Bigga

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Future and Conditional Structures in Greek and English Parallel Texts
Kleoniki Binga
Supervisor Dr. Tsangalidis Anastasios
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
March 2019
FUTURE AND CONDITIONAL STRUCTURES IN GREEK AND ENGLISH PARALLEL TEXTS
Abstract
This essay seeks to explore the ways in which the English and the Modern Greek
language correspond to each other in terms of three basic items of focus, those of
tense, aspect and conditionality. The first part seeks to examine and exemplify the
similarities and differences that these two languages share regarding the terms of
tense and aspect by the use of various linguistic theories and literary examples. This
clarification is important in order to move to the second part which focuses on a
different item, that of conditionality. In this part of the essay, various conditionality
types of the English and the Modern Greek language are presented and are thoroughly
analyzed in order to move to more complex conditional structures dealing with
semantic differences. Another part of both languages which is highly examined is the
ways in which the Greek particle θα corresponds to the English particle would. Thus,
I presented the ways in which they behave by the use of literary examples and
observed their different forms and characteristics.

FUTURE AND CONDITIONAL STRUCTURES IN GREEK AND ENGLISH PARALLEL TEXTS 3
This chapter seeks to explore and exemplify the different types of tenses and the
connotations they carry, as well as, the particularities of some particles such as θα
across the English and Modern Greek languages. In order to present and analyze them
we are going to provide some linguistic theories and examples taken from Tolkien‟s
(1954) literary work Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This exploration
takes place in order to understand the complexity of these languages regarding their
tense and aspect forms in order to realize in the second part of this paper the degree of
complexity that these structures may cause when combined with other semantic and
pragmatic linguistic properties.
In order to achieve moving to deeper analysis and efficiently exemplify such
grammatical structures the terminology of the words “tense” and “aspect” should be
clarified. Tense and aspect, according to Dahl and Vellupilai (2013) are dealt with as
grammatical categories of verbs. A grammatical category is “a class of units (such as
noun and verb) or features (such as number and case) that share a common set of
characteristics” (WALS online). It is quite difficult for linguists to determine what
the exact meaning of both terms is; consequently many definitions and linguistic
opinions are going to be presented in order to conclude to the most accurate possible
illustration of their meaning.
Comrie (1985) attempts to define tense as the “grammaticalisation of location in time”
and aspect as the “grammaticalisation of expression of internal temporal
constituency” (of events, processes etc)” (p. 7). According to Dahl and Vellupilai,
grammaticalisation is a “synchronic property characterizing a notion (semantic
category) if and only if it is reflected in or determines the use of grammatical items.”
(cite από WALS online). Miller (2002), also, elaborates on the difference that lies in
the meaning of the terms tense and aspect in his work Syntax in Discourse: Aspect,
Tense, Voice by stating that “aspect allows speakers and writers to present events as
completed or as stretched out over time, as single occurrences or as repeated and
habitual” while “tense allows events to be located in past, present or future time and
to be located relative to other events” (p. 158). Further analysis takes place in Saeed‟s
(2008) work Sentence Semanics 1: Situation where he attempts to define tense by
asserting that languages have grammatical forms, such as verb endings, which allow
the speaker to locate a situation in time relative to the “now” of the act of speaking or
writing. This marking of time is what Saaed calls tense (p.114). Aspect, on the other
hand is, also, a grammatical system related to time, but here the speaker has the
opportunity to choose how to describe the internal temporal nature of a situation. To
exemplify this, it depends on the aspect whether the speaker is going to portray the
action as completed in the past or as an ongoing process that is not yet finished
(Saaed, 2008, p. 114). Aspect according to Saaed (2008) “allows the speaker to view
an event as complete, or incomplete, as so short as to involve almost no time, as
something stretched over a perceptible period, or as something repeated over a
period” (p. 125). The last definition that I am going to use to interpret the meaning of
the terms tense and aspect is based on Rodney Huddleston‟s and Geoffrey K.
Pullum‟s (2005) literary work named A Student’s Introduction to the English
Grammar in which they argue that the aspect is, indeed, “the grammatical form that is
used to indicate how the speaker views a situation in a clause with respect not to its
location in time but to its temporal structure or properties” meaning that “a situation
can be either complete or in progress” (p. 51).
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
After attempting to decipher the general meaning of “tense” and “aspect” we are
going to move to a deeper analysis focusing on the English language. Miller (2002)
refers to the English language as one that includes three tenses, the present, the future
and the past. He refers to the structure of the present and past tense being formed by
the use of suffixes –s and –ed accordingly. Future is formed by the use of the
auxiliary verbs shall and will followed by the verb and is, thus, considered a syntactic
construction rather than a simple word (Miller, 2002). There are, also, theories like
the one found in Huddleston and Pullum‟s (2005) literary work, A Student’s
Introduction to the English Grammar, that deny the existence of a future tense in
English, though we can refer to it by using the modal auxiliary will, which is found to
be more connected to mood and aspect rather than tense itself (p. 56).
Another syntactic structure that is central for the English language is the Present
Perfect. It is not easy to classify the Present Perfect as a tense or an aspect since it is
constituted by have or has (ejo) and a past participle. The past participle connotes a
completed action and therefore the Perfect looks like an aspectual element (Miller,
2002, p. 162).On the other hand, has indicates the present and this is what makes the
Present Perfect complicated. In order not to procrastinate further on this issue, Miller
(2002) states that the Perfect tends to “focus on the presently accessible consequences
of a past event rather than the past itself per se” (p. 162). Saaed (2008) agrees with
Miller on the English language usually being marked by grammatical endings, as well
as, with the use of some auxiliary verbs such as will when the speaker desires to make
the time of the action clear. Moreover, he, also, assents with Miller (2002) that the
English language has three tenses, those of Present, Past and Future but in his research
he, also, refers to the more complex tenses such as the past perfect or pluperfect
(Saaed, 2008, p. 123-124).

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: ASPECT
Moving to the second subject of focus, concerning Dahl‟s(1985) worldwide system
containing 42 out of 65 languages, the most common aspectual distinction between
languages is the perfective/ imperfective one (Saaed, 2008,p. 132). Comrie (1976) in
his work Aspect: An Introduction to the Study of Verbal Aspect and Related Problems
refers to perfectivity as observing a situation as an outside viewer while imperfectivity
regards a situation where the speaker describes the event‟s internal stages from within
(p. 16). This definition is compatible with Saaed‟s (2008) theories on progressive and
simple aspectual structures (p. 131). When an action is described as an ongoing event
that has duration in the past, present or future, Saaed (2008) characterizes it as
progressive. The progressive is usually marked with an –ing ending and is used in
dynamic situations (p. 126):
eg. 1) When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be
celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence,
there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.
Όηαλ ν θύξηνο Μπίικπν Μπάγθηλο ηνπ Μπαγθ Δλη αλαθνίλσζε όηη ζε ιίγν
θαηξό ζα γηόξηαδε ηα εθαηόλ έληεθα ρξόληα ηνπ θαη ζα „δηλε έλα πάξηη κε
εμαηξεηηθή κεγαινπξέπεηα, όινη ειεθηξίζηεθαλ ζην Υόκπηηνλ θαη άξρηζαλ ην
θνπηζνκπνιηό
(Tolkien, 1954)
On the other hand, the perfect aspect allows the speaker to underline the relevance of
a past action to the present and focuses on the consequences of this particular past
event to the time of speaking or a time he/she chooses in the past or future (Saaed,
2008, p. 127). The last aspect that Saaed (2008) analyzes is the simple one which
involves both aspects since it depends on the context and the components of each
sentence (p. 128). Moreover, Miller (2002) in his literary work Syntax in Discourse:
Aspect, Tense, Voice states that there are two types of aspects; the first one being the
lexical, meaning the different lexical classes of verbs or situation type verbs, and the
second being the grammatical one which refers to the “information encoded in the
grammars of languages (p. 158)”. Miller (2002) further elaborates on grammatical
aspect being divided into Simple and Progressive (p. 160). The Progressive aspect is a
“syntactic construction consisting of be plus the participle in -ing while the Simple
form is constructed with just the verb stem plus –s or –ed. Native speakers usually
interpret clauses containing verbs in the progressive form and in the past tense as ones
that present a single event as continuous. On the other hand, when they use a verb in
the past tense in its simple form the event is regarded as completed or they are, also,
able to ascribe a habitual interpretation if they wish to (Saaed, 2008, p.160). The
change from present to past tense does not affect the Progressive, yet the
interpretation of the Simple form is affected. Present tense Simple forms can have a
single-event meaning, as well, but only in specific contexts such as “the sporting
commentary” (p.160). Furthermore, Huddleston and Pullum (2005) argue that clauses
with progressive form usually have imperfective interpretations but not all clauses
with imperfective interpretations have progressive form. Also, progressive aspect
needs to imply that the situation has duration and is dynamic (Huddleston & Pullum,
2005, p. 52).
THE MODERN GREEK LANGUAGE
Moving on, this essay, also, seeks to explore the Modern Greek language by means of
the same foci to reach a conclusion. In order to achieve that, we shall proceed to a
thorough analysis of the terms tense and aspect in the Greek linguistic environment.
According to Hartmut Haberland (2010) in his work Mood in Greek, Greek verbs
have two synthetic tenses, non past and past. Working on this model, there are also
two aspects of these synthetic tenses, Imperfective and Perfective (p. 474). We are
first going to analyze the meaning of tense in the Modern Greek language and then we
are going to move to the interpretation of aspect like the latter analysis that took place
earlier regarding the meaning of these terms in the English language.
According to Holton, Mackridge and Philippaki- Warburton (1997) in their work
Greek: A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Language, tenses “[are] always a
result of a combination of time reference and aspect” (p. 223). They are either formed
monolectically, using morphological modifications, or periphrastically, with the use
of the particle ζα or the auxiliary έρσ (ejo) (Holton et al, 1997, p. 223). They argue
that Modern Greek language employs seven tenses. The first one being the Present
constructed with imperfective aspect, used to describe either continuous or habitual
actions (p. 223). There is, also, a combination of imperfective and past- for a state or
action that was repeatedly or progressively taking place in the past called Imperfect
and a combination of the categories perfective and past used for incidents that were
attained in the past called Simple past (Holton, Mackridge, & Philippaki- Warburton,
1997, p. 225). However, when a verb expresses a change of state, meaning that an
action may have started in the past but has not yet been completed or its result affects
the present or the future in any way the Greek language tends to use either the simple
past or the perfect. In general, both languages overlap but the difference between
simple past and perfect in both Greek and English is that the first focuses on the
completed action while the latter underlines the consequences that influence the
present or the future state rather than the action itself. Despite this overlap, simple
past can be used to express conditionality or to express an inevitable action in the

