Unlocking Greek: Your grammar companion

Welcome to your essential guide for mastering Greek grammar. Here, we simplify the rules of this beautiful language, making them accessible for both writing and speaking. Our goal is to elaborate on grammar rules in Greek, helping you navigate your learning journey with the JKENT GREEK CLASS.

 

1. The Golden Rule: The Suffix

In Greek, the verb itself tells you who is speaking. Most verbs in their dictionary form (the "I" form) end in the letter -ω. To change the "person," you keep the stem (the start of the word) and swap the ending.

Example Verb: Κάνω (Kah-no) — I do/make

 * Stem: Κάν-

2. Present Tense Endings

To express different people, use these specific endings:

 * I: ends in -ω (o)

   * Example: Κάνω (I do)

 * You (singular/informal): ends in -εις (ees)

   * Example: Κάνεις (You do)

 * He / She / It: ends in -ει (ee)

   * Example: Κάνει (He/She/It does)

 * We: ends in -ουμε (oo-me)

   * Example: Κάνουμε (We do)

 * You (plural / formal): ends in -ετε (eh-te)

   * Example: Κάνετε (You all do / You formal do)

 * They: ends in -ουν or -ουνε (oon / oo-ne)

   * Example: Κάνουν (They do)

3. Essential Concepts

 * No Pronouns Needed: Since the ending changes for every person, Greeks rarely say "I" (Ego) or "You" (Esy). The verb "Milo" already means "I speak."

 * The "Formal You": If you are talking to a boss, a stranger, or someone older, use the -ετε ending (the plural form), even if you are only talking to one person. It shows respect.

 * The Two Groups: * Type A: The stress is on the stem (e.g., Θέλω - Thé-lo). These follow the rules above perfectly.

   * Type B: The stress is on the ending (e.g., Αγαπώ - Aha-pó). These are slightly different but still very predictable once you learn the pattern.

Quick Cheat Sheet for Endings:

 * -ω (I)

 * -εις (You)

 * -ει (He/She)

 * -ουμε (We)

 * -ετε (You all)

 * -ουν (They)

Expressing verbs, simply

Understanding how verbs change for different people is key to speaking and writing Greek correctly. These notes focus on the expression of verbs in different persons, breaking down conjugations into clear, easy-to-follow explanations. We aim to make this fundamental aspect of Greek grammar easy to grasp, explained entirely in English.

In Greek, verbs are primarily divided into two main categories: Active Voice and Passive/Middle Voice. Within the Active Voice, we divide them further into Type A (Unaccented endings) and Type B (Accented endings).

Here is the breakdown of these classes and how they change based on the person.

1. Type A Verbs (The "Omega" Class)

These are the most common verbs. The stress (accent mark) falls on the stem of the word, not the ending.

Example Verb: Λύνω (Lee-no) — I untie/solve

 * First Person (I): ends in -ω * Λύνω (Lee-no)

 * Second Person (You - singular): ends in -εις * Λύνεις (Lee-nees)

 * Third Person (He/She/It): ends in -ει * Λύνει (Lee-nee)

 * First Person Plural (We): ends in -ουμε * Λύνουμε (Lee-noo-meh)

 * Second Person Plural (You - all/formal): ends in -ετε * Λύνετε (Lee-neh-teh)

 * Third Person Plural (They): ends in -ουν or -ουνε * Λύνουν (Lee-noon)

2. Type B Verbs (Contracted Verbs)

In these verbs, the stress falls directly on the last letter -ώ. They are split into two sub-groups (B1 and B2) because their vowels "contract" or blend together differently.

