Grammar and Vocabulary
Grammar and Vocabulary
This domain tests control of the Modern Greek nominal and verbal systems plus a working vocabulary for everyday, school, work and cultural topics.
Nominals
Three genders, two numbers, four cases (nominative, genitive, accusative, vocative). The ancient dative is gone: its functions are taken by the genitive (possession, indirect object) and σε + accusative (direction, recipient). The article inflects with the noun: ο δάσκαλος, του δασκάλου, τον δάσκαλο; η γυναίκα, της γυναίκας; το γράμμα, του γράμματος, τα γράμματα, των γραμμάτων.
Verbs
Think in aspect pairs rather than tense lists: γράφω/γράψω, έγραφα/έγραψα, θα γράφω/θα γράψω. The imperfective views an action as ongoing or repeated; the perfective views it as one whole. After να, αν, όταν, μόλις, πριν and για να the distinction survives: θέλω να γράφω «I want to be writing» vs θέλω να γράψω «I want to write». Perfect = έχω/είχα + the invariant form: έχω γράψει, είχα γράψει.
Worked example
«Αν είχα περισσότερο χρόνο, θα διάβαζα το βιβλίο.» The αν-clause uses the imperfect (είχα) for an unreal present, and the apodosis uses θα + imperfect (θα διάβαζα) «would read». For an unreal past both steps back: Αν είχα διαβάσει, θα είχα περάσει.
Traps
- Genitive singular: θάλασσα > θάλασσας keeps a doubled sigma, but χώρα > χώρας does not; αγάπη > αγάπης; feminine οδός > οδού.
- Accent shifts in the genitive because final -ου counts as long: άνθρωπος > ανθρώπου; άνθρωποι > ανθρώπων.
- δεν in statements, μην in subjunctive and imperative: δεν θέλω, μην πας, να μην πας.
- Clitics precede finite verbs (τον βλέπω, θα τον δω) but follow a positive imperative (δες τον).
- Vocabulary: φάρμακο = medicine, not farm; συμπαθητικός = likeable, not sympathetic.