LingoflyHow long and when: πριν, σε, για, από… ως
Time in Greek splits into four questions, and each has its own preposition. For example: “Μένω (méno) εδώ (edó) πέντε (pénde) χρόνια” (khrónia) — I have been living here for five years. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Time in Greek splits into four questions, and each has its own preposition.
In how much time — σε (se): Θα (tha) έρθω (értho) σε δύο μέρες (se dío méres) (tha értho se dío méres). How long ago — πριν (prin): Ήρθα (írtha) πριν (prin) δύο (dío) μέρες (méres) (írtha prin dío méres). The word is the same as in "before"; what follows tells them apart. A number means "ago", a verb means "before".
For how long — για (ya): Έμεινα για (ya) τρεις (tris) μήνες (mínes) (émina ya tris mínes). In talk για (ya) is often dropped, and that is normal. From and until — από (apó)… ως (os) or από (apó)… μέχρι (mékhri): από (apó) τη (ti) Δευτέρα (Deftéra) ως (os) την (tin) Παρασκευή (Paraskeví) (apó ti Deftéra os tin Paraskeví).
And one thing English does differently. Μένω (méno) εδώ (edó) πέντε (pénde) χρόνια (khrónia) (méno edó pénde khrónia) — I have lived here five years and still do, in the present. Έμενα (émena) εδώ (edó) πέντε (pénde) χρόνια (khrónia) (émena edó pénde khrónia) — I did, and no longer do.
Table
| the question | the preposition | example |
|---|---|---|
| in how much | σε (se) | σε δύο μέρες (se dío méres) |
| how much ago | πριν (prin) | πριν (prin) δύο (dío) μέρες (méres) |
| how long | για (ya) | για (ya) τρεις (tris) μήνες (mínes) |
| from and until | από (apó)… ως (os) | από (apó) τη (ti) Δευτέρα (Deftéra) ως (os) την (tin) Παρασκευή (Paraskeví) |
| for how long now | the present tense | μένω (méno) εδώ (edó) πέντε (pénde) χρόνια (khrónia) |
By example
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
How long and when: how does it work in Greek?
Time in Greek splits into four questions, and each has its own preposition.
What does it look like in a Greek example sentence?
“Μένω (méno) εδώ (edó) πέντε (pénde) χρόνια” (khrónia) (méno edó pénde khrónia) — I have been living here for five years. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.