Class B1 (The -άω type)

Example Verb: Αγαπάω (Ah-ghah-pah-o) — I love

 * I: Αγαπώ (Ah-ghah-po)

 * You (s): Αγαπάς (Ah-ghah-pas)

 * He/She: Αγαπάει or Αγαπά (Ah-ghah-pah-ee / Ah-ghah-pah)

 * We: Αγαπάμε (Ah-ghah-pah-meh)

 * You (pl): Αγαπάτε (Ah-ghah-pah-teh)

 * They: Αγαπούν or Αγαπάνε (Ah-ghah-poon / Ah-ghah-pah-neh)

Class B2 (The -ώ/-είς type)

Example Verb: Μπορώ (Bo-ro) — I can / I am able

 * I: Μπορώ (Bo-ro)

 * You (s): Μπορείς (Bo-rees)

 * He/She: Μπορεί (Bo-ree)

 * We: Μπορούμε (Bo-roo-meh)

 * You (pl): Μπορείτε (Bo-ree-teh)

 * They: Μπορούν (Bo-roon)

3. Passive / Middle Voice (The -μαι Class)

These verbs describe actions done to oneself (like "I wash myself") or passive actions (like "I am being held"). Their endings are completely different from the Active Voice.

Example Verb: Έρχομαι (Er-ho-meh) — I come

 * I: Έρχομαι (Er-ho-meh)

 * You (s): Έρχεσαι (Er-heh-seh)

 * He/She: Έρχεται (Er-heh-teh)

 * We: Ερχόμαστε (Er-ho-mah-steh)

 * You (pl): Έρχεστε (Er-heh-steh)

 * They: Έρχονται (Er-hon-deh)

4. Irregular Verbs

There are a few very common verbs that don't fit these patterns perfectly. The most important one to learn first is the verb "to be."

The Verb: Είμαι (Ee-meh) — I am

 * I am: Είμαι (Ee-meh)

 * You are (s): Είσαι (Ee-seh)

 * He/She/It is: Είναι (Ee-neh)

 * We are: Είμαστε (Ee-mah-steh)

 * You are (pl): Είστε (Ee-steh)

 * They are: Είναι (Ee-neh) — Note: Same as the "He/She" form.

 

Mastering word stress

The rhythm of Greek lies in its word stress. Incorrect stress can change the meaning of a word or make it sound unnatural. Our notes will guide you on how to stress words correctly, providing simple rules and examples that are crucial for both clear pronunciation and accurate writing. All explanations are in simplified English.

 

    • This section shows how the accent (tonos) rolls with longer words or different verb classes.
    • 1. Recessive Stress in Verbs (Type A)
    • Check it out— the accent likes to hang out as far back as it can while playing by the "Rule of Three" (it can't chill further back than the third syllable from the end).
    • Verb: Διαβάζω (Thee-ah-vah-zo) — "I read"
    • * I read: Δια-βά-ζω (3rd syllable from the end)
    • * We read: Δια-βά-ζου-με (As the word gets longer, the accent sticks with "va," which is now the 3rd syllable from the end).
    • * They read: Δια-βά-ζουν (Still hanging on the 3rd syllable).
    • 2. Jumping Stress in Nouns
    • In some nouns, the accent likes to move around a bit when going from singular to plural or when changing "case."
    • Noun: Άνθρωπος (An-thro-pos) — "Human/Man"
    • * The man: Ο άνθρωπος (Stress on the 3rd syllable from the end).
    • * The men: Οι άνθρωποι (Stress stays on the 3rd syllable).
    • * Of the man (Possessive): Του ανθρώπου (Here, the ending "-ou" is "long" in Greek, making the accent hop to the 2nd syllable from the end for balance).
    • 3. Stress on Diphthongs (Double Vowels)
    • Just remember, when two vowels combine to create a single sound, the accent mark settles on the second vowel.
    • * Είμαι (Ee-meh) — "I am": The accent is on the ι, even though we pronounce the "E" sound.
    • * Ναύτης (Nav-tees) — "Sailor": The accent is on the υ.
    • * Παπούτσι (Pa-poo-tsi) — "Shoe": The accent hangs on the υ of the "ou" pair.
    • 4. Type B Verbs (Stress on the Ending)
    • In these verbs, the accent always lands on the final syllable in the "I" form, switching up the rhythm for the whole conjugation.
    • Verb: Μιλάω (Mee-la-o) — "I speak"
    • * I speak: Μι-λώ (Accent on the end)
    • * You speak: Μι-λάς (Accent on the end)
    • * We speak: Μι-λά-με (Accent shifts to the 2nd syllable from the end)
    • * They speak: Μι-λούν (Accent on the end)
    • 5. Stress in Questions
    • Sometimes, a little word that usually has no accent gets one to help clarify the sentence structure.
    • * Πού (Poo) — "Where?" (Gets an accent since it’s a question word).
    • * που (poo) — "that/which" (No accent as it's just a connector).
    • * Πώς (Pos) — "How?" (Has an accent).
    • * πως (pos) — "that" (No accent).
    • Practice Exercise
    • Say the following two words out loud to see how stress changes the meaning:
    • * Πότε (Po-teh) — Means "When?"
    • * Ποτέ (Po-teh) — Means "Never"
    • Even though the letters are the same, the tonos really makes a difference!