future (Holton et al, 1997, p. 226). This takes us to the fourth stated tense, the Future
and Conditional, which is formed periphrastically with the particle θα followed by
either perfective or imperfective non-past. When we have this construction “we have
future continuous or future progressive” while “when [θα] combines with the
perfective non-past we have the simple future” (Holton et al, 1997, 226):
eg. 92) “I don‟t fancy he would try bringing his horse down that bank,” said Sam.
«Γε θαληάδνκαη όηη ζα πξνζπαζήζεη λα θαηεβάζεη ην άινγν ηνπ απ‟ απηή ηελ
πιαγηά,» είπε ν ΢ακ.
(Tolkien, 1954)
When a language user chooses to adopt imperfective future in his/her speech or
writing, he/she automatically presents an action that will take place in the future either
habitually or progressively or he/she wants to express strong possibility. On the other
hand, perfective future, or as mentioned above the simple future, is used to connote an
action or state that will “take place and be completed at a future point in time” or to
present “a habitual timeless action”. In the latter case it is quite usual for perfective
future to be replaced by a present tense (Holton et al, 1997, p. 226-227). In the latter
case it is quite usual for perfective future to be replaced by a present tense. Holton et
al (1997), manage to further introduce θα with imperfective past as a type of futurity
overlapping with conditionality (p. 228). It is considered to be a modality used in
order to connote suppositions, counterfactuality and depending on its interpretation it
can be construed as a state or action that refers to the present, past or future. Adding
to this construction there is, also, the case of ζα followed by a perfective past verb
form which is, also, a modality that is used to express “inference, possibility and
probability that something took place” since the particle θα functions in this case as
the expression „It is more likely that‟ (Holton et al, 1997, 228-229). Further analysis
regarding conditionality in Greek and English languages is going to follow in the next
part of this paper.
The fifth Modern Greek tense, according to Holton, Mackridge and Philippaki-
Warburton (1997), the Perfect is treated as a verb form examined as both a tense and
an aspect because the state or action described is considered to be completed while it
conveys the time that it took place. To make it even clearer when perfect is used, the
language user refers to “an action that is anterior to the time of the utterance but
whose consequences are relevant to the present” (Holton et al, 1997, p. 229). The
Pluperfect or past perfect is the sixth tense and is formed by the auxiliary verb „have‟
in past form and the non-finite verb form. Its difference with the perfect is that it is
used to describe a situation, event or action that took place in the past, its
consequences are relevant to another time in the past and do not affect the present or
future. It is seldom replaced by simple past when an action has taken place repeatedly
over a period of time. Pluperfect is, also, used in the conditional clause, or protasis, of
a counterfactual conditional construction.
One of the last tenses is the Future Perfect which is formed with the future particle θα
and the perfect to describe an action or event that will be completed in the future and
whose actions are relevant to that particular point in time and can, also, be used to
express modality. The last tense mentioned in Holton et al‟s (1997) literary work is
the Perfect Conditional or Future Pluperfect which is formed with the particle θα
combined with the pluperfect tense and is used to refer to an action that took place in
the past yet it failed to be accomplished. In this case, θα stands for the possible
completion of the particular action but the past tense of the verb invalidates it.
According to the writers, “it is, therefore, the irrealis expression and for this reason it
is used in the apodosis of a counterfactual conditional sentence”. (Holton et al, 1997,
p. 230-232):
eg. 10) “I found it, and Gollum would have killed me, if I hadn‟t kept it.”
«Δγώ ην βξήθα θαη ν Γθόινπκ ζα κε ζθόησλε αλ δε ην θξαηνύζα.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Regarding Perfect, Hartmut Haberland (2010) argues that in Modern Greek there is an
analytic Perfect tense constructed by the auxiliary verb ejo (have) and “either an
uninflected form derived from the Perfective with the ending (-s)i or a participle in –
menos (p. 474). The use of the past form of the auxiliary forms a Pluperfect (ija) but
neither of these tenses distinguishes any aspects since auxiliaries are always
Imperfective (p.474). In Greek, as in the English language, the Future tense is, also, a
quite controversial issue. Haberland chooses to present its structure being formed by
the use of Imperfective and Perfective verb forms that follow the particle θα (p.474).
Other verb forms constructed in this way are best considered as Conditionals. Further
research regarding future tense in Modern Greek takes place in Peter Mackridge‟s
(1985) work, The Modern Greek Language: A Descriptive Analysis of Modern Greek,
where he agrees on the fact that the Modern Greek future is expressed through the
semantic functions of the modal particle θα (p. 104).
THE MODERN GREEK LANGUAGE: ASPECT
Regarding aspectual analysis in Modern Greek, Peter Mackridge (1985) argues that
many linguists have pushed aside the distinction between the indicative and the
subjunctive mood due to its simplification in Modern Greek in favor of that between
the perfective and the imperfective aspect which works better in modern languages (p.
102). The Modern Greek language is considered to be oversimplified compared to
Ancient Greek since the Optative has disappeared, while Indicative and Subjunctive
merged into one form through the conspiracy of independent phonological changes
(Haberland, 2010, p. 475).To continue, Holton, Mackridge and Philippaki- Warburton
(1997) add to the former definition mentioned by Mackridge (1985) that the term
aspect “can be defined as the way an action is viewed by the speaker at the time of the
utterance”, providing us a reason not to analyze the Greek mood system (p. 109). To
elaborate more thoroughly on the focused subject, Modern Greek has three aspects;
that of perfective, imperfective and perfect. As in most languages, some Modern
Greek verbs lack the imperfective or are rarely used in this way either because of their
semantic properties or due to their morphological formation being problematic
(Mackridge, 1985, p. 103). On the other hand, there are some verbs that exist only in
the imperfective form like “I am” and “I have”. The basic idea behind aspectual
distinctions in modern Greek is that when a speaker uses the perfective he/she views
the action as a completed event while when he/she uses the imperfective the speaker
usually tends to refer to “a series of repeated actions not viewed as a whole (iterative)
or to a continuous action in progress (progressive or durative)” (Mackridge, 1985,
p.104-105):
eg. 28) “He has long studied it, seeking the lost secrets of their making; but when the
Rings were debated in the Council, all that he would reveal to us of his ring
lore told against my fears.”
«Σα είρε κειεηήζεη πνιύ ςάρλνληαο γηα ηα ρακέλα κπζηηθά ηεο θαηαζθεπήο
ηνπο, όηαλ όκσο ηα Γαρηπιίδηα ζπδεηήζεθαλ ζην ζπκβνύιην, ό,ηη καο
απνθάιπςε γύξσ από απηά θαζεζύραζαλ ηνπο θόβνπο κνπ.»

30) “I think it likely that some would resist…”
«Δίλαη πνιύ πηζαλό, λνκίδσ, πσο κεξηθνί Υόκπηη ζ‟αληηζηέθνληαλ…»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In the first example the translator uses the perfective aspect to show that the action is
completed and is, thus, viewed as a single event that occurred in the past while in the
second example the use of imperfective aspect indicates continuity and duration. To
continue, Holton, Mackridge and Philippaki- Warburton (1997) agree on the
imperfective aspect in Greek being used to present an action or state as single, yet
progressive or as a habitual one. The verb in this case presents no morphological
transfiguration, meaning that it is used in its most plain form (p. 217). The lexical
environment with which the verb interacts may indicate the habitual or the
progressive nature of the verb and, therefore, the corresponding nature of the sentence
as a whole or as is stated “it is the wider linguistic and pragmatic context that allows
us to give the correct interpretation of the imperfective aspect either as habitual or as
continuous progressive” (Holton et al, 1997, p. 217). In Greek, there are some
temporal or aspectual verbs such as „I begin‟ and „I continue‟, or verbs of perception
such as „hear‟, „see‟, „feel‟ that are being followed by subjunctive clauses whose
verbs are always in the imperfective (p. 219):
eg. 23) It was over nine years since Frodo had seen or heard of him, and he had begun
to think that the wizard would never return and had given up all interest in
hobbits.
Δίραλ πεξάζεη πάλσ από ελληά ρξόληα πνπ ν Φξόλην είρε λα ηνλ δεη ή λα πάξεη
λέα ηνπ θαη είρε αξρίζεη λα ζθέθηεηαη πσο ν κάγνο δελ ζα μαλαγύξηδε θαη πσο
είρε πάςεη λα ελδηαθέξεηαη γηα ηνπο Υόκπηη.
(Tolkien, 1954)
In the second case, perception verbs may be followed by perfectives, as well.
Specifically, imperfective non past in Modern Greek is used to “refer to actions or
states which are in process at the time of the utterance, or to actions which occur
habitually, or to states which are considered to be more or less permanent”
(Mackridge,1985, p. 125):
eg. 7) “You wisely kept that ring secret all these years, and it seemed to me necessary
to give your guests something else that would seem to explain your sudden
vanishment.”
«Πνιύ ζνθά θξάηεζεο ην δαρηπιίδη θξπθό..κνπ θάλεθε απαξαίηεην λα δώζσ
ζηνπο θαιεζκέλνπο ζνπ θάηη πνπ λα εμεγεί ηελ μαθληθή ζνπ εμαθάληζε.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
According to Mackridge (1985), this form can be used respectively to the English
present perfect continuous or in cases where English language employs present
perfect simple to indicate actions being realized in the present (p. 125-126). On the
other hand, imperfective past in Modern Greek is the “past equivalent of the
imperfective non-past” and its use implies that the action illustrated by the verb is
incomplete, or that some actions took place over repeatedly in the past (Mackridge,
1985, p. 127-128). As Modern Greek‟s imperfective non-past corresponds to English
present perfect continuous, to this effect imperfective past is used in cases where the
English language employs the past perfect continuous or in certain cases where the
past simple could be used, as well, in order to a sense of intention, assurance or
refusal to be ascribed. This form is, also, used as a conditional without θα when the
speaker wants to demonstrate an action that was not realized although it could easily
be fulfilled. Last but not least, the imperfective past is often used with or without θά
in order to imply a sense of politeness or desire (Mackridge, 1997):
eg. 11) “I wish you would trust me, as you used.”
«Μαθάξη λα κε εκπηζηεπόζνπλ όπσο παιηά.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Moving to the second aspectual type in the Modern Greek language, Holton et al
(1997) attempt to define that the perfective aspect in Modern Greek is used to present
the nature of an action that is viewed as whole, “in its totality” (p. 220). Perfective is
morphologically marked in the stem in different ways depending on the verb stem
(Holton et al, 1997, p. 220). Specifically, Modern Greek employs perfective past or
aorist where the perfect is equally acceptable in order to “refer to a completed action
which took place in the past” (Mackridge, 1985, p. 128):
eg. 8) “And would spoil my joke.”
«Καη κνπ ράιαζεο ην αζηείν.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Some verbs may be hard to be distinguished regarding present and past references.
The English tense that corresponds to Modern Greek‟s perfective past is the present
perfect or the perfect past depending on whether the speaker may wish to underline an
action that have occurred in the past (Mackridge,1985, p. 129). Apart from this use,
perfective past entails a “gnomic use” usually detected in proverbial phrases where
the phrase is characterized by a timeless validity and in an interrogative sentence
which is corresponding “to the protasis of a conditional sentence” (p.130). It can, also,
be used for future references when used in everyday, informal language. In this case,
imperfective past is detected to be used in order to express a promise or threat when
the speaker is so certain “that (s)he wants to avoid the rather contingent nature of a
situation expressed by a „future tense‟” (Mackridge,1985, p129-130).
Furthermore, regarding the third type of aspect named perfect, Mackridge (1985)
argues on its aspectual nature that the perfect is different from the other aspects
because it always refers to a time precedent to another time and its use is rarely
mandatory since it can be replaced by another aspect without causing a severe
semantic alteration except for a slight potential ambiguity (p.116). Its nature lies on
referring to both past and present, or past and more-past, or future and less-future,
hence, it cannot be used when two actions coincide or when an action is considered to
be progressive or iterative. Specifically, the perfect non-past is clearly used for a past
action or a series of actions whose consequences are notably stressed in the present or
future, for actions that have taken place once in the past and for a series of actions that
have stopped taking place in the past. It is quite common for the perfect aspect to be
replaced by other ones, especially the perfective, but it is not usual for the opposite to
happen. The construction of the Modern Greek Perfect exemplifies the complexity of
its own nature since it shares characteristics with perfective and imperfective with its
first part (ejo) being formed in the perfective form and the second part in the
imperfective (Mackridge, 1985, p116-118). Further analysis concerning the perfect is
taking place in Holton et al‟s (1997) literary work where they argue that the perfect is
a verb form that is should be examined as both a tense and an aspect since the state or
action described is considered to be completed while it simultaneously conveys the
time that it took place. To make it even clearer when perfect is used, the language user
refers to “an action that is anterior to the time of the utterance but whose
consequences are relevant to the present” as mentioned above (p. 229).
CONCLUSION
A conclusion that may be derived from all the aforementioned theories regarding both
languages is that they are complex, yet easy to examine. Both the English and the
Modern Greek language meet difficulties regarding the analysis of the Perfect since
many linguists agree on not treating it explicitly as a tense or an aspect. The English
language presents less and simpler characteristics regarding tense than the Greek one,
yet both illustrate the Perfect as a structure referring to both the past and the future, as
a form that carries the consequences of a past action into the present or future. What is
of further interest is the modal particle θα in the Greek language which is highly
related to the particle would, a relationship that is going to be explored in the next
chapter. Linguistic theories regarding aspectual division agree on both Modern Greek
and English presenting two explicit aspectual divisions; the imperfective and
perfective, carrying similar characteristics proved by the presented examples.
Regardless of how they are called both languages include an aspect that presents an
actions as completed and another one that focuses on the internal temporal
constituency of the situation. Moreover, both languages a controversial third aspectual
distinction named perfect. These detected similarities allow us to proceed to further
comparisons of the two languages regarding more complex linguistic structures and
refer to their semantic and pragmatic natures since it is now clear how they treat their
temporal and aspectual forms.

