Begin, keep on, give up: αρχίζω να, σταματάω να
Verbs of starting and stopping hook the next action on with να. The shape after να is chosen as usual: αρχίζω να διαβάζω. A beginning asks for the ongoing shape, so αρχίζω να διαβάσω is not said. For example: “Μόλις ξεκίνησα τη δουλειά” — I just got down to work. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Verbs of starting and stopping hook the next action on with να (na). The shape after να is chosen as usual: αρχίζω να διαβάζω (arkhízo na diavázo). A beginning asks for the ongoing shape, so αρχίζω να διαβάσω (arkhízo na diaváso) is not said.
The row runs: αρχίζω να (begin), συνεχίζω να (keep on), σταματάω να (stop), τελειώνω (finish — this one with no να).
More often the same shades come from adverbs. μόλις (mólis) is "just now" or "as soon as": Μόλις τελείωσα (mólis telíosa). ακόμα (akóma) is "still": Ακόμα δουλεύω (akóma dulévo). πια (pia) is "no longer", with a negation: Δεν δουλεύω πια (den dulévo pia).
"Not any more" is exactly that πια, never περισσότερο (perisótero). And two turns from live speech: βάζω χέρι (get down to it), τα παρατάω (give up on it).
Table
| the turn | what it means | example |
|---|---|---|
| αρχίζω να | to begin | άρχισε να βρέχει |
| συνεχίζω να | to continue | συνεχίζω να δουλεύω |
| σταματάω να | to stop | σταμάτησε να μιλάει |
| μόλις | just, as soon as | μόλις ήρθα |
| ακόμα | still | ακόμα περιμένω |
| δεν … πια | no longer | δεν δουλεύω πια |
By example
- Μόλις ξεκίνησα τη δουλειάmólis ksekínisa ti duliáI just got down to work
- Σταμάτησε να καπνίζει πέρυσιstamátise na kapnízi périsiHe gave up smoking last year
- Δεν προσπαθώ πια, τα παράτησαden prospathó pia, ta parátisaI'm not trying anymore; I gave up on it
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Begin, keep on, give up: how does it work in Greek?
Verbs of starting and stopping hook the next action on with να. The shape after να is chosen as usual: αρχίζω να διαβάζω. A beginning asks for the ongoing shape, so αρχίζω να διαβάσω is not said.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Μόλις ξεκίνησα τη δουλειά” (mólis ksekínisa ti duliá) — I just got down to work. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.