Verbs in action: Building sentences

Knowing individual verb forms is just the beginning. This section brings it all together, showing you the practical use of verbs in sentences. Learn how to construct grammatically sound sentences for effective communication, both in writing and in conversation. These simplified explanations, provided in English, are designed to make your Greek fluent and natural.

Here are 100 common everyday Greek sentences, organized by situation.

1. Greetings & Basic Socializing

 * Γεια σου. (Yah soo) — Hello.

 * Τι κάνεις; (Tee kah-nees?) — How are you?

 * Καλά είμαι, ευχαριστώ. (Kah-lah ee-meh, ef-ha-rees-toh) — I am well, thank you.

 * Πώς σε λένε; (Pos seh leh-neh?) — What is your name?

 * Με λένε Γιώργο. (Meh leh-neh Yor-gho) — My name is George.

 * Χάρηκα πολύ. (Hah-ree-kah po-lee) — Nice to meet you.

 * Από πού είσαι; (Ah-po poo ee-seh?) — Where are you from?

 * Είμαι από την Αγγλία. (Ee-meh ah-po teen Ah-ghlee-ah) — I am from England.

 * Καλημέρα, τι νέα; (Kah-lee-meh-rah, tee neh-ah?) — Good morning, what's new?

 * Τα λέμε αργότερα. (Tah leh-meh ar-gho-teh-rah) — Talk to you later.

2. Common Requests & Manners

 * Παρακαλώ. (Pah-rah-kah-loh) — Please / You're welcome.

 * Ευχαριστώ πολύ. (Ef-hah-rees-toh po-lee) — Thank you very much.

 * Συγγνώμη, μπορώ να περάσω; (See-ghno-mee, bo-ro na pe-rah-so?) — Excuse me, can I pass?

 * Δεν πειράζει. (Then pee-rah-zee) — It doesn't matter / It's okay.

 * Μπορείτε να με βοηθήσετε; (Bo-ree-teh na meh vo-ee-thee-seh-teh?) — Can you help me? (Formal)

 * Σου αρέσει αυτό; (Soo ah-reh-see af-toh?) — Do you like this?

 * Μου αρέσει πολύ. (Moo ah-reh-see po-lee) — I like it a lot.

 * Περίμενε ένα λεπτό. (Pe-ree-meh-neh eh-na lep-toh) — Wait a minute.

 * Σιγά σιγά. (See-ghah see-ghah) — Slowly slowly / Take it easy.

 * Φυσικά. (Fee-see-kah) — Of course.

3. Eating & Drinking

 * Πεινάω πολύ. (Pee-nah-o po-lee) — I am very hungry.

 * Διψάω. (Thee-psah-o) — I am thirsty.

 * Θέλω έναν καφέ. (The-lo eh-nan kah-feh) — I want a coffee.

 * Ένα νερό, παρακαλώ. (Eh-na neh-ro, pah-rah-kah-loh) — A water, please.

 * Τι θα φάμε; (Tee thah fah-meh?) — What will we eat?

 * Το φαγητό είναι νόστιμο. (To fah-yee-toh ee-neh nos-tee-mo) — The food is delicious.

 * Είμαι χορτοφάγος. (Ee-meh hor-to-fah-ghos) — I am a vegetarian.

 * Χωρίς ζάχαρη. (Ho-rees zah-hah-ree) — Without sugar.

 * Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. (Ton lo-ghah-ryas-mo, pah-rah-kah-loh) — The bill, please.

