Like: σαν, όπως, μοιάζει με
Greek can liken one thing to another in three ways, and they are not to be mixed: each answers a different question. For example: “Ο ουρανός ήταν σαν μολύβι πριν τη βροχή” — Before the rain the sky was like lead. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Greek can liken one thing to another in three ways, and they are not to be mixed: each answers a different question.
σαν (san) — "like", about a resemblance of look or feel: Ο ουρανός είναι σαν μολύβι (o uranós íne san molívi), Κρυώνω σαν να είμαι έξω (krióno san na íme ékso). After σαν comes the accusative, as after a preposition.
όπως (ópos) — "the way, as", about the manner of an action: Κάν' το όπως σου έδειξα (to ópos su édiksa). Here it is not the thing but the manner being compared, and after όπως comes a whole clause, not a single word.
μοιάζει με (miázi me) — "resembles", a direct statement of likeness: Το φύλλο μοιάζει με χέρι (to fílo miázi me khéri) — the leaf resembles a hand. The verb demands με (me) and the accusative.
Apart stands σαν να (san na) — "as if", and it introduces what is in fact not so: Μιλάει σαν να ξέρει (milái san na kséri) — he talks as if he knew. It is the only one of the four after which stands doubt, not likeness.
Two more pairs useful in descriptions: ο ίδιος με (the same as) and διαφορετικός από (different from). The first demands με, the second από (apó), and this simply has to be memorized: there is no logic in the choice.
Be careful with σαν in the sense "when": Σαν έρθεις (san érthis), πάρε με (páre me) — when you come, call me. This is regional and fading; it is worth recognizing, not using.
Table
| the turn | about what | what follows |
|---|---|---|
| σαν | likeness of look | a noun in the accusative |
| όπως | the manner of action | a whole clause |
| μοιάζει με | resembles | a noun in the accusative |
| σαν να | as if, but not so | a verb |
| ο ίδιος με | the same as | a noun |
By example
- Ο ουρανός ήταν σαν μολύβι πριν τη βροχήo uranós ítan san molívi prin ti vrokhíBefore the rain the sky was like lead
- Κάν’ το όπως σου έδειξαkan’ to ópos su édiksaDo it the way I showed you
- Μιλάει σαν να ξέρει, αλλά δεν ξέρειmilái san na kséri, alá den ksériHe talks as if he knows, and he does not
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
Like: how does it work in Greek?
Greek can liken one thing to another in three ways, and they are not to be mixed: each answers a different question.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Ο ουρανός ήταν σαν μολύβι πριν τη βροχή” (o uranós ítan san molívi prin ti vrokhí) — Before the rain the sky was like lead. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.