There is and there isn't: υπάρχει, έχει, δεν υπάρχει
"There is" has two Greek voices, and you need both of them. For example: “Υπάρχει ένα ποτάμι πίσω από το δάσος” — There is a river behind the forest. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
"There is" has two Greek voices, and you need both of them.
The level one is υπάρχει (ipárkhi) for one thing and υπάρχουν (ipárkhun) for several: Υπάρχει ένα ποτάμι πίσω από το δάσος (ipárkhi éna potámi píso apó to dásos). That is how notices are written and how you speak when you want to sound plain.
The everyday one is έχει (ékhi), the same word as "has", with nobody in front of it. Έχει κόσμο στην παραλία (ékhi kózmo stin paralía) — the beach is crowded. It stays singular even about many things: Έχει πολλά κύματα σήμερα (ékhi polá kímata símera).
For "there isn't" put δεν (den) in front, and a second "nothing" is obligatory: Δεν υπάρχει τίποτα (den ipárkhi típota). The past shapes are υπήρχε (ipírkhe) and είχε (íkhe).
Table
| there is | there isn't | |
|---|---|---|
| one | υπάρχει ένα δέντρο | δεν υπάρχει δέντρο |
| several | υπάρχουν δέντρα | δεν υπάρχουν δέντρα |
| conversational | έχει δέντρα | δεν έχει δέντρα |
| in the past | υπήρχε δέντρο | δεν υπήρχε δέντρο |
By example
- Υπάρχει ένα ποτάμι πίσω από το δάσοςipárkhi éna potámi píso apó to dásosThere is a river behind the forest
- Έχει πολύ κόσμο στην παραλίαékhi polí kózmo stin paralíaThe beach is crowded
- Δεν υπάρχει σκιά πουθενάden ipárkhi skiá puthenáThere's no shade anywhere
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 to say there is and there is not in Greek?
"There is" has two Greek voices, and you need both of them.
Υπάρχει vs έχει?
The level one is υπάρχει for one thing and υπάρχουν for several: Υπάρχει ένα ποτάμι πίσω από το δάσος. That is how notices are written and how you speak when you want to sound plain.
Why έχει πολλά κύματα is singular?
The everyday one is έχει, the same word as "has", with nobody in front of it. Έχει κόσμο στην παραλία — the beach is crowded. It stays singular even about many things: Έχει πολλά κύματα σήμερα.
How to say there is nothing in Greek?
For "there isn't" put δεν in front, and a second "nothing" is obligatory: Δεν υπάρχει τίποτα. The past shapes are υπήρχε and είχε.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Υπάρχει ένα ποτάμι πίσω από το δάσος” (ipárkhi éna potámi píso apó to dásos) — There is a river behind the forest. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.