Lingoflyνα γράφω or να γράψω: the aspect after "να"
The turn with να (na) stands in for the missing "to do" form. Now for the choice you make after it every single time. For example: “Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάζω (diavázo) τις (tis) ειδήσεις κάθε (káthe) πρωί” (proí) — I want to read the news every morning. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The turn with να (na) stands in for the missing "to do" form. Now for the choice you make after it every single time.
After να (na) the verb comes in two flavours. να (na) γράφω (gráfo) (na gráfo) is writing as a habit or over a stretch of time. να (na) γράψω (na grápso) is one act, carried to the end. Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάζω (diavázo) κάθε μέρα (káthe méra) (thélo na diavázo káthe méra) — I want to read daily. Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάσω αυτό (aftó) το άρθρο (to árthro) (thélo na diaváso aftó to árthro) — I want to read this article.
The shapes come off the two stems of the verb. The present one gives να (na) γράφω (gráfo), να (na) πίνω (píno) (na píno); the one behind the past in one piece gives να (na) γράψω, να (na) πιω (na pio). Endings are the same; only the stem moves.
The same choice follows θα (tha): θα (tha) διαβάζω (diavázo) (tha diavázo) against θα (tha) διαβάσω (tha diaváso). And "not" goes between να (na) and the verb — να (na) μην (min) πάω (páo) (na min páo), never "δεν (den) να (na) πάω (páo) (den na páo)".
Table
| in general, regularly | once, to the end | |
|---|---|---|
| to want | θέλω (thélo) να (na) γράφω (gráfo) | θέλω (thélo) να (na) γράψω |
| to be able | μπορώ (boró) να (na) πίνω (píno) | μπορώ (boró) να (na) πιω |
| to have to | πρέπει να (prépi na) πληρώνω (pliróno) | πρέπει να (prépi na) πληρώσω (pliróso) |
| the future | θα (tha) διαβάζω (diavázo) | θα (tha) διαβάσω |
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
Which aspect after να (na) in Greek?
The turn with να (na) stands in for the missing "to do" form. Now for the choice you make after it every single time.
Να (na) γράφω (gráfo) or να (na) γράψω?
After να (na) the verb comes in two flavours. να (na) γράφω (gráfo) is writing as a habit or over a stretch of time. να (na) γράψω is one act, carried to the end. Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάζω (diavázo) κάθε μέρα (káthe méra) — I want to read daily. Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάσω αυτό (aftó) το άρθρο (to árthro) — I want to read this article.
Θα (tha) διαβάζω (diavázo) vs θα (tha) διαβάσω?
The same choice follows θα (tha): θα (tha) διαβάζω (diavázo) against θα (tha) διαβάσω. And "not" goes between να (na) and the verb — να (na) μην (min) πάω (páo), never "δεν (den) να (na) πάω" (páo).
How to say I want to read it through in Greek?
After να (na) the verb comes in two flavours. να (na) γράφω (gráfo) is writing as a habit or over a stretch of time. να (na) γράψω is one act, carried to the end. Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάζω (diavázo) κάθε μέρα (káthe méra) — I want to read daily. Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάσω αυτό (aftó) το άρθρο (to árthro) — I want to read this article.
Where μην (min) goes in the να (na) construction?
The same choice follows θα (tha): θα (tha) διαβάζω (diavázo) against θα (tha) διαβάσω. And "not" goes between να (na) and the verb — να (na) μην (min) πάω (páo), never "δεν (den) να (na) πάω" (páo).
What does it look like in a Greek example sentence?
“Θέλω (thélo) να (na) διαβάζω (diavázo) τις (tis) ειδήσεις κάθε (káthe) πρωί” (proí) (thélo na diavázo tis idísis káthe proí) — I want to read the news every morning. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.