How much of what: ένα κιλό ντομάτες
The measure and the measured stand side by side, with nothing between them: ένα κιλό ντομάτες, δύο ποτήρια νερό, ένα πακέτο μακαρόνια. No "of", and no change of ending. For example: “Βάλε λίγο αλάτι και πολύ λεμόνι” — Add a little salt and a lot of lemon. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The measure and the measured stand side by side, with nothing between them: ένα κιλό ντομάτες (éna kiló domátes), δύο ποτήρια νερό (dío potíria neró), ένα πακέτο μακαρόνια. No "of", and no change of ending.
The same with an amount left vague: λίγο αλάτι (lígo aláti), πολύ λάδι (polí ládi), αρκετό νερό.
Now the part that matters: πολύς changes shape. πολύς καφές, πολλή ζάχαρη (polí zákhari), πολύ αλάτι (polí aláti), and in the plural πολλοί, πολλές (polés), πολλά (polá). The double λ turns up everywhere but the masculine and neuter singular. A mistake here is heard at once.
The word πολύ (polí) meaning "very" never changes: πολύ ωραίο (polí oréo), πολύ ωραία (polí oréa). The neighbour tells you which is which — next to a noun it is "much", next to an adjective "very".
Table
| masculine | feminine | neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| much, singular | πολύς καφές | πολλή ζάχαρη | πολύ αλάτι |
| much, plural | πολλοί άνθρωποι | πολλές φράουλες | πολλά αυγά |
| little | λίγος καφές | λίγη ζάχαρη | λίγο αλάτι |
| "very" | πολύ — it never changes |
By example
- Βάλε λίγο αλάτι και πολύ λεμόνιvále lígo aláti ke polí lemóniAdd a little salt and a lot of lemon
- Αγόρασα δύο κιλά μελιτζάνεςagórasa dío kilá melidzánesI bought two kilos of eggplants
- Έχει πολλή ζάχαρη αυτό το γλυκόékhi polí zákhari aftó to glikóThere is a lot of sugar in this dessert
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 much of what: how does it work in Greek?
The measure and the measured stand side by side, with nothing between them: ένα κιλό ντομάτες, δύο ποτήρια νερό, ένα πακέτο μακαρόνια. No "of", and no change of ending.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Βάλε λίγο αλάτι και πολύ λεμόνι” (vále lígo aláti ke polí lemóni) — Add a little salt and a lot of lemon. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.