GREEK LANGUAGE: CONDITIONALS
After exploring in detail how the English and Modern Greek aspectual and tense
system works, it is easier to examine how they treat even more complex structures. It,
also, justifies the difficulties of correlating these languages cross linguistically since
their structure has proved to be difficult to analyze concerning the various mentioned
meaning that a form may carry. One of the most controversial issues regarding
languages is conditionality, which we could not examine without first exploring the
terms “tense” and “aspect” since the categories they include are of severe importance
when one want to decode the type of conditionality that may be hidden in a sentence.
To define what a conditional is for the Modern Greek language we are going to focus
on the particle θα and use Klairis and Babiniotis‟ (1999) words stating that it is one of
the main uses of the word θα in order to indicate that something might be possible in
the future or in the past if the circumstances needed are, or used to be, in favor of the
situation. Conditionals are constructed by two sentences, one being the apodosis
entailing the main clause which is formed with θα and a verb form, and a subordinate
clause called hypothesis being introduced by a conditional conjunction (p.131).
It is quite difficult for linguists to categorize the characteristics of conditional
sentences regarding both their typical constructions, as mentioned above, as well as
their semantic properties. According to Tsangalidis (2012), theories may diverge and
the deviations may vary due to the difficulties carried by discriminating semantic,
pragmatic, typical or literary characteristics (p. 147). In this paper, it is even more
difficult to strictly classify conditional structures because of the literary context and
the descriptive or narrative parts that it includes, combined with direct and reported
speech being transferred from the English language to the Modern Greek one. Tense,
mood and aspect are of central importance when one tries to interpret a conditional
sentence in his/her native or a foreign language. In order to detect and understand the
different types of conditionality and explore the possible meanings that are hidden in
these sentences it is useful to decipher the various types of different tenses, aspects,
moods, conjunctions or different types of syntactic structures and stress patterns found
in such sentences(Tsangalidis, 2012, p. 126). However, it is not mandatory for a
specific location in time to be stated for every single temporal detail as these
categories intertwine in such ways that is sometimes difficult to determine the reason
and the meaning of the result itself (Tsangalidis, 1999, 171).
In the Greek language it is safe to identify some main categories, referred to as
“prototypes”, “genuine” or “normal” (Tsangalidis, 2012, 137). Tzatzanos (1991)
argues about five types of conditionals. The first one denotes the “real”, or “factual”
and it is formed with the use of indicative in the hypothesis and any mood in the
apodosis.
eg. 99) “If you and Mr. Peregrin and all could stay and have a bite with us, we would
be pleased!”
«Αλ εζύ θη ν Πέξεγθξηλ θαη όινη ζαο κπνξνύζαηε λα κείλεηε θαη λα
ηζηκπήζεηε θάηη καδί καο, ζα ην ραηξόκαζηε.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
The second type is formed by the indicative of imperfective non past or past perfect in
the hypothesis, and conditional tense in the apodosis in order to indicate an event or
state that is contrary to the real:

eg. 95) It seemed plain that the farmer would tell them more if allowed to do in his
own time and fashion, so they all accepted the invitation.
Φαηλόηαλ θαζαξά πσο ν αγξόηεο ζα ηνπο έιεγε θη άιια, αλ ηνλ άθελαλ λα ηα
πεη κε ηελ ώξα ηνπ θαη ηνλ ηξόπν ηνπ, έηζη όινη δέρηεθαλ ηελ πξόζθιεζε.
(Tolkien, 1954)
Third type of Tzartzanos‟ (1991) conditionality table is structured by the use of
indicative imperfective non past in the hypothesis and the indicative of a conditional
tense of imperfective non past or the indicative of a future tense in order to present a
general thought:
eg. 87) “Well, sir, if I could grow apples like that, I would call myself a gardener.”
«Λνηπόλ, θύξηε, αλ κπνξνύζα λα θαιιηεξγήζσ κήια ζαλ θη εθείλα, ζα έιεγα
πσο είκαη ζη‟ αιήζεηα θεπνπξόο.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
He continues with his last type which is divided into two subcategories with their
difference lying on the fact that the first one is being formed with the subjunctive in
the hypothesis and indicative of future tense, imperative or a construction that
connotes future elements in the apodosis, while the second one is constructed by the
subjunctive of perfective past in the hypothesis and indicative of non past in the
apodosis in order to indicate an action or state that is “probable” or “desirable” in the
first case and “generally repeated” in the second one. Unfortunately, such an example
is not detected in Tolkien‟s first 100 given examples of the word “would”
(Tzartzanos, 1991, pp. 139-140).

To add to these categories, Klairis and Babiniotis (1999) support the first three
categories by saying that the first type of conditional presented in Tzartzanos‟(1991)
literary work is usually referred to as “simple thought of the speaker”, while the
second and the third ones are about a state or event that is unlikely to be fulfilled yet it
is still possible and a state or event that was not realized and will not be realized,
accordingly (p. 487). What differentiates Klairis and Babiniotis‟ (1999) theory is that
they indicate that the language user can choose between various combinations to
construct the last two mentioned types of conditionals, yet, when past perfect is used
the sentence can denote nothing but the hypothetical condition‟s certain failure to be
fulfilled (p. 488).
eg. 58) “If you had warned me, or even sent me a message, I would have done away
with it.”
«Αλ κε είρεο πξνεηδνπνηήζεη ή αλ αθόκα κνπ „ζηειλεο παξαγγειία, ζα ην είρα
θαηαζηξέςεη.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Moreover, Klairis and Babiniotis (1999) disagree on the fourth category of
Tzartzanos‟(1991) theory and they choose to deal with it as a category of “pseudo-
conditionals”, which is named after the fact that the hypothesis illustrates events that
depict general truths, hence, they are usually expressed through the use of
imperfective non past and one of them is what Tzartzanos(1991) refers to as
“generally repeated” conditionals (Tsangalidis,2012, p. 143)
On the contrariwise, Holton, Mackridge and Philippaki- Warburton (1997) in their
book Greek: A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Language argue that

depending on the type of the verb and its semantic elements, conditional sentences
may be divided into two categories; one including “factual” conditionals and a second
one where conditionals regard something that is contrary to the “real” world.
Conditionals that deal with the “real” are the ones that fulfill the condition of the
hypothesis, making it true or possible to be accomplished in the real world. In this
case we usually detect verbs in all tenses and aspects in the hypothesis and verb forms
of the same type either with a modal auxiliary verb or a verb in the imperative form
(Holton et al, 1997, p. 435):
be pleased!”
(Tolkien, 1954)
On the other hand, these patterns are not fixed. Conditional sentences are usually
interpreted mostly through their semantic and pragmatic properties, as well as, the
general linguistic environment that surrounds them such as adverbials, particles or
conjunctions. To begin with, conditionals that indicate a situation, action or event that
is “contrary to the fact” are expressed through the use of either imperfective past or
past perfect usually accompanied by the modal auxiliary θα (tha) in the hypothesis
and the modal θα followed by imperfective past or perfective past in the apodosis to
present situations, actions, events that were not realized in the past or it is impossible
to be fulfilled in the present or the future (Holton et al, 1997, p. 436):
eg. 61) “Even if you took it and struck it with heavy sledged-hammer, it would make
no dint in it.”
«Αθόκα θη αλ ην „παηξλεο θαη ην ρηύπαγεο κε ηε βαξηά, δε ζα γηλόηαλ νύηε
ραξαθηά πάλσ ηνπ.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Nonetheless, it is quite easy to notice that in some cases when both the main and the
subordinate clause do not contain a negative type and they are both formed by the use
of imperfective non past, the conditional may be interpreted as one that could denote
something “real” or “factual” (Holton et al,1997, p. 436). Either way, as Tsangalidis
(2012), states in his work “Σν ρξνληθό ζύζηεκα ηεο λέαο ειιεληθήο”, the most
multifaceted relationship that conditionality forms is the one regarding tense as
presented by examples where tenses do not refer to the usual temporal location that
they are used to in such cases when we talk about situation that cannot be changed (p.
181):
eg. 58) “If you had warned me, or even sent me a message, I would have done away
with it.”
«Αλ κε είρεο πξνεηδνπνηήζεη ή αλ αθόκα κνπ „ζηειλεο παξαγγειία, ζα ην είρα
θαηαζηξέςεη.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Also, what is rational is for the temporal relationship of the protasis and the apodosis
to be that of the if-clause preceding the subordinate clause (Tsangalidis, 2012, p. 181).
However, in many instances a situation, action or event of the protasis can be
simultaneous to the one being described in the apodosis.
eg. 43) “People would see if he would stand being kicked, and driven into a hole and
then robbed.”
«Ο θόζκνο ζα „βιεπε αλ ζα θαζόηαλ λα ην θισηζάλε θαη λα ην ζηξηκώρλνπλ
θαη κεηά λα ην ληζηεύοςν.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In this example, the character describes the reaction that would take place at the same
time with the violent scene even though the structure of the sentence is of the first
type of conditionals. Characteristically, Peter Mackridge(1985) in his literary work
The Modern Greek Language refers to Kohane and Kohane‟s (1958) words that “a
notable feature of the conditional is that it is the one pattern in the Modern Greek
temporal system which is relative only and not aspectual” meaning in this way that it
does not necessarily indicate aspect but it ,also, avoids stating the exact temporal
moment usually denoted by tense (p. 281).
The element that makes understanding the Modern Greek language in terms of
conditionality even harder, apart from the fact that tenses do not always denote their
actual, normal meaning is the presence of the particle θα followed by past tense verb
forms. We have already talked about futurity in the previous section regarding tense
and aspect, thus, we are now going to deal with this particle‟s relationship with
conditionality in the Modern Greek language.
CONDITIONALITY IN GREEK
As Peter Mackridge (1985) argues, θα, as well as being used to refer to a temporal
location in the future it may, also, be used to imply conditionality either in a potential
or inferential sense (p. 280). In conditional sentences, future and past tenses meet, as
θα is followed by the imperfective or perfective past even if the verb carries present,
past or future references. This approach, permits the language user to imply a sense of
wish or suggestion or just show that (s)he implicitly refers to the past
(Mackridge,1985, p. 280):
eg. 20) “I would give them Bag End and everything else, if I could get Bilbo back and
go off trumping in the country with him.”
«Δγώ ζα ηνπο ην „δηλα ην Μπαγθ Δλη θη όια ηνπ ηα θαιά, αλ κπνξνύζα λα
έθεξλα ηνλ Μπίικπν πίζσ θαη λα πήγαηλα καδί ηνπ.»
87) “Well, sir, if I could grow apples like that, I would call myself a gardener.”
«Λνηπόλ, θύξηε, αλ κπνξνύζα λα θαιιηεξγήζσ κήια ζαλ θη εθείλα, ζα έιεγα
πσο είκαη ζη‟ αιήζεηα θεπνπξόο.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
The examples presented above prove the aforementioned theory of Mackridge (1985)
stating that θα followed by imperfective past in conditional sentences may imply a
sense of wish or suggestion, since Frodo implicitly suggested giving away his
inheritance in exchange for Bilbo‟s return and Sam implicitly wished to be such good
gardener.
Mackridge(1985), also, indicates that in narratives is it often that writers adopt this
form for actions that are anterior to the main described actions or in order to
“formulate a polite and tentative expression of request, intention or wish” yet this
structure of θα is not always mandatorily formed with past tense. (p. 282).
Eg.29) “He would get all right in time, wouldn‟t he?”
« Θα γίλεη θαιά, έηζη δελ είλαη;»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In this particular example conditionality is expressed only through the use of would in
the English text and θα in the Greek one. What gives away a sense of conditionality,
although present tense is used in the translated text, is the semantic context of the
sentence. Thus, θα followed by a present tense could be used to denote a wish.
Moving on, many linguists agree on the theory that although θα followed by
imperfective past may function in various ways in a sentence, the most frequent of its
uses is in the apodosis of conditional structures. Specifically, Tsangalidis (2012) ,
describes them as “conditional combinations”, or as types of a conditional mood
while others attempt to refer to them as a conditional mood itself due to this dynamic
presence in such structures. Tsangalidis (2017) in his paper Οι νεοελληνικέρ εγκλίζειρ
και η ηςπολογία ηηρ έγκλιζηρ mentions Thierof‟s theory on θα followed by
imperfective past as “Western Conditional” and treats it as a special tense (p. 707).
All these theories cited above, indicate that the structure formed with the future
particle θα followed by imperfective past can be used accordingly to the English
would followed by bare infinitive in any tense in order for the same purpose; to
convey conditionality, a conclusion that is proven through the following part, as well.
CONJUNCTIONS IN GREEK
In both Modern Greek and the English language, the prototypical conditional
conjunction is αν or if, a theory that can be proven by the fact that most conditional
sentences (18/21 in English and Greek) taken from Tolkien‟s literature are introduced
by these conjunctions, apart from a few examples that we going to examine later. In
spite of this fact, there are other ways to indicate the introduction of a conditional
structure in both Greek and English but since we focus on the Greek language on this
section an analysis regarding the English language is going to take place in the next
chapter. There are cases in Modern Greek were conditionals are not introduced by the
prototypical conditional conjunction αν (if) but with the conjunction να (na) in order
for the language user to express that (s)he is “emotionally involved with his
imagination in the scene” (Tsangalidis, ala Sakellariou 2000:101). Conditionality in
this case is attributed to the verb form following the particle θα in the Greek text since
it incidentally connotes a sense of hesitation which suffices in order to produce a
conditional meaning. Focusing on the Greek language, Iatridou (2000) in her work
The Grammatical Ingredients of Counterfactuality indicates that in the Modern Greek
language the instances where the language user detects or uses na + imperfective past
(s)he is referring to an instance, action or event that regards something contrary to the
real (p. 233).
eg.38) “But perhaps it would only make matters worse.”
«Αιιά ίζσο ηα πξάγκαηα λα ρεηξνηέξεπαλ.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In the presented example, the speaker uses na followed by imperfective past to refer
to a situation that has been realized and cannot be changed and is, therefore, contrary
to the real.
(Regarding the frequency of would + bare infinitive being transferred to the Greek
text as tha + imperfective past, Tsangalidis(2012) argues that in the French
bibliography of the Modern Greek language “the combinations of θα + imperfective
non past and past perfect are usually referred to as conditional combinations or as
forms of a conditional mood” since their presence in the apodoses of conditional
sentences is proved to be one of their most frequent use (p.177). However, in order to
avoid exploring the subject of mood in the Modern Greek language we are going to
adopt Veloudis and Philippaki- Warburton‟s (1983) argument that the only division
between moods in the Modern Greek is that of imperative and non-imperative ones
while regarding the subjunctive and indicative we shall decide based on the syntactic
structure of the sentence (Tsangalidis, 2012, p. 179). )
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: CONDITIONALITY
Moving to the English language, a general thought about what a conditional is can be
found in linguistic dictionaries and glossaries. Alan Cruse (2008) in his literary work
A Glossary of Semantics and Pragmatics argues that a conditional is a “conventional
name for certain verb forms occurring in some languages, notably Romance
languages, which express some notion of remoteness, supposition, approximation or
implied condition” (p. 54). When we refer to conditional sentences, their structure is
usually formed with two clauses, one being the protasis expressing a “condition
whose fulfillment or non-fulfillment is relevant to the degree of reality assigned to the
other” which is called the apodosis of the sentence (p. 55). A conditional sentence can
be categorized in many ways. Some agree on the division of “open”, for sentences the
fulfillment of which is dealt with as a feasible scenario and “closed” for the ones that
are unlikely or impossible to be realized due to the realization of the action taking
place in a past location in time (Cruse, 2008, p. 55). Others tend to characterize the
protasis as “antecedent” and the apodosis as “consequent” (Kaufman, 2006, p. 6).
In the English language, Declerck and Reed (2001) state that it is, also, quite difficult
to determine the categories in which conditional sentences may be divided into. For
practical, pedagogical reasons we can detect three tense-based categories (p. 59) in the
form of:
1) “If you and Mr. Peregrin and all could stay and have a bite with us, we would be
pleased!”
2. For one thing, there was a lot to do up in the Bag End garden, and he would have a
busy day tomorrow, if the weather cleared
3. He would have burst out of the trees and dashed off towards the voices, if they had
not pulled him back.
Following this pattern, the first example connotes a situation, act or event that is
possible to happen in the real world, while the second refers to something that is
unlikely to be realized and the third one describes a situation that is considered to be
“contrary to the fact” (p. 59). Another notable attempt to categorize conditional
structures for pedagogical goals is Taylor‟s (2005) table found in Tsangalidis (2012)
literary work The temporal system of Modern Greek indicating four types of
conditionals which are going to be presented by the use examples selected from J.R.R.
Tolkien‟s (1954) literature (p. 167):
Name Structure Use Examples
Zero Conditional If+ present simple, General truths
present simple about the present
1st type Conditional If +present simple, Statements about
future + will the future
2nd type If + simple past, Occasion that does There‟s some not
Conditional would + present not true in the past far away that
simple or is very unlikely wouldn‟t offer a
pint of beer to a
friend, if they lived
in a hole with
golden walls
3rd type If + had + past Statements about He would have
Conditional participle, would + what could/should burst out of the
had + past have happened in trees and dashed
participle the past off towards the
voices, if they had
not pulled him
back.
Table 1
It should be noted here that due to the literary, descriptive context of the book, most
of the conditional structures detected belong to the 2nd and 3rd type or to other types
which are not included in this table due being constructed by mixed tense patterns or
due to their semantic properties. What is, also, a fact is that they take place in
“contrary-to-the fact” world and they usually refer to past actions in direct speech or
during dialogues. However, it is easy to observe that the English prototype categories
highly relate to the Modern Greek ones, regarding their structures and connotations.
Many linguists agree on the fact that it is rare for conditional sentences to fully meet
these tense patterns, thus, many linguists move to semantic elements in order to
classify sentences containing conditional elements. According to Tsangalidis (2012),
in general, there are two linguistic movements trying to classify conditionals; one
following more typical criteria based on more descriptive means, and one that does
not focus that much in pedagogical purposes and focuses on more functional scopes,
“regardless of their typical characteristics” (p. 199). Moreover, Declerck and Reed
(2001) in their literary work Conditionals: An Empirical Analysis, begin by describing
“factual” and “closed” conditionals, that both deal with conditional clauses that are
“treated as fulfilled” (p.2). Their difference lays on the fact that the realization of
“factual” conditionals is known by the language user herself while in “closed”
conditionals the fulfillment is transferred by a secondary source, thus, it is “assumed
to be fulfilled on the basis of another speaker‟s authority” (Declerck & Reed, p. 2).
Other categories include Pseudo-Q conditionals, Case- specifying-P conditionals,
Theoretical conditionals, (Non)Neutral theoretical P-clauses and the subcategories
deriving from this division which are going to be closely examined and exemplified
later in this paper. There are, certainly, many more categories but no matter how
much one elaborates on the issue of conditionality, this subject will never cease to
develop and, therefore, congregate more theories.
We, shall, therefore explore some categories based mostly on Declerck and Reed‟s
(2001) literary work Conditionals: A Comprehensive Empirical Analysis since these
are the ones that are proved to be most highly accepted among linguists regarding the
English language and explore whether they can be applied in the Modern Greek
language, as well. When they start their analysis based on semantic and pragmatic
details, they underline that there are numerous ways of categorizing conditionals due
to the variety of parameters taken into consideration. Moreover, they identify that a
conditional sentence may not just belong to one category but may also be part of
another category based on different criteria (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 211). They,
firstly, manage to present amongst others, the actualization conditionals, a category
the classification of which is “according to whether or not the actualization of the P-

