The Subjunctive Mood in Modern Greek

The Subjunctive Mood is used basically to express wish, hope, expectation,

intentions, and also to make suggestions and negative commands.
It is formed by placing before the verb one of the following particles and
conjunctions:
Tenses and use of the Subjunctive
1)Συνεχής Υποτακτική (Sinehis Ipotaktiki, Present or Continuous Subjunctive)
•It’s formed by Na + verb in the Simple Present. (Να +ρήμα σε Ενεστώτα,
Na +rima se Enestota)
•It expresses a repeated action or an action with duration.

–Ο γιατρός μού είπε να περπατάω τρία χιλιόμετρα τη μέρα. / O giatros mou

ipe na perpatao tria hiliometra ti mera./ The doctor told me (=suggested) to
walk three kilometers per day.
– Πρέπει να πίνω μία πορτοκαλάδα κάθε πρωί. / Prepei na pino mia
portokalada kathe proi. / I have to drink an orange juice every day.
– Να μη λες ποτέ ψέματα. / Na mi les pote psemata./ Don’t you ever tell lies or
(you should) never tell lies.

•Expressions and phrases used with the Present Sunjunctive

– It can be used by expressions of frequency such as κάθε μέρα (kathe mera,
every day), κάθε πρωί (kathe proi, every morning), κάθε βράδυ (kathe vrady,
every evening) , πάντα (panta, always), συνέχεια (syneheia, constantly, all the
time) etc.
– There’s a list of phrases used with the Present Subjunctive most of which are
taught to intermediate students. The most common phrases that non-advanced
learners can use are:
Μου αρέσει να: Μου αρέσει να χορεύω./ Mou aresi na horevo/ I like dancing.
Δε μου αρέσει να: Δεν τους αρέσει να βλέπουν τηλεόραση./Den tous aresi na
vlepoun tileorasi/ They don’t like watching tv.
Μαθαίνω να: Μαθαίνουμε να οδηγούμε./ Mathenoume na odigoume/ We learn
to drive.
Ξέρω να: Ξέρεις να παίζεις σκάκι;/ Xeris na pezis skaki?/ Do you know how to
play chess?

2) Απλή Υποτακτική (Apli Ipotaktiki, Simple Subjunctive)

•It’s formed by Na + root of the verb in the Simple Past tense)+ endings of
the present. (Να+θέμα Αορίστου+ καταλήξεις ενεστώτα, Na +thema
Aoristou+katalixis Enestota)
•It expresses an action that will or won’t be accomplished.

– Με συγχωρείτε, μπορώ να μιλήσω με τον Πέτρο;/ Me sighorite, boro na

miliso me ton Petro?/ Excuse-me, can I talk to Petros?
– Θέλω πολύ να σας δω το Σάββατο!/ Thelo poli na sas do to Savvato!/ I really
want to see you on Saturday!
– Μην πεις ψέματα στην αστυνομία, θα μπλέξουμε!/ Min peis psemata stin
astinomia, tha blexoume!/ Don’t lie to the police, we’ll be in trouble!
•Expressions and phrases used with the Simple Subjunctive
– It can be used by expressions of time such as σήμερα (simera, today), αύριο
(avrio, tomorrow), απόψε (apopse, tonight) , ποτέ (pote, never), τη Δευτέρα,
την Τρίτη κ.λ.π.(ti Deftera, tin Triti, on Monday, on Tuesday) etc.
– The most common phrases that can be used by learners of lower levels are:
Περιμένω να: Περιμένουμε να έρθουν οι φίλοι μας. Perimenoume na erthoun
oi filoi mas/ We are waiting for our friends to come.
Έχω να: Έχω να διαβάσω για τις εξετάσεις./Eho na diavaso gia tis exetasis/ I
have to study for the exams.
3) Υποτακτική Παρακειμένου (Ipotaktiki Parakimenou,Present Perfect
Subjunctive)
•It’s formed by Na + verb in the Present Perfect tense. (Να +ρήμα σε
Παρακείμενο, Na +rima se Parakeimeno)
•It is used to express a prior action.
– Πρέπει να έχεις φύγει πριν έρθει ο άντρας μου./ Prepei na eheis figei prin
erthei o antras mou./ You have to leave (you have to be gone) before my
husband comes.
– Πού είναι η Έλλη; Λες να μην έχει έρθει ακόμη;/ Pou ine I Ellie? Les na min
ehei erthei akomi? / Where’s Ellie? Do you think she hasn’t come yet?
Sources:
“Τα Νέα Ελληνικά για ξένους”, Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης,
2005.
http://www.fryktories.gr/teachingmaterial/i-ypotaktiki-kai-oi-xriseis-tis-sta-nea-
ellinika-giannis-zikoyd