A conditional sentence links a condition to its result: if one situation holds, another follows. Greek normally introduces the condition with αν and marks the result through its tense and, where needed, θα. The three central patterns closely resemble English first, second, and third conditionals, but Greek expresses them with its own aspect and past-tense system.
The three-pattern map
| Type | αν-clause | Result clause | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| open / real | present-type or dependent perfective | present, imperative, or θα + future | still possible, habitual, or generally true |
| unreal present | imperfect | θα + imperfect | contrary to the present or imagined generally |
| unreal past | pluperfect | θα + pluperfect | a finished alternative that did not happen |
The core logic is distance. The central open-future and generic patterns mapped here stay in the non-past system. A present unreal situation steps back to the imperfect. A finished counterfactual normally steps back to the pluperfect. The two halves must be interpreted together.
Open or real: the outcome remains available
An open conditional does not assert that the condition will happen; it simply leaves the possibility open. A one-off future condition often uses a perfective dependent form after αν, while the result carries θα.
Αν βρέξει το απόγευμα, θα μείνουμε σπίτι.
an vréksi to apóyevma, tha mínume spíti
If it rains this afternoon, we'll stay home.
Αν έχεις χρόνο, έλα για καφέ μετά τη δουλειά.
an échis chróno, éla ya kafé metá ti dhuliá
If you have time, come for coffee after work.
The result may be a future prediction, an invitation or command, a present conclusion, or a habitual consequence. This flexibility belongs to real conditionals.
Unreal present: imagine a different now
For a present situation that is not true, Greek places the imperfect in both clauses and adds θα to the result.
Αν είχα περισσότερο χρόνο, θα μάθαινα ιταλικά.
an ícha perisótero chróno, tha máthena italiká
If I had more time, I would learn Italian.
Αν μέναμε πιο κοντά, θα βλεπόμασταν κάθε εβδομάδα.
an méname pio kondá, tha vlepómastan káthe evdhomádha
If we lived closer, we would see each other every week.
The verbs are morphologically past, but the meaning is present or general. The imperfect creates remoteness: I do not have more time; we do not live closer. English performs a similar shift in if I had and if I were, then uses would in the result. Greek marks distance on both sides.
Unreal past: imagine a different finished event
For an event that is over and cannot be changed, the canonical pair uses the pluperfect in both halves, with θα in the result.
Αν είχαμε κλείσει νωρίτερα, θα είχαμε βρει φθηνότερα εισιτήρια.
an íchame klísi norítera, tha íchame vri ftinótera isitíria
If we had booked earlier, we would have found cheaper tickets.
Αν μας είχαν ενημερώσει, θα είχαμε αλλάξει την κράτηση.
an mas íchan enimerósi, tha íchame aláksi tin krátisi
If they had informed us, we would have changed the booking.
This pattern often expresses regret, criticism, or an explanation of why something failed. Greek also uses imperfect forms for some past counterfactuals, and past states such as knowing naturally remain imperfect: Αν το ήξερα, θα σου το είχα πει. Those refinements belong to unreal conditionals.
One contrast, one situation
Compare the same plan at three distances:
Αν βρω φθηνό εισιτήριο, θα έρθω μαζί σας.
an vro fthinó isitírio, tha értho mazí sas
If I find a cheap ticket, I'll come with you. (open)
Αν έβρισκα φθηνό εισιτήριο, θα ερχόμουν μαζί σας.
an évriska fthinó isitírio, tha erchómun mazí sas
If I found a cheap ticket, I'd come with you. (unreal or remote)
Αν είχα βρει φθηνό εισιτήριο, θα είχα έρθει μαζί σας.
an ícha vri fthinó isitírio, tha ícha érthi mazí sas
If I had found a cheap ticket, I would have come with you. (past unreal)
The first leaves the search genuinely open. The second holds the ticket at a distance, often implying that finding one is unlikely or no longer expected. The third states that the opportunity is over.
αν, εάν, and άμα
Αν is neutral in conversation and writing. Εάν has the same grammar but is common in official instructions and careful prose (formal). Άμα is frequent conversational “if/when” (informal).
Εάν αλλάξουν τα στοιχεία σας, ενημερώστε την υπηρεσία.
eán aláksun ta stichía sas, enimeróste tin ipiresía
If your details change, notify the service. (formal)
Άμα τελειώσεις νωρίς, στείλε μου μήνυμα.
áma teliósis norís, stíle mu mínima
If you finish early, send me a message. (informal)
The register changes; the tense pairing does not. The full linker inventory, including εκτός αν “unless,” is on conditional conjunctions.
Clause order
The condition may precede or follow the result. Initial position establishes the frame and is followed by a comma. Final position often makes the condition sound like a qualification added afterward.
Θα σε πάρω τηλέφωνο αν τελειώσω πριν τις έξι.
tha se páro tiléfono an telióso prin tis éksi
I'll call you if I finish before six.
Common Mistakes
1. Using a past aorist for a still-open future condition. The future perfective form after αν has no augment.
❌ Αν τελείωσα τη δουλειά μου νωρίς αύριο, θα πάμε για καφέ.
Incorrect—τελείωσα is past; the open future condition needs τελειώσω.
✅ Αν τελειώσω τη δουλειά μου νωρίς αύριο, θα πάμε για καφέ.
an telióso ti dhuliá mu norís ávrio, tha páme ya kafé
If I finish my work early tomorrow, we'll go for coffee.
2. Combining two alternative conditional linkers.
❌ Εάν άμα αλλάξει η ώρα, θα σας ενημερώσουμε.
Incorrect—εάν and άμα each introduce the condition; choose one.
✅ Εάν προκύψει κάποια αλλαγή, θα σας στείλουμε μήνυμα.
eán prokípsi kápia alayí, tha sas stílume mínima
If any change arises, we will send you a message. (formal)
3. Leaving English-style invariant “would” with the wrong Greek person.
❌ Αν είχα χρόνο, θα ερχόταν μαζί σας εγώ.
Incorrect—the result subject is εγώ, so the verb must be first-person ερχόμουν.
✅ Αν είχα χρόνο, θα ερχόμουν μαζί σας εγώ.
an ícha chróno, tha erchómun mazí sas eghó
If I had time, I would come with you myself.
Key Takeaways
- Central open-future pattern: αν + non-past/dependent form, with a present, imperative, or future result.
- Unreal present: αν + imperfect → θα + imperfect.
- Unreal past: canonically αν + pluperfect → θα + pluperfect, with important imperfect alternatives for states and context-resolved past readings.
- Αν is neutral, εάν formal, and άμα informal; all use the same conditional tense logic.
- The neutral open-future default omits θα after αν, but marked conditional αν θα exists; embedded interrogative αν θα means “whether … will.”
Related Topics
- Real Conditionals (αν + present)B1 — Build open, habitual, and general Greek conditionals with αν plus a non-past form and a present, future, modal, or imperative result.
- Unreal Conditionals (αν + past)B2 — Express unreal present situations, missed past alternatives, and context-resolved counterfactuals with αν plus past forms and θα in the result.
- Condition: αν, εάν, άμα, σανA2 — Choose Greek conditional linkers by register: standard αν, formal εάν, colloquial άμα and σαν, plus unless and whenever expressions.
- The Conditional With θαB1 — Greek has no conditional endings — it builds would out of the modal particle θα plus a past tense: θα έγραφα (I would write) and θα είχα γράψει (I would have written). Why a past tense can mark distance from reality, how the two halves of an αν-sentence pair up, and the third job of the same shape, the future-in-the-past of Μου είπε ότι θα ερχόταν.