Experience with έχω: έχω περάσει τις εξετάσεις
To say "I have done this before", Greek takes έχω plus one fixed verb shape: έχω γράψει, έχω πάει, έχω δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all. For example: “Έχω περάσει όλες τις εξετάσεις” — 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 γράψει, έχω πάει (ékho pái), έχω 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 πάει, έχεις πάει (ékhis pái), η Άννα έχει πάει (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 τις εξετάσεις χθες (pérasa tis eksetásis khthes) — even if it was only an hour ago. The έχω shape goes where no time is named: Έχω περάσει όλες τις εξετάσεις (ékho perási óles tis eksetásis).
Table
| present | in one piece | with έχω |
|---|---|---|
| γράφω | έγραψα | έχω γράψει |
| βλέπω | είδα | έχω δει |
| πηγαίνω | πήγα | έχω πάει |
| τρώω | έφαγα | έχω φάει |
| λέω | είπα | έχω πει |
By example
- Έχω περάσει όλες τις εξετάσειςékho perási óles tis eksetásisI have passed all the exams
- Δεν έχω δει ποτέ τέτοιο λάθοςden ékho di poté tétio láthosI have never seen such a mistake
- Είχα διαβάσει πριν το διαγώνισμαíkha diavási prin to diagónizmaI had prepared even before the test
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 plus one fixed verb shape: έχω γράψει, έχω πάει, έχω δει. The point is not when it happened, but that it happened at all.
Έχω γράψει vs έγραψα?
The second part never changes — not for person, not for gender, not for number. Έχω πάει, έχεις πάει, η Άννα έχει πάει.
Greek perfect or aorist: which one?
It comes off the same stem as the past in one piece: γράφω → γράψει, βλέπω → δει, τρώω → φάει. Nothing extra to learn.
How to say I have already been to Greece?
One trap. For an event with a time on it, Greek uses the plain past. Πέρασα τις εξετάσεις χθες — even if it was only an hour ago. The έχω shape goes where no time is named: Έχω περάσει όλες τις εξετάσεις.
How είχα διαβάσει is built?
One trap. For an event with a time on it, Greek uses the plain past. Πέρασα τις εξετάσεις χθες — even if it was only an hour ago. The έχω shape goes where no time is named: Έχω περάσει όλες τις εξετάσεις.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Έχω περάσει όλες τις εξετάσεις” (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.