situation is a condition for the actualization of the Q situation” (Declerck & Reed,
2001, p. 40).
eg. 21) For one thing, there was a lot to do up in the Bag End garden, and he would
have a busy day tomorrow, if the weather cleared.
Καη πξώηα πξώηα είρα έλα ζνξό δνπιεηά ζηνλ θήπν ηνπ Μπαγθ Δλη θαη ζα
„ηξερε όιε κέξα αύξην, αλ μαλάλνηγε ν θαηξόο.
(Tolkien, 1954)
The character in the book would, indeed have a busy day he following day depending
on whether the weather would be better or not. The actualization of the situation
described in the protasis is the only condition that influences the situation presented in
the apodosis, which, subsequently, makes the given conditional sentence a valid
example of an actualization conditional. Simultaneously, this conditional structure
presents an example of a postscript-P conditional, meaning that the if-clause
syntactically follows the Q-clause which is made even more evident by the use of a
dash or a comma. In this case the conditional structure may also be regarded as a
restrictive postscript-P conditional since the weather is, in fact, a “necessary condition
for the speaker‟s commitment to the truth” (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 39).
Furthermore, they present the category of case-specifying-P conditionals in which the
condition that the P-clause describes is specified in order for the apodosis to be
actualized (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 47):
eg. 57) “As long as you never used it, I did not think that the Ring would have any
lasting effect on you, not for evil, not at any rate for a very long time.”
«Αλ δελ ην ρξεζηκνπνίεζεο πνηέ, δε λνκίδσ πσο ην Γαρηπιίδη ζα έρεη κόληκε
επίδξαζε πάλσ ζνπ, ηνπιάρηζηνλ όρη γηα θαθό, γηα πάξα πνιύ θαηξό.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In both languages, it is made clear that if Frodo hadn‟t used the Ring, he would not
have to face any of the consequences that the Ring would impose on his physical and
mental health. In this way, the presented conditional could be classified as a case-
specifying-P actualization structure being accurate in both languages.
As they continue developing theories regarding conditionals, Declerck and Reed
(2001) move to another field where they refer to the possible worlds that the
conditional refers to. In this field of subject the tenses and modal auxiliaries regulate a
severe part regarding the classification of the sentence (p. 50). The basic distinction is
that of the „factual‟ and „theoretical‟ P-clauses, since the protasis is the clause that
determines in which world the situation, action or event take place. „Factual‟ P
clauses tend to “refer to situations that form part of the actual world” while theoretical
ones “refer to situations that only exist in the mind of the speaker” or in other words
they describe” a supposition about a situation in a theoretical (nonfactual) world
(Declerck & Reed, 2001, p.51) . The latter category is further analyzed and, thus, is
subdivided into more categories determined by more semantic distinctions based on
the type of supposition denoted by the protasis (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 51).
One of these subdivisions is the one between „neutral‟ and „nonneutral‟ theoretical P-
clauses depending on whether the content of the P-clause is just a bare hypothesis or
if it is a “supposition accompanied by a presupposition (assumption) about the
relation of compatibility between the supposed world and the actual world” ( Declerck
& Reed, 2001, p.51).

