LingoflyExperience with έχω: έχω περάσει τις εξετάσεις
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω (ékho) plus one fixed verb shape: έχω (ékho) γράψει, έχω (ékho) πάει (pái), έχω (ékho) δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all. For example: “Έχω (ékho) περάσει (perási) όλες τις (tis) εξετάσεις” (eksetásis) — I have passed all the exams. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω (ékho) plus one fixed verb shape: έχω (ékho) γράψει, έχω (ékho) πάει (pái) (ékho pái), έχω (ékho) δει (ékho di). The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all.
The second part never changes — not for person, not for gender, not for number. Έχω (ékho) πάει (pái), έχεις (ékhis) πάει (pái) (ékhis pái), η Άννα (Ána) έχει (ékhi) πάει (pái) (i Ána ékhi pái).
It comes off the same stem as the past in one piece: γράφω (gráfo) → γράψει, βλέπω (vlépo) → δει (di), τρώω (tróo) → φάει. Nothing extra to learn.
One trap. For an event with a time on it, Greek uses the plain past. Πέρασα (pérasa) τις (tis) εξετάσεις (eksetásis) χθες (khthes) (pérasa tis eksetásis khthes) — even if it was only an hour ago. The έχω (ékho) shape goes where no time is named: Έχω (ékho) περάσει (perási) όλες τις (tis) εξετάσεις (eksetásis) (ékho perási óles tis eksetásis).
Table
| present | in one piece | with έχω (ékho) |
|---|---|---|
| γράφω (gráfo) | έγραψα (égrapsa) | έχω (ékho) γράψει |
| βλέπω (vlépo) | είδα (ída) | έχω (ékho) δει |
| πηγαίνω (piyéno) | πήγα (píga) | έχω (ékho) πάει (pái) |
| τρώω (tróo) | έφαγα | έχω (ékho) φάει |
| λέω (léo) | είπα (ípa) | έχω (ékho) πει |
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
Greek aorist vs perfect?
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω (ékho) plus one fixed verb shape: έχω (ékho) γράψει, έχω (ékho) πάει (pái), έχω (ékho) δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all.
Έχω (ékho) γράψει vs έγραψα (égrapsa)?
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω (ékho) plus one fixed verb shape: έχω (ékho) γράψει, έχω (ékho) πάει (pái), έχω (ékho) δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all.
Greek perfect or aorist: which one?
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω (ékho) plus one fixed verb shape: έχω (ékho) γράψει, έχω (ékho) πάει (pái), έχω (ékho) δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all.
How to say I have already been to Greece?
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω (ékho) plus one fixed verb shape: έχω (ékho) γράψει, έχω (ékho) πάει (pái), έχω (ékho) δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all.
How είχα (íkha) διαβάσει is built?
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω (ékho) plus one fixed verb shape: έχω (ékho) γράψει, έχω (ékho) πάει (pái), έχω (ékho) δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all.
What does it look like in a Greek example sentence?
“Έχω (ékho) περάσει (perási) όλες τις (tis) εξετάσεις” (eksetásis) (ékho perási óles tis eksetásis) — I have passed all the exams. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.