Wednesday 7 May 2008

First/ second stem of verbs

You use the first stem (present stem) to form the continuous tenses.
Indicative
Present Continuous
Indicative
Future Continuous
Subjunctive
Present
Continuous
Indicative
Imperfect
Imperative
Continuous

παίζω

θα παίζω

να παίζω

έπαιζα

παίζε/
παίζετε
i.e. Παίζει ποδόσφαιρο κάθε Σάββατο πρωί.
Παίζουν μπάσκετ κάθε Δευτέρα απόγευμα.
Παίζει κιθάρα κάθε μέρα για δέκα λεπτά.
You use the second stem (future stem) to indicate that something happens/ will happen/ happened once.
Indicative
Future
Simple
Subjunctive
Simple
Indicative
Past
Simple
Imperative
Simple
Indicative
Present
Perfect
Indicative
Past Perfect
Indicative
Future
Perfect

θα παίξω

να παίξω

έπαιξα

παίξε/
παίξτε

έχω
παίξει

είχα
παίξει

θα έχω
παίξει
i.e. Θα παίξω τένις με τη Μαρία σήμερα.
Έπαιξαν σκάκι χτες το απόγευμα.
Παίξτε ό, τι θέλετε.
Δε θα έχουμε παίξει αρκετά στο πάρκο μέχρι τις 7.30 το βράδυ.

Tuesday 6 May 2008

Final "ν"

I would advise you to keep the final "ν", as it isn't incorrect to use it when it isn't needed. However, it sounds wrong if it isn't used in certain cases.
The final "ν" applies to the definite article "την" and the negative adverbs "δεν" and "μην".

The final "v" is maintained
1. when the following word starts with  a vowel (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω)
i.e. την Ακρόπολη

2. when the following word starts with the palatal consonants κ, π, τ, and the consonant clusters μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ
i.e. την κοπέλα, την μπάλα.

 3. when the following word starts with the double letters ξ, ψ
i.e. δεν ξέρω, μην ψάχνεις

The final "v" is omitted

1. when the following word starts with the consonants β, γ, δ, ζ, θ, λ, μ, ν, ρ, σ, φ, χ
i.e. τη γάτα,  δε σκέφτομαι, μη φτιάχνεις
Note 1: The final "ν" is maintained in the form of the personal pronouns (emphatic/ strong form) "αυτόν", "αυτήν" and the personal pronouns (weak form) "τον", "την".
i.e. αυτόν τον σκύλο, αυτήν την τσάντα, τον συνάντησα, την βρήκα.
Note 2: If the masculine form of the pronouns is the object of the sentence then you should keep the final "ν".
i.e. Δεν είδα κανέναν.
Αγόρασα τον άλλον.
Ποιον πήρες τελικά;
Όποιον και να ρωτήσεις .....