Like: σαν, όπως, μοιάζει με
Greek compares in three ways, and they answer different questions. For example: “Ο ουρανός ήταν σαν μολύβι πριν τη βροχή” — Before the rain the sky was like lead. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Greek compares in three ways, and they answer different questions.
σαν (san) — "like", about looking alike: Ο ουρανός είναι σαν μολύβι (o uranós íne san molívi). After σαν the word takes its object shape, as after any preposition.
όπως (ópos) — "the way", about the manner of doing: Κάν' το όπως σου έδειξα (to ópos su édiksa). A whole clause follows it, not a single word. μοιάζει με (miázi me) — "resembles": Το φύλλο μοιάζει με χέρι (to fílo miázi me khéri).
σαν να (san na) stands apart — "as if". It brings in what is not in fact so: Μιλάει σαν να ξέρει (milái san na kséri) — he talks as if he knows.
Table
| the turn | about what | what follows |
|---|---|---|
| σαν | likeness of look | a noun |
| όπως | the manner of action | a whole clause |
| μοιάζει με | resembles | a noun |
| σαν να | as if, but not so | a verb |
| ο ίδιος με | the same as | a noun |
By example
- Ο ουρανός ήταν σαν μολύβι πριν τη βροχήo uranós ítan san molívi prin ti vrokhíBefore the rain the sky was like lead
- Κάν’ το όπως σου έδειξαkan’ to ópos su édiksaDo it the way I showed you
- Μιλάει σαν να ξέρει, αλλά δεν ξέρειmilái san na kséri, alá den ksériHe talks as if he knows, and he does not
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
Like: how does it work in Greek?
Greek compares in three ways, and they answer different questions.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Ο ουρανός ήταν σαν μολύβι πριν τη βροχή” (o uranós ítan san molívi prin ti vrokhí) — Before the rain the sky was like lead. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.