LingoflyWhen and if: όταν, ενώ, πριν, αφού, αν
The time words: όταν (ótan) (when), μόλις (mólis) (as soon as), ενώ (enó) (while), πριν (prin) (before), αφού (afú) (after). For a condition there is αν (an) (if). For example: “Όταν (ótan) τελειώσω (telióso) τα πιάτα (ta piáta), θα (tha) ξεκουραστώ” (ksekurastó) — When I've washed the dishes, I'll rest. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The time words: όταν (ótan) (when), μόλις (mólis) (as soon as), ενώ (enó) (while), πριν (prin) (before), αφού (afú) (after). For a condition there is αν (an) (if).
One trap, and it catches everybody. After όταν (ótan) and αν (an), Greek does not use θα (tha) for the future. The bare shape goes there, the same one that follows να (na): Όταν (ótan) έρθεις (érthis) (ótan érthis), θα (tha) φάμε (fáme) (tha fáme) — when you come, we'll eat.
The same with πριν (prin) and μόλις (mólis): Πάρε (páre) με (me) πριν (prin) φύγεις (fíyis) (páre me prin fíyis). Μόλις (mólis) φτάσω, θα (tha) σου (su) γράψω (tha su grápso). Saying "όταν (ótan) θα (tha) έρθεις (érthis) (ótan tha érthis)" is the loudest foreign mistake there is.
For something that happens again and again, όταν (ótan) takes the plain present. Όταν (ótan) βρέχει (vrékhi) (ótan vrékhi), μένουμε (ménume) σπίτι (spíti) (ménume spíti) — when it rains, we stay home.
Table
| conjunction | meaning | example |
|---|---|---|
| όταν (ótan) | when | Όταν (ótan) έρθεις (érthis), θα (tha) φάμε (fáme) |
| μόλις (mólis) | as soon as | Μόλις (mólis) φτάσω, θα (tha) σου (su) γράψω |
| ενώ (enó) | while | Ενώ (enó) μαγείρευα, ήρθαν (írthan) οι γονείς (i gonís) |
| πριν (prin) | before | Πλύνε τα (ta) χέρια (khéria) πριν (prin) φας |
| αφού (afú) | after; since | Αφού (afú) έφαγαν (éfagan), έφυγαν (éfigan) |
| αν (an) | if | Αν (an) μπορείς (borís), βοήθησέ (voíthisé) με (me) |
By example
- Όταν τελειώσω τα πιάτα, θα ξεκουραστώótan telióso ta piáta, tha ksekurastóWhen I've washed the dishes, I'll rest
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
When and if: how does it work in Greek?
The time words: όταν (ótan) (when), μόλις (mólis) (as soon as), ενώ (enó) (while), πριν (prin) (before), αφού (afú) (after). For a condition there is αν (an) (if).
What does it look like in a Greek example sentence?
“Όταν (ótan) τελειώσω (telióso) τα πιάτα (ta piáta), θα (tha) ξεκουραστώ” (ksekurastó) (ótan telióso ta piáta, tha ksekurastó) — When I've washed the dishes, I'll rest. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.