While doing something: μαθαίνοντας, διαβάζοντας
To say "while doing something", Greek takes the present stem and adds -οντας: διαβάζω → διαβάζοντας, μαθαίνω → μαθαίνοντας, περπατώ → περπατώντας. One shape for everybody, and it never changes. For example: “Μαθαίνοντας λέξεις κάθε μέρα, θα προχωρήσεις” — Studying a little every day, you will make progress. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
To say "while doing something", Greek takes the present stem and adds -οντας: διαβάζω (diavázo) → διαβάζοντας (diavázondas), μαθαίνω (mathéno) → μαθαίνοντας (mathénondas), περπατώ → περπατώντας (perpatóndas). One shape for everybody, and it never changes.
First limit: both actions belong to the same person. Διαβάζοντας το βιβλίο (diavázondas to vivlío), κατάλαβα το λάθος (katálava to láthos) — one person read and understood. For two different people you need a full clause with όταν (ótan) or ενώ (enó).
Second limit: at the same time only. The -οντας shape describes what runs alongside the main action. For "having done it, and then" you need another turn: Αφού διάβασα (afú diávasa), κατάλαβα (katálava).
And do not mix it up with -μένος, which describes a state and changes like an adjective: κουρασμένος (tired), γραμμένο (written).
Table
| the verb | the -οντας shape | in English |
|---|---|---|
| διαβάζω | διαβάζοντας | while reading |
| μαθαίνω | μαθαίνοντας | while learning |
| περπατώ | περπατώντας | while walking |
| μιλάω | μιλώντας | while speaking |
| είμαι | όντας | while being |
By example
- Μαθαίνοντας λέξεις κάθε μέρα, θα προχωρήσειςmathénondas léksis káthe méra, tha prokhorísisStudying a little every day, you will make progress
- Περπατώντας στην παραλιακή, είδα το ουράνιο τόξοperpatóndas stin paraliakí, ída to uránio tóksoWalking along the embankment, I saw a rainbow
- Κατάλαβα το λάθος διαβάζοντας τις σημειώσεις μουkatálava to láthos diavázondas tis simiósis muI understood the mistake while rereading my notes
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
While doing something: how does it work in Greek?
To say "while doing something", Greek takes the present stem and adds -οντας: διαβάζω → διαβάζοντας, μαθαίνω → μαθαίνοντας, περπατώ → περπατώντας. One shape for everybody, and it never changes.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Μαθαίνοντας λέξεις κάθε μέρα, θα προχωρήσεις” (mathénondas léksis káthe méra, tha prokhorísis) — Studying a little every day, you will make progress. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.