eg. 77) After that, if Gandalf wanted him urgently, he would go to Crickhollow, and
might even get there first.
Κη έπεηηα αλ ν Γθάληαιθ ηνλ ρξεηαδόηαλ επεηγόλησο, ζα πήγαηλε ζην
Κξηθρόιννπ, ίζσο κάιηζηα λα έθηαλε εθεί πξώηνο.
(Tolkien, 1954)
The presented example in both English and Modern Greek, presents a pure
supposition, Frodo‟s thought, since Gandalf did not ask him nor did he have to be at
Crickhollow first. This is an example of pure assumption regarding the content of the
P-clause. According to Declerck and Reed(2001), the best examples of neutral
theoretical-P conditionals are „imaginary-P‟ conditionals which belong to „irrealis‟
conditionals, in an imaginary world where the assumption is not counterfactual, yet, it
does not indicate any truth relation to the actual world (52). According to Tsangalidis
(2012) in imaginary-P conditionals it is quite often that we meet forms of
imperfective non past and past perfect (p.217). On the other hand, nonneutral
theoretical P-clauses have four more subdivision “depending on the assumed truth
relation between the supposed possible world and the actual world” (Declerck &Reed,
2001,p. 53). The first one refers to occasions where the speaker assumes or appears to
assume that the situation being described in the P-clause is true. This category is
called “closed-P” conditionals (p.53):
eg. 66) “Not if you know of anyone you can trust, and who would be willing to go by
your side and that you would be willing to take into unknown perils.”
«Όρη αλ μέξεηο θάπνηνλ πνπ κπνξείο λα ηνλ εκπηζηεπηείο θαη πνπ λα είλαη
πξόζπκνο λα ζηαζεί ζην πιεπξό ζνπ θαη πνπ εζύ ζα είζαη δηαηεζεηκέλνο λα
ηνλ ηξαβήμεηο ζ‟ άγλσζηνπο θηλδύλνπο.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In this case, the speaker supposes that the recipient is, indeed, familiar with people
that he could trust and this is, also, the reason why present simple is being used in the
transferred text. Tsangalidis (2012) argues that the verb forms that could be used in
the Modern Greek regarding closed-P conditionals are of every type apart from that of
the dependent (p. 218). The second category is that of „open-P‟ conditional clauses.
The P-clause describes an assumption that is treated by the language user as uncertain
yet likely to be fulfilled (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 54). They usually refer to future
situations that have not yet have or have not been realized, however every verb form
can be used as soon as the speaker is not certain about the fulfillment of the condition
described in the P-clause (Tsangalidis, 2012, pp. 219-220):
be pleased!”
(Tolkien, 1954)
The example taken from Tolkien‟s book indicates that the speaker is not certain about
the fulfillment of the P-clause but considers it likely to happen since he suggests to his
visitors to prolong their visit. The uncertainty and the hope, as well as, the direct
speech form are the reason that the translator chooses to use non past forms in the
translated text. Moreover, the third category, that of „tentative-P‟ clauses, regards
conditionals whose P-clause describes a situation that the speaker considers to be
unlikely, almost impossible to be realized (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 54).
eg. 20) “I would give them Bag End and everything else, if I could get Bilbo back and
go off trumping in the country with him.”
(Tolkien, 1954)
Tolkien illustrates Frodo believing that he could still get Bilbo back, even though he
knows that it is highly unlikely, almost impossible to be realized in the future. Last
but not least, „counterfactual-P‟ clauses, describe a supposition that the speaker
assumes that is already false in the real world (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 54).
Counterfactual sentences are, also, the ones where tenses appear to connote a different
temporal location than the ordinary one. However, in this case the speaker focuses on
the semantic content of the protasis. These types of conditionals are usually formed by
means of the 3rd canonical tense pattern presented in Declerck and Reed‟s (2001,
p.59) literature in English and as the second or third type of Tzartzano‟s (1991, p.
139) theory presented earlier, meaning that the speaker usually uses imperfective past
or past perfect in the protasis and present or perfect in the apodosis:
eg. 85) He would have burst out of the trees and dashed off towards the voices, if they
had not pulled him back.
Θα „ρε πεηαρηεί έμσ από ηα δέληξα, ίζηα ζηηο θσλέο, αλ δελ ηνλ ηξαβνύζαλ
πίζσ.
(Tolkien, 1954)
It is quite evident that the condition is a contrary to the fact one since it has already
been performed and as Barker (2006) indicates in his literary work Conditionals it is
uttered in the knowledge that it has a false antecedent (p. 259). Other cases of
counterfactuality may be drawn from The Cambridge Grammar of the English
Language stating that it exists in structures formed with wish since these structures
usually refer implicitly to a condition, state or event that has already taken place yet
hope to change that in the future is conveyed, yet “wish cannot be used with a „pure‟
future , one where there is no present time involved”, hence, this the reason why it is
transferred as na followed by imperfective past in the Greek text (Huddleston,
Pullum, 2002, p. 1006):
eg. 11) “I wish you would trust me, as you used.”
«Μαθάξη λα κε εκπηζηεπόζνπλ όπσο παιηά.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Also, another instance where counterfactuality is detected is in structures formed with
would rather. The presented form could also denote preference (Huddlestone, Pullum,
2002, p. 1004):
eg. 81) “It may not matter much,” he said apologetically, “but I would rather not be
seen in the road – by anyone.”
«Ίζσο λα κελ έρεη κεγάιε ζεκαζία, ζπλέρηζε απνινγεηηθά, κα δε ζα „ζεια λα
κε δεη ζην δξόκν θαλείο.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Focusing, again, on the semantic relationship of a conditional sentence, there may be
a causal relationship between the protasis and the apodosis:
eg.9) “He would come with me, of course, if I asked him.”
«Θα „ξρόηαλ καδί κνπ, θπζηθά, αλ ηνπ ην δεηνύζα.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In this case it is suggested that the reason that the character would follow the speaker
would be because he would ask him to do so, thus, the causal relationship is quite
apparent in both languages. Following such semantic and pragmatic characteristics
many linguists seek to categorize conditional structures and even detect patterns
between these and some typical characteristics. Renaat Declerck and Susan Reed
(2001) begin by stating that “[i]n the philosophical literature, conditionals are
traditionally subdivided into „indicative‟ conditionals on the one hand, and
„subjunctive‟ or „counterfactual‟ conditionals on the other” (p. 13). Indicative
conditionals are the ones that their tenses retain their ordinary temporal attitude while
counterfactuals are the ones that may be interpreted in a different way or may be
“contrary to the fact” (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 13).
Another theory regarding conditionals based on both semantic and syntactic discourse
on Declerck and Reed‟s (2001) work is that of “pseudo-Q” conditionals. This type of
conditional sentences presents the phenomenon of the Q-clause not being the overt
apodosis of the P-clause. Instead it is a cover Q-clause that forms the apodosis (p. 56):
eg. 36) “And I daresay it amused his wickedness to start a game which might end in
providing him with an easy victim, but if he lost would not hurt him.”
«Καη ζα ‟ιεγα πσο δηαζθέδαδε κε ηελ θαθία ηνπ, αξρίδνληαο έλα παηρλίδη πνπ
κπνξνύζε λα ηειεηώζεη εμνηθνλνκώληαο ηνπ εύθνιε ιεία, αιιά αθόκε, θη αλ
έραλε, δε ζα ην έβιαπηε.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In this sentence, Tolkien presents the “would not hurt him” as the overt Q-clause, yet
it is easy to notice that the covert clause of “it amused his wickedness to start a game
which might end in providing him with an easy victim” could be a more truthful
apodosis of the particular conditional structure.
CONJUNCTIONS
In J.R.R. Tolkien‟s book, most of the provided examples are considered to be
counterfactual due to their literary nature. However, despite all the already mentioned
differences between conditionals, regardless of their classification, they share a
common characteristic; in most cases they are introduced by the conjunction if (αν),
which may provide the sentences with various connotations, may that be one of
causation, comparison or else (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 20).However, in the book
there are other cases were conditional sentences are introduced with:
 Even if: theoretically, even if- conditionals are the ones expressing an
“expected incompatibility” and may be subdivided into „implicative‟ and
„non-implicative‟ (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p.461).In this case Tolkien
chooses to present an implicative, preclusive even if – conditional, meaning
that the actualization of the P is highly unlikely to happen, thus, the content of
the even if clause is automatically cancelled. Moreover, these clauses usually
connote a sense of scalarity in cases where the language user considers of
high importance. In this case there is no such intention because the whole P is
underlined through the use of even if. Regardless, as Declerck and Reed
(2001) indicate “even always puts the relevant conditional high on the scale of
unexpectedness” (p. 465).
eg.61) “Even if you took it and struck it with heavy sledged-hammer, it would
make no dint in it.”
«Αθόκα θη αλ ην „παηξλεο θαη ην ρηύπαγεο κε ηε βαξηά, δε ζα γηλόηαλ
νύηε ραξαθηά πάλσ ηνπ.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
 As long as: usually expressing duration, “but may have the connotation of a
necessary condition”(31).
eg. 57) “As long as you never used it, I did not think that the Ring would
have any lasting effect on you, not for evil, not at any rate for a very
long time.
«Αλ δελ ην ρξεζηκνπνίεζεο πνηέ, δε λνκίδσ πσο ην Γαρηπιίδη ζα
έρεη κόληκε επίδξαζε πάλσ ζνπ, ηνπιάρηζηνλ όρη γηα θαθό, γηα πάξα
πνιύ θαηξό.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
 When: a conjunction usually indicating temporal location, yet, sometimes can
be used for case-specifying conditionals expressing a „factual‟ condition as a
substitute of if (p. 31).

eg 57) When autumn came, he knew that part at least of his heart would think
more kindly of journeying, as it always did at that season.
Όηαλ ζα εξρόηαλ ην θζηλόπσξν, ήμεξε πσο, ηνπιάρηζηνλ έλα κέξνο
ηεο θαξδηάο ηνπ, ζα αληηκεηώπηδε πην επράξηζηα ην ηαμίδη, όπσο πάληα
γηλόηαλ εθείλε ηελ επνρή.
(Tolkien, 1954)
 Unless: The most frequent use of unless is that of “Q unless P” meaning “Q
in a case other than P” (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 447). However, the case
that is presented in Tolkien‟s text is one of a syntactically nonintegrated
nonirrealis unless- clause that, also, expresses exception rather than a negative
condition. Such a structure “typically takes a postscript position” and can be
formed in four ways “depending on the (positive or negative) polarity of the
two clauses (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 452). In this particular example both
clauses carry positive connotations while the other three categories are formed
like [+q] – [-p], [-q] – [-p] or [-q] – [+p] (p. 452). It is one of the
characteristics of integrated unless – clauses not the conjunction cannot be
paraphrased, while postscript clauses can be replaced or be interpreted as
except if (p. 453). Furthermore, the conjunction unless may be located either
in counterfactual-P or imaginary-P conditionals. It is denoted that the
conditionals structures that can be replaced by except if belong to the
imaginary-P irrealis conditional family (Declerck & Reed, 2001, p. 455), a
fact, also, proved by Tolkien‟s provided example:
eg.38) “But that, of course, would only make the evil part of him angrier in
the end – unless it could be conquered.”

«Απηό όκσο ζην ηέινο, θπζηθά, ζα θαηάθεξλε κόλν λα θάλεη ηνλ
ππόινηπν θαθό ηνπ εαπηό λα ζπκώζεη πεξηζζόηεξν – εθηόο θη αλ
κπνξνύζε λα ηνλ θαηαληθήζεη.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
WOULD/WILL- WOULD/ΘΑ and THEIR USES
After examining several tense, aspect and conditionality theories and different ways
of introducing a conditional sentence, we shall move forward to investigate the
particularity of the modal auxiliary would in the English language. Since θα was
thoroughly analyzed in the first section of this paper and due to the frequent
association of would with θα in conditional sentences, or simpler conditional forms it
would be of use to explore the properties that these two share. To begin with, would is
considered to be the past form of the modal auxiliary will, hence, it carries many of its
properties as Tsangalidis (1999) explores in his work Will and Tha: A Comparative
Study of the Category Future.( Tsangalidis (1999) chooses to focus more on will
rather than would, yet I would like to focus more on the structures formed with the
latter and its correlation with the modal auxiliary θα, since these are one of the
subjects of focus of this paper.) In this book, he manages to present Palmer‟s theory
on the uses of will which include volition, power, habit, in conditions, implicit
conditions, planned actions and epistemic modality and is presented as a particle
highly connected to tense and futurity (pp.72-73). The particle would, on the other
hand, when followed by verb form either in the past or non past form is “more
frequently used to indicate non-temporal than temporal relations‟ and is “better
known by the name of „conditional‟ and „conditional perfect‟” than as “past future or
past future perfect”, which a theory of Harder found in Tsangalidis‟ (1999) work (p.
77) and coincides with theories formerly mentioned regarding the use of θα followed
by imperfective past carrying conditionality:
eg.60) He wondered how he would break it to them.
Αλαξσηηόηαλ πσο ζα ηνπο ην έιεγε.
and
eg.14) “It would quite spoil the joke.”
«Θα ράιαγε ηειείσο ην αζηείν.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
In both examples presented above, the modal auxiliary would is followed by verb
forms in bare infinitive and is transferred in the Greek text as θα followed by
imperfective past , yet in the first example the temporal location of the action is found
in the future and in the second the action is found to be in past temporal location.
Taking into consideration this factor of conditionality and tense falseness, together
with the fact that would carries the same „pure‟ modal auxiliary properties as will,
linguists have resulted in would forms not being included in tense catalogues or
analysis (Tsangalidis, 1999,p. 77). Inspite of that would is found by Palmer (1987:
136-137) to be used “in a tentative form” or as the “tentative form of will when used
for suggestions and in the interrogative form is used for requests” (137-138):
eg. 30) “I think it likely that some would resist…”
«Δίλαη πνιύ πηζαλό, λνκίδσ, πσο κεξηθνί Υόκπηη ζ‟αληηζηέθνληαλ…»

20) “I would give them Bag End and everything else, if I could get Bilbo back
and go off trumping in the country with him.”
(Tolkien, 1954)
Apart from conditionality would‟ s uses can be found in a more descriptive way in
Huddleston and Pullum‟s (2002) The Cambridge Grammar of the English language.
The modal auxiliary would is referred to as the past form of will in reported speech,
thus will‟s uses could be implemented in this linguistic environment. As was earlier
mentioned regarding will, would can be used in this way to express volition
(Huddleston, Pullum, 2002, p. 651):
eg. 22) He would not discuss his own business and journeys, and seemed chiefly
interested in small news about Frodo‟s health and doings.
Γελ ηνπ άξεζε λα κηιάεη γηα ηηο δνπιεηέο θαη ηα ηαμίδηα ηνπ θαη θαηλόηαλ
θπξίσο λα ηνλ ελδηαθέξνπλ ηα κηθξά λέα γύξσ από ηελ πγεία ηνπ Φξόλην θαη
ηελ θαζεκεξηλή ηνπ δσή.
(Tolkien, 1954)
In this example the reader can detect the lack of volition of the character to talk a fact
underlined by the use of would as the past tense of will. Following this pattern, would
might, as well, convey epistemic modality in order for the degree of commitmet to
truth of the speaker to be revealed:
eg. 34) And thought suddenly: “It would be cool and shady under those mountains.”
Καη ζθέθηεθε μαθληθά: « Θα έρεη δξνζηά θαη ίζθην θάησ από θείλα ηα
βνπλά.»
(Tolkien, 1954)
Huddleston and Pullum (2002) argue that would can be used to as “future-in-the-past
when the speaker looks forward in time from a point in the past (p. 361):
eg. 23) It was over nine years since Frodo had seen or heard of him, and he had begun
to think that the wizard would never return and had given up all interest in
hobbits.
Δίραλ πεξάζεη πάλσ από ελληά ρξόληα πνπ ν Φξόλην είρε λα ηνλ δεη ή λα πάξεη
λέα ηνπ θαη είρε αξρίζεη λα ζθέθηεηαη πσο ν κάγνο δελ ζα μαλαγύξηδε θαη πσο
είρε πάςεη λα ελδηαθέξεηαη γηα ηνπο Υόκπηη.
(Tolkien, 1954)
According to Huddleston and Pullum (2002), when not in reported speech would is
used as a hedge in order to lighten a sentence of advice, suggestion, recommendation
usually containing verbs such as “imagine, say, think” (p. 362):
eg. 74) The decision to set out eastwards had suggested the idea to him; for Buckland
is on the eastern borders of the Shire, and as he had lived there in childhood
his going back would at least seem credible.
Σελ ηδέα ηνπ ηελ έδσζε ε απόθαζε ηνπ λα βαδίζεη αλαηνιηθά· γηαηί ην
Μπάθιαλη ήηαλ ζη‟ αλαηνιηθά ζύλνξα ηνπ ΢άηξ θαη, όπσο είρε δήζεη εθεί ηα
παηδηθά ηνπ ρξόληα, ε επηζηξνθή ηνπ ζα θαηλόηαλ ηνπιάρηζηνλ πηζηεπηή.
(Tolkien, 1954)
CONCLUSION
After examining conditionality in both English and Greek linguistic environments it is
safe to conclude that both languages share some typical characteristics. Many
linguists tried to classify them in terms of some typical characteristics, such as the
tense of the protasis and the apodosis. Both languages present similar canonical tense
patterns, yet in both cases there as movements that focus on their semantic
ingredients. The latter movement can be applied in both languages, since the provided
examples prove that conditionality can be based on the world in which the speaker
locates the P-clause and not explicitly on the tense used since as we saw earlier a
tense may carry many different connotations apart from the usual one, especially
when it is combined with different aspects. In both languages we have detected both
„factual‟ and „theoretical‟ P-clauses as well as conditionals based on causation.
Furthermore, the prototype conjunction that introduces conditional sentences is,
indeed, if in the English language and αν in Modern Greek even though we have
exemplified other cases, as well. In both languages conditional sentences may be
introduced by other conjunctions connoting temporal location or comparison.
Through this essay, it has been proven that would is used as the past tense of will
since it carries many of its semantic characteristics. However, it can, also, be used as
the particle θα to connote conditionality and form perfect tenses with the use of have
and ejo. Thus, it is easy to state that would and θα can, indeed, be used in the same
way regardless of the language barrier. Also, would followed by bare infinitive and θα
followed by imperfective past are the most frequent structures used to express
conditionality or other forms implying hypotheticality such as suggestions,
recommendations or wish. The sample taken from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
of the Ring used throughout this essay to exemplify temporal and aspectual
distinctions and conditional structures proves that would followed by bare infinitive
corresponds to θα followed by imperfective past. It is, also, clear that imperfective
past in Modern Greek is the tense expressing conditionality in the most cases even
though in English would is usually followed by bare infinitive in the Q-clause. In
cases where this does not occur it is either because of θα being easily implied or
because the speaker was explicitly referring to the future. Let us mention again the
difficulty to categorize these forms due to the literary environment in which they are
located. However, despite this difficulty it is clear through the use of the following
table to see that, regardless of the tense following would or θα and whether they are
found in the apodosis of a conditional sentence they used to express conditionality or
uncertainty in the past, present or future even though they are located in a fictional
world.
English text Greek TEXT eNGLISH gREEK
CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS
1. When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag Όηαλ ν θύξηνο Μπίικπν Μπάγθηλο Would + progressive Tha + imperfective past
End announced that he would ηνπ Μπαγθ Δλη αλαθνίλσζε όηη ζε infinitive
shortly be celebrating his eleventy- ιίγν θαηξό ζα γηόξηαδε ηα εθαηόλ
first birthday with a party of special έληεθα ρξόληα ηνπ θαη ζα „δηλε έλα
magnificence, there was much talk πάξηη κε εμαηξεηηθή κεγαινπξέπεηα,
and excitement in Hobbiton. όινη ειεθηξίζηεθαλ ζην Υόκπηηνλ
θαη άξρηζαλ ην θνπηζνκπνιηό.
2. There‟s some not far away that Γηαηί ππάξρνπλ κεξηθνί, πνπ δελ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
wouldn‟t offer a pint of beer to a κέλνπλ καθξηά από εδώ, νη νπνίνη
friend, if they lived in a hole with δελ ζα έδηλαλ νύηε έλα πνηήξη κπύξα If + past simple – would + Conditionality:
golden walls. ζηνλ θίιν ηνπο, αθόκα θη αλ δνύζαλ present simple
ζε κηα ηξύπα κε ρξπζνύο ηνίρνπο