 * Στην υγειά μας! (Steen ee-yah mas!) — To our health! (Cheers!)

4. Shopping & Money

 * Πόσο κάνει αυτό; (Po-so kah-nee af-toh?) — How much does this cost?

 * Είναι πολύ ακριβό. (Ee-neh po-lee ah-kree-vo) — It is very expensive.

 * Έχετε κάτι πιο φθηνό; (Eh-heh-teh kah-tee pyo fthee-no?) — Do you have something cheaper?

 * Θέλω να το αγοράσω. (The-lo na to ah-gho-rah-so) — I want to buy it.

 * Δέχεστε κάρτα; (The-heh-steh kar-tah?) — Do you accept cards?

 * Πού είναι το ταμείο; (Poo ee-neh to tah-mee-o?) — Where is the register?

 * Χρειάζομαι μια τσάντα. (Hree-ah-zo-meh myah tsan-tah) — I need a bag.

 * Είναι σε προσφορά; (Ee-neh seh pros-fo-rah?) — Is it on offer/sale?

 * Μου δίνετε την απόδειξη; (Moo thee-neh-teh teen ah-po-thee-ksee?) — Can you give me the receipt?

 * Δεν έχω μετρητά. (Then eh-ho meh-tree-tah) — I don't have cash.

5. Travel & Directions

 * Πού είναι η τουαλέτα; (Poo ee-neh ee too-ah-leh-tah?) — Where is the toilet?

 * Πώς θα πάω στην παραλία; (Pos thah pah-o steen pah-rah-lee-ah?) — How will I get to the beach?

 * Είναι μακριά από εδώ; (Ee-neh mah-kryah ah-po eh-tho?) — Is it far from here?

 * Στρίψτε δεξιά. (Streep-steh the-ksee-ah) — Turn right.

 * Μετά πηγαίνετε αριστερά. (Meh-tah pee-ye-neh-teh ah-ree-ste-rah) — Then go left.

 * Πού είναι η στάση του λεωφορείου; (Poo ee-neh ee stah-see too le-o-fo-ree-oo?) — Where is the bus stop?

 * Θέλω ένα ταξί. (The-lo eh-na tak-see) — I want a taxi.

 * Πότε φεύγει το πλοίο; (Po-teh fev-yee to plee-o?) — When does the boat leave?

 * Εδώ είναι η είσοδος. (Eh-tho ee-neh ee ee-so-thos) — Here is the entrance.

 * Καλό ταξίδι! (Kah-lo tak-see-thee!) — Have a good trip!

6. Time & Weather

 * Τι ώρα είναι; (Tee o-rah ee-neh?) — What time is it?

 * Είναι οκτώ το πρωί. (Ee-neh ok-toh to pro-ee) — It is 8 in the morning.

 * Τι μέρα είναι σήμερα; (Tee meh-rah ee-neh see-meh-rah?) — What day is today?

 * Σήμερα κάνει ζέστη. (See-meh-rah kah-nee zes-tee) — It is hot today.

 * Κάνει πολύ κρύο. (Kah-nee po-lee kree-o) — It is very cold.

 * Θα βρέξει αύριο; (Thah vre-ksee av-ree-o?) — Will it rain tomorrow?

 * Έχει ήλιο. (Eh-hee ee-lyo) — It is sunny.

 * Είναι αργά. (Ee-neh ar-ghah) — It is late.

 * Πρέπει να φύγω τώρα. (Pre-pee na fee-gho to-rah) — I have to leave now.

 * Θα τα πούμε την επόμενη εβδομάδα. (Thah tah poo-meh teen eh-po-meh-nee ev-tho-mah-tha) — We'll talk next week.

7. Household & Daily Routine

 * Πάω για ύπνο. (Pah-o yah eep-no) — I am going to sleep.

 * Ξύπνησα νωρίς. (Ksee-pnee-sah no-rees) — I woke up early.

 * Θέλω να κάνω ντους. (The-lo na kah-no doos) — I want to take a shower.

 * Πού είναι τα κλειδιά μου; (Poo ee-neh tah klee-thyah moo?) — Where are my keys?

