When and if: όταν, ενώ, πριν, αφού, αν
Time clauses are opened by όταν (when), μόλις (as soon as), ενώ (while), πριν (before), αφού (after). Condition — αν (if); its bookish twin εάν means exactly the same. For example: “Όταν τελειώσω τα πιάτα, θα ξεκουραστώ” — When I've washed the dishes, I'll rest. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Time clauses are opened by όταν (when), μόλις (as soon as), ενώ (while), πριν (before), αφού (after). Condition — αν (if); its bookish twin εάν means exactly the same.
There is one main rule here, and English trips over it every time, because English needs its "will". After όταν and αν, speaking of the future, Greek puts no θα (tha). It uses the same bare form that follows να (na): Όταν έρθεις (ótan érthis), θα φάμε (tha fáme) — when you come, we'll eat. Αν βρέξει (an vréksi), θα μείνουμε σπίτι (tha mínume spíti) — if it rains, we'll stay home. The future is named once, in the main clause, and the subordinate one does not need it again.
The same with πριν and μόλις: Πάρε με πριν φύγεις (páre me prin fíyis), Μόλις φτάσω, θα σου γράψω (tha su grápso). Saying "όταν θα έρθεις (ótan tha érthis)" is the loudest foreign accent Greek can hear.
If the matter is habitual or general, όταν takes the plain present: Όταν βρέχει (ótan vrékhi), μένουμε σπίτι (ménume spíti) — when it rains, we stay home. The difference is not in the conjunction but in what is being talked about.
ενώ and αφού behave more simply — they take whatever tense the meaning demands: Ενώ μαγείρευα, χτύπησε το τηλέφωνο (khtípise to tiléfono). And αφού has a second, causal job: Αφού δεν θέλεις (afú den thélis), μην έρθεις (min érthis) — since you don't want to, don't come.
About the comma: when the subordinate clause comes first, a comma follows it; when it trails behind, usually none.
Table
| conjunction | meaning | example |
|---|---|---|
| όταν | when | Όταν έρθεις, θα φάμε |
| μόλις | as soon as | Μόλις φτάσω, θα σου γράψω |
| ενώ | while | Ενώ μαγείρευα, ήρθαν οι γονείς |
| πριν | before | Πλύνε τα χέρια πριν φας |
| αφού | after; since | Αφού έφαγαν, έφυγαν |
| αν | if | Αν μπορείς, βοήθησέ με |
By example
- Όταν τελειώσω τα πιάτα, θα ξεκουραστώótan telióso ta piáta, tha ksekurastóWhen I've washed the dishes, I'll rest
- Αν έρθει ο θείος, θα φάμε μαζίan érthi o thíos, tha fáme mazíIf uncle comes, we'll eat together
- Πάρε με πριν φύγεις από το σπίτιpáre me prin fíyis apó to spítiCall me before you leave the house
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
When and if: how does it work in Greek?
Time clauses are opened by όταν (when), μόλις (as soon as), ενώ (while), πριν (before), αφού (after). Condition — αν (if); its bookish twin εάν means exactly the same.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Όταν τελειώσω τα πιάτα, θα ξεκουραστώ” (ótan telióso ta piáta, tha ksekurastó) — When I've washed the dishes, I'll rest. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.