3. At ninety-nine they began to call ΢ηα ελελήληα ελληά άξρηζαλ λα ιέλε Would + perfect participle Not direct translation
him well-preserved; but unchanged πσο βαζηιόηαν καλά, πάλησο, δε
would have been nearer the mark. θαηλόηαλ λα έρεη πεξάζεη κέξα από
πάλσ ηνπ.
4. The young hobbits stared at the Οη ρνκπηηνπηηζηξίθνη κάηαηα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
door in vain for a while, and then θνίηαμαλ ηελ πόξηα γηα ιίγε ώξα θαη
made off, feeling that the day of the κεηά έθπγαλ, πηζηεύνληαο πσο ε
party would never come κέξα ηνπ πάξηη δελ ζα εξρόηαλ πνηέ.
5. He was liable drag in bits of what Τπήξραλ πνιιέο πηζαλόηεηεο λα Would + bare infinitive Imperfective past + na
he called poetry (…) would allude αξρίζεη λα ιέεη πνηήκαηα.., άξρηδε λα
to the absurd adventures of his κηιάεη γηα ηηο ζεόηξειεο πεξηπέηεηεο
mysterious journey. ηνπ κπζηεξηώδνπο ηαμηδηνύ ηνπ.

6. “I wondered if you would turn up.” Αλαξσηηόκνπλ αλ ζα εξρόζνπλ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
If + present simple – past
simple
Keyword: wondered
7. “You wisely kept that ring secret all «Πνιύ ζνθά θξάηεζεο ην δαρηπιίδη Would + bare infinitive Na + imperfective non
these years, and it seemed to me θξπθό..κνπ θάλεθε απαξαίηεην λα past
necessary to give your guests δώζσ ζηνπο θαιεζκέλνπο ζνπ θάηη Keyword: seemed
something else that would seem to πνπ λα εμεγεί ηελ μαθληθή ζνπ
explain your sudden vanishment.” εμαθάληζε.»

8. “And would spoil my joke.” «Καη κνπ ράιαζεο ην αζηείν.» Would + bare infinitive Bare perfective past
9. “He would come with me, of «Θα „ξρόηαλ καδί κνπ, θπζηθά, αλ Would + bare infinitive Tha+ imperfective past
course, if I asked him.” ηνπ ην δεηνύζα.»
If+ past simple - would +
present simple
10. “I found it, and Gollum would have «Δγώ ην βξήθα θαη ν Γθόινπκ ζα κε Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
killed me, if I hadn‟t kept it.” ζθόησλε αλ δε ην θξαηνύζα.»
If + past simple – would +
present perfect
11. “I wish you would trust me, as you «Μαθάξη λα κε εκπηζηεπόζνπλ όπσο Would + bare infinitive Na + imperfective past
used.” παιηά.»
Keywords: wish, as you
used
Hidden conditionality due
to wish
12. “And yet, it would be a relief in a Κη όκσο ζα ήηαλ αλαθνύθηζε θαηά Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
way not to be bothered with it θάπνηνλ ηξόπν λα κελ μαλαζθνηηζηώ
anymore.” γη‟ απηό ζην κπαιό κνπ.
13. “It hasn‟t made it any easier in the «Βέβαηα, ηειηθά, δελ έγηλε Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non
end, but it would be a pity to waste επθνιόηεξν, αιιά ζα ‟λαη θξίκα λα past
all my preparations.” πάλε ρακέλεο όιεο κνπ νη
πξνεηνηκαζίεο.»
14. “It would quite spoil the joke.” «Θα ράιαγε ηειείσο ην αζηείν.» Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
15. “Indeed, it would take away the «΢η‟ αιήζεηα, δελ ζα ππήξρε θαλέλαο Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
only point I ever saw in the affairs,” ιόγνο γηα όιε απηή ηε θαζαξία,
said Gandalf.” ηνπιάρηζηνλ γηα κέλα, είπε ν
Γθάληαιθ.»
16. Rumours of strange events had by Γηαδόζεηο γηα παξάμελα γεγνλόηα Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
now spread all over the field, but είραλ απισζεί ζε όιν ην ρσξάθη, κα
Frodo would only say no doubt ν Φξόλην ην κόλν πνπ κπνξνύζε λα Because of omission
everything will be cleared up in the πεη ήηαλ πσο ζίγνπξα όια ζα
morning. μεθαζάξηδαλ ην πξσί.
17. But, of course, most of the things Αιιά βέβαηα ηα πην πνιιά πξάγκαηα Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
were given where they would be πήγαηλαλ εθεί όπνπ ππήξρε κεγάιε
wanted and welcome. αλάγθε θαη ήηαλ εππξόζδεθηα. Because of omission
18. Otho would have been Bilbo‟s heir, Ο Όζν ζα ήηαλ ν θιεξνλόκνο ηνπ Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
but for the adoption of Frodo. Μπίικπν, αλ δε γηλόηαλ ε πηνζεζία
ηνπ Φξόλην.
19. “But I saw her some time ago, «Αιιά ηελ είδα πξηλ από ιίγε ώξα ζ‟ Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
driving a pony trap towards έλα θάξν πνπ ην έζεξλε έλα πόλη λα
Bywater with a face that would πεγαίλεη θαηά ην Νεξνρώξη, κ‟ έλα
have curdled new milk.” πξόζσπν ηόζν άγξην, πνπ ζα έπεδε
θαη θξέζθν γάια.»
20. “I would give them Bag End and «Δγώ ζα ηνπο ην „δηλα ην Μπαγθ Δλη Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
everything else, if I could get Bilbo θη όια ηνπ ηα θαιά, αλ κπνξνύζα λα
back and go off trumping in the έθεξλα ηνλ Μπίικπν πίζσ θαη λα If + present simple –
country with him.” πήγαηλα καδί ηνπ.» would + present simple
21. For one thing, there was a lot to do Καη πξώηα πξώηα είρα έλα ζνξό Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
up in the Bag End garden, and he δνπιεηά ζηνλ θήπν ηνπ Μπαγθ Δλη
would have a busy day tomorrow, θαη ζα „ηξερε όιε κέξα αύξην, αλ If + past simple – would +
if the weather cleared μαλάλνηγε ν θαηξόο. present simple
22. He would not discuss his own Γελ ηνπ άξεζε λα κηιάεη γηα ηηο Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
business and journeys, and seemed δνπιεηέο θαη ηα ηαμίδηα ηνπ θαη
chiefly interested in small news θαηλόηαλ θπξίσο λα ηνλ ελδηαθέξνπλ Keyword: seemed
about Frodo‟s health and doings. ηα κηθξά λέα γύξσ από ηελ πγεία ηνπ
Φξόλην θαη ηελ θαζεκεξηλή ηνπ δσή.
23. It was over nine years since Frodo Δίραλ πεξάζεη πάλσ από ελληά Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
had seen or heard of him, and he ρξόληα πνπ ν Φξόλην είρε λα ηνλ δεη
had begun to think that the wizard ή λα πάξεη λέα ηνπ θαη είρε αξρίζεη Keyword: think
would never return and had given λα ζθέθηεηαη πσο ν κάγνο δελ ζα
up all interest in hobbits. μαλαγύξηδε θαη πσο είρε πάςεη λα
ελδηαθέξεηαη γηα ηνπο Υόκπηη.

24. It is far more powerful than I ever Δίλαη πνιύ πην ηζρπξό απ‟ όηη πνηέ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
dared to think at first, so powerful ηόικεζα λα θαληαζηώ ζηελ αξρή,
that in the end it would utterly ηόζν ηζρπξό πνπ ζην ηέινο ζα Keyword: think
overcome anyone of mortal race κπνξνύζε ηειείσο λα ππνηάμεη
who possessed it. όπνηνλ, από ζλεηή γεληά, θη αλ ην
έρεη.
25. “It would possess him.” «Θα ηνλ έζεηε θάησ από ηνλ έιεγρν Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
ηνπ.»
26. “He would certainly never have «Γηαηί ζίγνπξα πνηέ δε ζα ζνπ Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
passed on to you…” θιεξνδνηνύζε…»
Keyword: never
27. “…anything that he thought would «… θάηη πνπ ζα ζεσξνύζε Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
be a danger, even though I επηθίλδπλν, αλ θαη ηνπ ππνζρέζεθα
promised to look after you πσο ζα ζε πξνζέρσ.»

28. “He has long studied it, seeking the «Σα είρε κειεηήζεη πνιύ ςάρλνληαο Would + bare infinitive Bare perfective past
lost secrets of their making; but γηα ηα ρακέλα κπζηηθά ηεο
when the Rings were debated in the θαηαζθεπήο ηνπο, όηαλ όκσο ηα
Council, all that he would reveal to Γαρηπιίδηα ζπδεηήζεθαλ ζην
us of his ring-lore told against my ζπκβνύιην, ό,ηη καο απνθάιπςε γύξσ
fears.” από απηά θαζεζύραζαλ ηνπο θόβνπο
κνπ.»
29. “He would get all right in time, « Θα γίλεη θαιά, έηζη δελ είλαη;» Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non
wouldn‟t he?” past
30. “I think it likely that some would «Δίλαη πνιύ πηζαλό, λνκίδσ, πσο Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
resist…” κεξηθνί Υόκπηη ζ‟αληηζηέθνληαλ…»

