα (The books are read) - neuter form.

• Η γραμμένη επιστολή είναι σημαντική (The written letter is important) - feminine form.

• Ο φαγωμένος σοκολατόπληκτος ήταν πολύ καλός (The eaten chocolate pie was really good) - masculine form.

Summary of Key Conjugation Rules

Key Conjugation Rules

• Closed verbs often change their stem consonants when forming the aorist or participles.

• The presence of -σ- in the aorist is common for second conjugation verbs, with variations like -η-, -α-, and -ε- seen in some cases.

• Understanding these rules is crucial for mastering Greek verb conjugation.

Practical Applications

• Mastery of these conjugation patterns is essential for reading and writing in Greek.

• Practicing with examples helps solidify understanding of the rules and their applications.

• Regular exposure to Greek texts will enhance recognition of these patterns in context.

Overview of Conjunctions

Definition and Function of Conjunctions

• Conjunctions are indeclinable words that serve to link words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence.

• They play a crucial role in sentence structure by connecting ideas and establishing relationships between them.

• Understanding conjunctions is essential for constructing coherent and complex sentences in Greek.

Types of Conjunctions

• There are two primary types of conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating.

• Coordinating Conjunctions: These link elements of equal grammatical rank, such as independent clauses or words of the same type.

• Subordinating Conjunctions: These introduce dependent clauses, linking them to independent clauses and indicating relationships such as time, cause, or condition.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Copulative Conjunctions

• Examples include και (and) and κι (and), which are used to add information or link similar ideas.

• They can connect nouns, verbs, or entire clauses, enhancing the flow of ideas in a sentence.

Alternate Conjunctions

• Examples include ή (or) and είτε…είτε (either…or), which present alternatives or choices.

• These conjunctions are essential in expressing options or possibilities in a sentence.

Contrast Conjunctions

• Examples include αλλά (but) and όμως (however), which introduce contrasting ideas or exceptions.

• They help to clarify differences or contradictions between statements.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Time Conjunctions

• Examples include όταν (when) and πριν (before), which indicate temporal relationships between clauses.

• These conjunctions are crucial for establishing the timing of actions or events in a narrative.

Cause/Reason Conjunctions

• Examples include γιατί (because) and επειδή (because), which explain reasons or causes for actions.

• They are important for providing context and justification in arguments or explanations.

Condition Conjunctions

• Examples include αν (if) and εάν (if/whether), which introduce conditional statements.

• These conjunctions are vital for expressing hypothetical situations or conditions that affect outcomes.

Purpose Conjunctions

• Examples include να (to) and για να (in order to), which indicate the purpose of an action.

• They help clarify intentions and goals in sentences, making the meaning more explicit.

Important Notes on Usage

Distinction in Meaning

• The conjunctions που, πως, and ότι mean 'that', while πού, πώς, and ό,τι mean 'where', 'how', and 'whatever' respectively.

• This distinction is crucial for proper sentence construction and understanding nuances in meaning.

Examples of Conjunctions in Sentences

• Coordinating: "Θα πάω στο πάρκο και θα διαβάσω ένα βιβλίο." (I will go to the park and read a book.)

• Subordinating: "Όταν τελειώσω τη δουλειά, θα πάω για καφέ." (When I finish work, I will go for coffee.)