 * Κλείσε την πόρτα. (Klee-seh teen por-tah) — Close the door.

 * Άνοιξε το παράθυρο. (Ah-nee-kse to pah-rah-thee-ro) — Open the window.

 * Το σπίτι είναι καθαρό. (To spee-tee ee-neh kah-thah-ro) — The house is clean.

 * Πρέπει να μαγειρέψω. (Pre-pee na mah-yee-rep-so) — I need to cook.

 * Πού είναι το τηλεκοντρόλ; (Poo ee-neh to tee-leh-kon-trol?) — Where is the remote?

 * Καληνύχτα και όνειρα γλυκά. (Kah-lee-nee-xtah keh o-nee-rah ghlee-kah) — Goodnight and sweet dreams.

8. Work & Language

 * Τι δουλειά κάνεις; (Tee thoo-lyah kah-nees?) — What job do you do?

 * Δουλεύω σε γραφείο. (Thoo-lev-o seh ghrah-fee-o) — I work in an office.

 * Δεν καταλαβαίνω. (Then kah-tah-lah-veh-no) — I don't understand.

 * Μιλάτε αγγλικά; (Mee-lah-teh ah-ghlee-kah?) — Do you speak English?

 * Μιλάω λίγα ελληνικά. (Mee-lah-o lee-gha el-lee-nee-kah) — I speak a little Greek.

 * Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε; (Bo-ree-teh na to eh-pah-nah-lah-veh-teh?) — Can you repeat that?

 * Πώς το λέτε αυτό στα ελληνικά; (Pos to leh-teh af-toh stah el-lee-nee-kah?) — How do you say this in Greek?

 * Μιλήστε πιο σιγά, παρακαλώ. (Mee-lee-steh pyo see-ghah, pah-rah-kah-loh) — Speak slower, please.

 * Τι σημαίνει αυτό; (Tee see-meh-nee af-toh?) — What does this mean?

 * Γράψτε το εδώ. (Ghrap-steh to eh-tho) — Write it here.

9. Health & Emergencies

 * Δεν νιώθω καλά. (Then nyo-tho kah-lah) — I don't feel well.

 * Πονάει το κεφάλι μου. (Po-nah-ee to keh-fah-lee moo) — My head hurts.

 * Χρειάζομαι γιατρό. (Hree-ah-zo-meh yah-tro) — I need a doctor.

 * Είμαι άρρωστος. (Ee-meh ah-ros-tos) — I am sick.

 * Έχετε ασπιρίνη; (Eh-heh-teh ah-spee-ree-nee?) — Do you have aspirin?

 * Βοήθεια! (Vo-ee-thee-ah!) — Help!

 * Καλέστε την αστυνομία. (Kah-leh-steh teen ah-stee-no-mee-ah) — Call the police.

 * Έχασα το διαβατήριό μου. (Eh-hah-sah to thee-ah-vah-tee-ryo moo) — I lost my passport.

 * Είναι επείγον. (Ee-neh eh-pee-ghon) — It is an emergency.

 * Όλα θα πάνε καλά. (O-lah thah pah-neh kah-lah) — Everything will be okay.

10. Feelings & Opinions

 * Είμαι πολύ χαρούμενος. (Ee-meh po-lee ha-roo-meh-nos) — I am very happy.

 * Είμαι κουρασμένος. (Ee-meh koo-rah-zmeh-nos) — I am tired.

 * Έχεις δίκιο. (Eh-hees thee-kyo) — You are right.

 * Έχεις άδικο. (Eh-hees ah-thee-ko) — You are wrong.

 * Συμφωνώ απόλυτα. (Seem-fo-no ah-po-lee-tah) — I agree completely.

 * Δεν ξέρω. (Then kse-ro) — I don't know.

 * Είναι ωραία μέρα. (Ee-neh o-reh-ah meh-rah) — It is a beautiful day.

 * Μου λείπεις. (Moo lee-pees) — I miss you.

 * Σ' αγαπώ. (S'ah-ghah-po) — I love you.

 * Καλή συνέχεια! (Kah-lee see-neh-hyah!) — Have a good rest of your day!