Keyword: think
31. “…far longer than most of the Wise ζηα Γαρηπιίδηα γηα πνιύ κεγαιύηεξν Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective non past
would believe.” Γηάζηεκα απ‟ „όζν νη πεξηζζόηεξνη
΢νθνί πηζηεύνπλ.»
32. “It would be a grievous blow to the « Θα ήηαλ θνβεξό ρηύπεκα γηα ηνλ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
world, if the Dark Power overcame θόζκν, αλ ε ΢θνηεηλή Γύλακε
the Shire; if all your kind, jolly, έπαηξλε ην ΢άηξ, αλ όινη νη If + past simple – would +
stupid Bolgers, Hornblowers, θαιόθαξδνη, ραξνύκελνη θη αλόεηνη simple present
Boffins, Bracegirdles, and the rest, Μπόιγθεξ, ΢αιπηζηέο, Εσζηνί θαη νη
not to mention the ridiculous ππόινηπνη, γηα λα κελ αλαθέξσ θαη
Bagginses, became enslaved.” ηνπο γεινίνπο ηνπο Μπάγθηλο,
γίλνληαλ ζθιάβνη.»
33. “And hobbits as miserable slaves «Καη Υόκπηη δπζηπρηζκέλνη ζθιάβνη Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non
would please him far more than ζα ηνλ επραξηζηνύλ πεξηζζόηεξν από past
hobbits happy and free.” Υόκπηη επηπρηζκέλνπο θη
ειεύζεξνπο.»
34. And thought suddenly: “It would Καη ζθέθηεθε μαθληθά: « Θα έρεη Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non
be cool and shady under those δξνζηά θαη ίζθην θάησ από θείλα ηα past
mountains.” βνπλά.» Keyword: thought
35. “They understood one another «Ο έλαο κπόξεζε λα θαηαιάβεη ηνλ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
remarkably well, very much better άιινλ εμαηξεηηθά θαιά, πνιύ
than a hobbit would understand, θαιύηεξα απ΄ όηη έλαο Υόκπηη ζα Keyword: understood
say, a Dwarf, or an Orc, or even an θαηαιάβαηλε, αο πνύκε, έλαλ Νάλν ή
Elf.” έλαλ Οξθ ή αθόκα θη έλα Ξσηηθό.»
36. “And I daresay it amused his «Καη ζα ‟ιεγα πσο δηαζθέδαδε κε ηελ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
wickedness to start a game which θαθία ηνπ, αξρίδνληαο έλα παηρλίδη
might end in providing him with an πνπ κπνξνύζε λα ηειεηώζεη If + past simple – would +
easy victim, but if he lost would not εμνηθνλνκώληαο ηνπ εύθνιε ιεία, present simple
hurt him.” αιιά αθόκε, θη αλ έραλε, δε ζα ην
έβιαπηε.» Keyword: daresay
37. “He had proved tougher than even «Δίρε απνδεηρηεί πην ζθιεξό απ‟ Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective non
one of the Wise would have όζν ζα ππνιόγηδε θη έλαο ΢νθόο: past
guessed – as a hobbit might.” ζθιεξό ζαλ Υόκπηη.» Keyword: proved
38. “But that, of course, would only «Απηό όκσο ζην ηέινο, θπζηθά, ζα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
make the evil part of him angrier in θαηάθεξλε κόλν λα θάλεη ηνλ
the end – unless it could be ππόινηπν θαθό ηνπ εαπηό λα ζπκώζεη If + not+ present simple –
conquered.” πεξηζζόηεξν – εθηόο θη αλ κπνξνύζε would + present simple
λα ηνλ θαηαληθήζεη.»
39. “And even so he would never have «Αιιά αθόκα θη έηζη, πνηέ δε ζα ην Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
just forsaken it, or cast it aside.” εγθαηέιεηπε έηζη απιά ή ζα ην (would) + perfect (Tha)+ imperfective past
πέηαγε.» participle
40. “Wouldn‟t an Orc have suited it Γελ ηνπ „θαλε θαιύηεξα έλαο Οξθ;» Would + perfect participle Bare imperfective past
better?”
41. “It could make no further use to «Γελ κπνξνύζε λα ην Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
him: he was too small and mean; ρξεζηκνπνηήζεη θη άιιν: ήηαλ πνιύ
and as long as it stayed with him he κηθξό θαη θαθόβνπιν· θη όζν έκελε
would never leave his deep pool καδί ηνπ, δε ζα μαλάθελε πνηέ ηε
again.” βαζηά ηνπ ιηκλνύια.»
42. “But when he had at last told me «Μα όηαλ κνπ είπε, επηηέινπο, ηελ Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past +
his history, as far as the end of the ηζηνξία ηνπ, κέρξη ην ηέινο ηνπ na
Riddle-game and Bilbo‟s escape, he παηρληδηνύ κε ηα αηλίγκαηα θαη ην
would not say any more, except in πώο μέθπγε ν Μπίικπν, δελ ήζειε λα
dark hints.” πεη ηίπνηα πεξηζζόηεξν, εθηόο από

ζθνηεηλνύο ππαηληγκνύο.»
43. “People would see if he would «Ο θόζκνο ζα „βιεπε αλ ζα θαζόηαλ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
stand being kicked, and driven into λα ην θισηζάλε θαη λα ην
a hole and then robbed.” ζηξηκώρλνπλ θαη κεηά λα ην If + present simple +
ληζηεύοςν.» would + present simple
44. “They would help him.” Would+ bare infinitive Not translated in the
Greek text.
45. “Baggins would pay for it.” «Ο Μπάγθηλο ζα ηνπ ην πιήξσλε.» Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
46. “Well, as for the name, Bilbo very «Λνηπόλ, ην όλνκα ηνπ ην είπε Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
foolishly told Gollum himself; and αλόεηα ν ίδηνο ν Μπίικπν ζην
after that it would not be difficult to Γθόινπκ· ζηε ζπλέρεηα δελ ήηαλ
discover his country, once Gollum δύζθνιν λ‟ αλαθαιύςεη ηε ρώξα ηνπ,

came out.” κηα θαη ην Γθόινπκ βγήθε έμσ.»
47. “He found his way into Mirkwood, «Βξήθε ην δξόκν γηα ην Γάζνο ηεο Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
as one would expect.” ΢θνηεηληάο, όπσο ζα πεξίκελε
θαλείο.»
48. “It wouldn‟t say, no precious.” Δγώ δελ ζα κπνξνύζα λα ην βξσ, όρη Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
πνιύηηκό κνπ.»
49. “Gollum‟s sharp ears would soon «Σα θαηαπιεθηηθά απηηά ηνπ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
learn what he wanted.” Γθόινπκ γξήγνξα ζα κάζαηλαλ απηό
πνπ ήζειε.»
50. “And my search would have been «Καη ην ςάμηκν κνπ ζα ήηαλ κάηαην, Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
in vain, but for the help I had from αλ δελ είρα ηε βνήζεηα ελόο θίινπ:
a friend: Aragorn, the greatest ηνπ Άξαγθνξλ, ηνπ πην κεγάινπ
traveler and huntsman of this age of ηαμηδεπηή θαη θπλεγνύ απηήο ηεο
the world.” επνρήο ηνπ θόζκνπ.»
51. “What he had been doing he would «Ση είρε θάλεη κέρξη ηόηε, δελ έιεγε Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
not say. κε θαλέλαλ ηξόπν.»
52. “The Ring of the Enemy would «Καη ην Γαρηπιίδη ηνπ Δρζξνύ ήηαλ Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
leave its mark, too, leave him open θπζηθό λ‟ αθήζεη ην ζεκάδη ηνπ, λα
to summons.” ην αθήζεη έηζη, ώζηε λα ληώζεη ηελ
πξόζθιεζε θαη λα παξνπζηαζηεί.»
53. “There were his fine new friends «Δθεί βξίζθνληαλ νη ζπνπδαίνη Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
who would help him in his θαηλνύξγηνη θίινη ηνπ, πνπ ζα ην
revenge!” βνεζνύζαλ ζηελ εθδίθεζε ηνπ!»
54. “In that land he would learn much, «΢‟ εθείλε ηελ γε ζα κάζαηλε Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
too much for his comfort.” πνιιά, πεξηζζόηεξα απ‟ όζα ήηαλ γηα
ην θαιό ηνπ.»
55. “And sooner or later as he lurked «Κη αξγά ή γξήγνξα, όπσο Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
and pried on the borders he would θξπθνγύξηδε θαη θαηαζθόπεπε ζηα
be caught, and taken – for ζύλνξα, ζα ην „πηαλαλ θαη ζα ην
examination.” πήγαηλαλ … γηα εμέηαζε.»
56. “(Worst of all, it might have fallen «(Καη ην ρεηξόηεξν απ‟ όια είλαη πσο Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
into the hands of the Enemy.) κπνξεί λα έπεθηε ζηα ρέξηα ηνπ
Indeed, it certainly would; for this Δρζξνύ.) Καη λα „ζαη ζίγνπξνο όηη
is the One, and he is exerting all his έηζη ζα γηλόηαλ ˙ γηαηί είλαη ην Έλα,
power to find it or draw it to θη απηόο έρεη βάιεη όιε ηνπ ηελ
himself.” δύλακε λα ην βξεη ή λα ην ηξαβήμεη
θνληά ηνπ.»
57. “As long as you never used it, I did : «Αλ δελ ην ρξεζηκνπνίεζεο πνηέ, Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non-
not think that the Ring would have δε λνκίδσ πσο ην Γαρηπιίδη ζα έρεη past
any lasting effect on you, not for κόληκε επίδξαζε πάλσ ζνπ, As long as + past simple –
evil, not at any rate for a very long ηνπιάρηζηνλ όρη γηα θαθό, γηα πάξα would + present simple
time.” πνιύ θαηξό.»
Keyword: think
58. “If you had warned me, or even «Αλ κε είρεο πξνεηδνπνηήζεη ή αλ Would + perfect participle Tha + perfective past
sent me a message, I would have αθόκα κνπ „ζηειλεο παξαγγειία, ζα
done away with it.” ην είρα θαηαζηξέςεη.» If + past perfect simple –
would + present perfect
simple
59. “How would you do that? «Καη πσο ζα ηα θαηάθεξλεο;» Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
60. “And I could not “make” you – «Κη εγώ δελ ζα κπνξνύζα λα ζε Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
except by force, which would break «αλαγθάζσ», εθηόο θη αλ

your mind.” ρξεζηκνπνηνύζα ηέηνηα βία, πνπ ζα
ζνπ ζάιεπε ην κπαιό.»
61. “Even if you took it and struck it «Αθόκα θη αλ ην „παηξλεο θαη ην Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
with heavy sledged-hammer, it ρηύπαγεο κε ηε βαξηά, δε ζα γηλόηαλ
would make no dint in it.” νύηε ραξαθηά πάλσ ηνπ.» If + past simple – would +
present simple
62. “Your small fire, of course, would «Ζ κηθξή ζνπ θσηηά, θπζηθά, δε ζα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
not melt even ordinary gold.” ‟ιησλε νύηε θνηλό ρξπζάθη.»
63. “And over me the Ring would gain «Καη ην Γαρηπιίδη ζ‟ απνθηνύζε Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
a power still greater and more πάλσ κνπ δύλακε αθόκα κεγαιύηεξε
deadly.” θαη πην ζαλαηεξή.»
64. “The wish to wield it would be too Ζ επηζπκία λα ην ρξεζηκνπνηήζσ ζα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non
great for my strength.” είλαη πάλσ απ‟ ηηο δπλάκεηο κνπ.» past
Keyword: wish
65. “But this would mean exile, a flight « Απηό εδώ όκσο ζεκαίλεη εμνξία, Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective non past
from danger into danger, drawing it θεπγηό από θίλδπλν ζε θίλδπλν, πνπ
after me.” ζα ηνλ ηξαβώ πίζσ κνπ.»
66. “But Bilbo made no mistake in «Μα ν Μπίικπν δελ έθαλε ιάζνο Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
choosing his heir, though he little όηαλ δηάιεγε θιεξνλόκν, αλ θαη ιίγν
thought how important it would ζθέθηεθε πόζν ζπνπδαίν ήηαλ.» Keyword: thought
prove.”
66. “Not if you know of anyone you «Όρη αλ μέξεηο θάπνηνλ πνπ κπνξείο Would + bare infinitive Na + imperfective non past
can trust, and who would be willing λα ηνλ εκπηζηεπηείο θαη πνπ λα είλαη Tha + imperfective non
to go by your side and that you πξόζπκνο λα ζηαζεί ζην πιεπξό ζνπ If + simple present – past
would be willing to take into θαη πνπ εζύ ζα είζαη δηαηεζεηκέλνο would + simple present
unknown perils.” λα ηνλ ηξαβήμεηο ζ‟ άγλσζηνπο
θηλδύλνπο.»
68. “My old dad would take on so.” «Ο γεξν-παηέξαο κνπ πνιύ ζα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
ζηελαρσξηόηαλ.»
69. “I would dearly love to see them.” «Πνιύ ζα „ζεια λα ηα δσ.» Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
70. He had suddenly realized that Δίρε μαθληθά ληώζεη πσο ε θπγή ηνπ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
flying from the Shire would mean απ‟ ην ΢άηξ ζα ζήκαηλε πην
more painful partings than merely νδπλεξνύο ρσξηζκνύο από ην λ‟ Keyword: realized
saying farewell to the familiar απνραηξεηίζεη απιώο ηηο γλσζηέο
comforts of Bag End. βνιέο ηνπ ζην Μπαγθ Δλη.
71. “That wouldn‟t do at all.” Would + bare infinitive Not direct or accurate
translation
72. When autumn came, he knew that Όηαλ ζα εξρόηαλ ην θζηλόπσξν, Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
part at least of his heart would think ήμεξε πσο, ηνπιάρηζηνλ έλα κέξνο
more kindly of journeying, as it ηεο θαξδηάο ηνπ, ζα αληηκεηώπηδε πην Keyword: knew
always did at that season. επράξηζηα ην ηαμίδη, όπσο πάληα
γηλόηαλ εθείλε ηελ επνρή. ΖΗDDEN
CONDIONALITY
73. “As for where I am going,” said «Όζν γηα ην πού ζα πάσ, είπε ν Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non
Frodo, “it would be difficult to give Φξόλην, ζα „λαη δύζθνιν λα κνπ past
that away, for I have no clear idea μεθύγεη θαη λα ην πσ, γηαηί δελ ην
myself, yet.” „ρσ νύηε θη εγώ θαιά θαιά
απνθαζίζεη αθόκα.»
74. The decision to set out eastwards Σελ ηδέα ηνπ ηελ έδσζε ε απόθαζε Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
had suggested the idea to him; for ηνπ λα βαδίζεη αλαηνιηθά· γηαηί ην
Buckland is on the eastern borders Μπάθιαλη ήηαλ ζη‟ αλαηνιηθά Keyword: suggested
of the Shire, and as he had lived ζύλνξα ηνπ ΢άηξ θαη, όπσο είρε δήζεη
there in childhood his going back εθεί ηα παηδηθά ηνπ ρξόληα, ε

would at least seem credible. επηζηξνθή ηνπ ζα θαηλόηαλ
ηνπιάρηζηνλ πηζηεπηή.
75. The thought that he would so soon Would + bare infinitive
have to part with his young friends
weighed on his heart. Keyword: thought
76. He wondered how he would break Αλαξσηηόηαλ πσο ζα ηνπο ην έιεγε. Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
it to them.
Keyword: wondered
77. After that, if Gandalf wanted him Κη έπεηηα αλ ν Γθάληαιθ ηνλ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
urgently, he would go to ρξεηαδόηαλ επεηγόλησο, ζα πήγαηλε
Crickhollow, and might even get ζην Κξηθρόιννπ, ίζσο κάιηζηα λα If + past simple – would +
there first. έθηαλε εθεί πξώηνο. present simple
78. In the end she departed with Lotho ΢ην ηέινο έθπγε κε ηνλ Λόζν θαη ην Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
and the spare key and the promise δεύηεξν θιεηδί θαη ηελ ππόζρεζε πσο
that the other key would be left at ην άιιν θιεηδί ζα ην άθελαλ ζηνπο Keyword: promise
the Gamgees‟ in Bagshot Row. Γθάκγθε, ζην Μπάγθζνη Ρόνπ.
79. Since they were all hobbits, and Κη αθνύ ήηαλ όινη ηνπο Υόκπηη θαη Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
were trying to be silent, they made πξνζπαζνύζαλ λα „λαη ζησπεινί, δελ
no noise that even hobbits would έθαλαλ ζόξπβν πνπ ζα κπνξνύζαλ λα
hear. ηνλ αθνύζνπλ νύηε Υόκπηη.
80. These tree roots would do them Σνύηεο εδώ νη ξίδεο ησλ δέληξσλ ζα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
good. ηνπο έθαλαλ θαιό.
81. “It may not matter much,” he said «Ίζσο λα κελ έρεη κεγάιε ζεκαζία, Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
apologetically, “but I would rather ζπλέρηζε απνινγεηηθά, κα δε ζα
not be seen t the road – by anyone.” „ζεια λα κε δεη ζην δξόκν θαλείο.» Would + rather
82. He felt that he had only to slip it Έλησζε πσο ην κόλν πνπ είρε λα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
one, and then he would be safe. θάλεη ήηαλ λα ην θνξέζεη θη έπεηηα
ζα ήηαλ αζθαιήο. Keyword: felt
83. “But perhaps it would only make «Αιιά ίζσο ηα πξάγκαηα λα Would + bare infinitive Na + imperfective past
matters worse.” ρεηξνηέξεπαλ.»
84. “I don‟t know, and I would rather Γελ μέξσ θαη δελ ζα „ζεια λα θάλσ Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
not guess,” said Frodo. ππνζέζεηο,» είπε ν Φξόλην. Would + rather
85. He would have burst out of the Θα „ρε πεηαρηεί έμσ από ηα δέληξα, Would + perfect participle Tha + perfective past
trees and dashed off towards the ίζηα ζηηο θσλέο, αλ δελ ηνλ
voices, if they had not pulled him ηξαβνύζαλ πίζσ. If + past perfect + would +
back. present perfect
86. “But I would welcome your «Μα ζα κνπ άξεζε πνιύ θαη ε Would + bare infinitive Tha +imperfective past
company.” ζπληξνθηά ζαο.»
87. “Well, sir, if I could grow apples «Λνηπόλ, θύξηε, αλ κπνξνύζα λα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
like that, I would call myself a θαιιηεξγήζσ κήια ζαλ θη εθείλα, ζα
gardener.” έιεγα πσο είκαη ζη‟ αιήζεηα If + present simple –
θεπνπξόο.» would + present simple
88. He would say no more about Bilbo, Γελ ήζειε λα κηιήζεη πεξηζζόηεξν Would + bare infinitive Bare imperfective past
and Frodo fell silent. γηα ηνλ Μπίικπν θαη ν Φξόλην
ζηακάηεζε.
89. “But what would you?” Would + bare infinitive Not direct translation
90. “I am deeply grateful,” said Frodo; «΢‟ επγλσκνλώ βαζηά, είπε ν Would + bare infinitive Na + imperfective past
“but I wish you would tell me Φξόλην. Αιιά ζα ήζεια λα κνπ
plainly what the Black Riders are.” έιεγεο θαζαξά ηη είλαη νη Μαύξνη Keyword: wish
Καβαιάξεδεο.»
91. “In that case I am sure Gildor «΢‟ απηή ηελ πεξίπησζε, είκαη Would + perfect participle Tha + perfect past
would have refused to explain it”, βέβαηνο πσο ν Γθίιληνξ ζα είρε
said Frodo sharply. αξλεζεί λα ην εμεγήζεη,» είπε ν Keyword: I am sure
Φξόλην απόηνκα.
92. “I don‟t fancy he would try «Γε θαληάδνκαη όηη ζα πξνζπαζήζεη Would + bare infinitive Tha + perfective non past
bringing his horse down that bank,” λα θαηεβάζεη ην άινγν ηνπ απ‟ απηή
said Sam.” ηελ πιαγηά,» είπε ν ΢ακ.» Keyword: fancy
93. The last few miles, they felt, would Σα ιίγα ηειεπηαία κίιηα, έλησζαλ όηη Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
soon be behind them. γξήγνξα ζα η‟ άθελαλ πίζσ ηνπο.
Keyword: felt
94. “I have never got over the fright - «Αθόκα δελ έρσ θαηαθέξεη λα Would + perfect participle Tha + imperfective past
though, I daresay the beasts knew θεξδίζσ ην θόβν κνπ, αλ θαη ηνικώ
their business and would not really λα πσ όηη ηα δώα ήμεξαλ ηε δνπιεηά Keyword: daresay
have touched me.” ηνπ θαη δελ ζα κε άγγηδαλ ζη‟

αιήζεηα.»
95. It seemed plain that the farmer Φαηλόηαλ θαζαξά πσο ν αγξόηεο ζα Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
would tell them more if allowed to ηνπο έιεγε θη άιια, αλ ηνλ άθελαλ λα
do in his own time and fashion, so ηα πεη κε ηελ ώξα ηνπ θαη ηνλ ηξόπν If + past simple – would +
they all accepted the invitation. ηνπ, έηζη όινη δέρηεθαλ ηελ present simple
πξόζθιεζε.
Keyword: seemed
96. For a moment Frodo thought that Γηα κηα ζηηγκή ν Φξόλην λόκηζε πσο Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
the memory of stolen mushrooms μύπλεζε ε αλάκλεζε ησλ θιεκκέλσλ
had been aroused, and that the dogs καληηαξηώλ θαη όηη ζα „ιεγε ζηα Keyword: thought
would be told to see him off. ζθπιηά λα ηνλ μεπξνβνδίζνπλ.
97. “If you were in a hurry, the road «Αλ βηαδόζαζηε, ν δξόκνο ζα ζαο Would + perfect participle Tha + perfective past
would have served you better,” said είρε εμππεξεηήζεη θαιύηεξα,» είπε ν
the farmer.” αγξόηεο.» If + past simple – would +

perfect participle
98. Frodo sat for a moment looking at Ο Φξόλην θάζηζε γηα κηα ζηηγκή Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
the fire, but his only thought was θνηηώληαο ηε θσηηά, κα ε κνλαδηθή
how on earth would they reach the ηνπ ζθέςε ήηαλ: πώο ζην θαιό ζα Keyword: thought
Ferry. θαηάθεξλαλ λα θηάζνπλ ζην θέξη
κπνη.
99. “If you and Mr. Peregrin and all «Αλ εζύ θη ν Πέξεγθξηλ θαη όινη ζαο Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective non
could stay and have a bite with us, κπνξνύζαηε λα κείλεηε θαη λα past
we would be pleased!” ηζηκπήζεηε θάηη καδί καο, ζα ην If + present simple –
ραηξόκαζηε.» would + present simple
100. Black Riders would have to ride Οη Μαύξνη Καβαιάξεδεο ζα έπξεπε Would + bare infinitive Tha + imperfective past
over him to get near the wagon. λα πεξάζνπλ από πάλσ ηνπ γηα λα
πιεζηάζνπλ ζην θάξν.

References
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Comrie, B. (1985). Tense. Cambridge University Press.
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Κιαίξεο, Υ., Μπακπηληώηεο, Γ., (1999) Γπαμμαηική ηηρ Νέαρ Ελληνικήρ.
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1

Future and Conditional Structures in Greek and English Parallel Texts

Supervisor Dr. Tsangalidis Anastasios

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

clarification is important in order to move to the second part which focuses on a

analyzed in order to move to more complex conditional structures dealing with

observed their different forms and characteristics.

pragmatic linguistic properties.

In order to achieve moving to deeper analysis and efficiently exemplify such

grammatical categories of verbs. A grammatical category is “a class of units (such as

characteristics” (WALS online). It is quite difficult for linguists to determine what

illustration of their meaning.

Comrie (1985) attempts to define tense as the “grammaticalisation of location in time”

and aspect as the “grammaticalisation of expression of internal temporal

grammaticalisation is a “synchronic property characterizing a notion (semantic

category) if and only if it is reflected in or determines the use of grammatical items.”

completed or as stretched out over time, as single occurrences or as repeated and

(2008) work Sentence Semanics 1: Situation where he attempts to define tense by

opportunity to choose how to describe the internal temporal nature of a situation. To

an event as complete, or incomplete, as so short as to involve almost no time, as

something stretched over a perceptible period, or as something repeated over a

Pullum‟s (2005) literary work named A Student’s Introduction to the English

can be either complete or in progress” (p. 51).

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

(Saaed, 2008, p. 123-124).

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: ASPECT

Moving to the second subject of focus, concerning Dahl‟s(1985) worldwide system

containing 42 out of 65 languages, the most common aspectual distinction between

refers to perfectivity as observing a situation as an outside viewer while imperfectivity

dynamic situations (p. 126):

celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence,

there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

εμαηξεηηθή κεγαινπξέπεηα, όινη ειεθηξίζηεθαλ ζην Υόκπηηνλ θαη άξρηζαλ ην

grammars of languages (p. 158)”. Miller (2002) further elaborates on grammatical

with imperfective interpretations have progressive form. Also, progressive aspect

THE MODERN GREEK LANGUAGE

earlier regarding the meaning of these terms in the English language.

According to Holton, Mackridge and Philippaki- Warburton (1997) in their work

Greek: A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Language, tenses “[are] always a

monolectically, using morphological modifications, or periphrastically, with the use

constructed with imperfective aspect, used to describe either continuous or habitual

past can be used to express conditionality or to express an inevitable action in the

and Conditional, which is formed periphrastically with the particle θα followed by

πιαγηά,» είπε ν ΢ακ.

When a language user chooses to adopt imperfective future in his/her speech or

habitually or progressively or he/she wants to express strong possibility. On the other

al (1997), manage to further introduce θα with imperfective past as a type of futurity

overlapping with conditionality (p. 228). It is considered to be a modality used in

order to connote suppositions, counterfactuality and depending on its interpretation it

part of this paper.

an aspect because the state or action described is considered to be completed while it

a counterfactual conditional construction.

is used in the apodosis of a counterfactual conditional sentence”. (Holton et al, 1997,

«Δγώ ην βξήθα θαη ν Γθόινπκ ζα κε ζθόησλε αλ δε ην θξαηνύζα.»

semantic functions of the modal particle θα (p. 104).

THE MODERN GREEK LANGUAGE: ASPECT

102). The Modern Greek language is considered to be oversimplified compared to

(Haberland, 2010, p. 475).To continue, Holton, Mackridge and Philippaki- Warburton

that of perfective, imperfective and perfect. As in most languages, some Modern

semantic properties or due to their morphological formation being problematic

or to a continuous action in progress (progressive or durative)” (Mackridge, 1985,

lore told against my fears.”

ηνπο, όηαλ όκσο ηα Γαρηπιίδηα ζπδεηήζεθαλ ζην ζπκβνύιην, ό,ηη καο

απνθάιπςε γύξσ από απηά θαζεζύραζαλ ηνπο θόβνπο κνπ.»