Greek sentences grow in three stages. A simple sentence contains one clause; a compound sentence joins equal clauses; a complex sentence makes one clause depend on another. Longer sentences reuse the same verb endings, cases, and aspect choices.
Simple sentences: one clause
A full clause normally has a finite verb and the participants that verb requires. The subject is often overt while it is being introduced, but Greek can omit it once the verb ending and context identify it.
Η Μαρία διαβάζει ένα βιβλίο στο μπαλκόνι.
i María dhiavázi éna vivlío sto balkóni
Maria is reading a book on the balcony.
Διαβάζει ένα βιβλίο στο μπαλκόνι.
dhiavázi éna vivlío sto balkóni
She is reading a book on the balcony.
Both examples contain one clause. In the second, the third-person singular ending of διαβάζει supports a silent subject whose identity is already known. Greek case keeps roles visible: nominative normally marks the subject, accusative the direct object, and genitive commonly marks a weak indirect object.
Του έστειλα το αρχείο το πρωί.
tu éstila to archío to proí
I sent him the file this morning.
The simple sentence page develops these templates, including copular είμαι and existential υπάρχει.
Compound sentences: equal clauses
A compound sentence links clauses of equal status with a coordinating conjunction such as και “and,” αλλά “but,” or ή “or.” Each clause could stand as a sentence, even when a shared subject is not repeated.
Γύρισα σπίτι και έφτιαξα κάτι να φάω.
yírisa spíti ke éftiaksa káti na fáo
I came home and made something to eat.
Του τηλεφώνησα, αλλά δεν απάντησε.
tu tilefónisa, alá dhen apándise
I called him, but he didn't answer.
Θα πάρουμε ταξί ή θα περιμένουμε το λεωφορείο;
tha párume taksí i tha periménume to leoforío;
Will we take a taxi, or will we wait for the bus?
The conjunction tells you whether the second event is added, contrasted, or offered as an alternative. Greek frequently leaves the continuing subject silent. For agreement and omitted repeated verbs, see coordination.
Complex sentences: one clause depends on another
A complex sentence contains a main clause and at least one subordinate clause. The linking word tells the listener what relation holds between them.
Ξέρω ότι η Άννα έχει ήδη φύγει.
kséro óti i Ána échi ídhi fíyi
I know that Anna has already left.
Θέλω να μου στείλεις τη διεύθυνση.
thélo na mu stílis ti dhiéfthinsi
I want you to send me the address.
Θα σε πάρω όταν φτάσω στο ξενοδοχείο.
tha se páro ótan ftáso sto ksenodhochío
I'll call you when I reach the hotel.
The ότι-clause presents information as a proposition. The να-clause presents an intended or envisaged event. The όταν-clause locates the main event in time. These linkers are not interchangeable translations of English that; each selects a particular semantic relationship.
Mood at sentence level
The indicative is the ordinary mood of independent assertions and questions, as well as many ότι/πως reports. A να-clause commonly presents an event as wanted, possible, necessary, or otherwise dependent on another expression.
Η Ελένη έρχεται αύριο.
i Eléni érchete ávrio
Eleni is coming tomorrow. (indicative assertion)
Ελπίζω να έρθει η Ελένη αύριο.
elpízo na érthi i Eléni ávrio
I hope Eleni comes tomorrow. (dependent να-clause)
Negation follows the same split: indicative clauses use δεν, while να pairs with μη(ν).
Ξέρω ότι δεν θα αργήσει.
kséro óti dhen tha aryísi
I know that she won't be late.
Της είπα να μην αργήσει.
tis ípa na min aryísi
I told her not to be late.
This mood distinction runs through purpose clauses, commands, reported requests, and many impersonal constructions. The subordinate clause overview maps the choices in detail.
Aspect connects events
Inside futures and να-clauses, Greek chooses between imperfective and perfective stems. The choice tells the listener how to view the event, not simply when it happens.
Θέλω να διαβάζω λίγο κάθε βράδυ.
thélo na dhiavázo lígho káthe vrádhi
I want to read a little every evening. (habitual/imperfective)
Θέλω να διαβάσω αυτό το άρθρο απόψε.
thélo na dhiaváso aftó to árthro apópse
I want to read this article tonight. (bounded/perfective)
Aspect clarifies whether a subordinate event is repeated, ongoing, or viewed as one complete whole. English often leaves that difference to context.
Conditionals: linking a result to a condition
Conditional sentences use αν to present the circumstance under which another clause holds.
Αν τελειώσω νωρίς, θα σε πάρω τηλέφωνο.
an telióso norís, tha se páro tiléfono
If I finish early, I'll call you. (open condition)
Αν ζούσα κοντά στη θάλασσα, θα κολυμπούσα κάθε μέρα.
an zúsa kondá sti thálasa, tha kolimbúsa káthe méra
If I lived near the sea, I would swim every day. (unreal present)
The tense pairing signals whether the condition is open or counterfactual. English conditional types provide a useful first comparison, but Greek aspect remains active inside the forms. Start with the conditional overview, then move to the real and unreal pages.
Reported speech: another person's words inside yours
Statements are commonly reported with ότι or πως, while commands and requests use να.
Ο Νίκος είπε ότι θα έρθει αργότερα.
o Níkos ípe óti tha érthi arghótera
Nikos said that he would come later.
Ο Νίκος μού είπε να περιμένω έξω.
o Níkos mú ípe na periméno ékso
Nikos told me to wait outside.
Unlike English, Greek does not mechanically backshift every tense after a past reporting verb. That difference, plus changes in pronouns and time words, makes reported speech the other major sentence-building challenge in this group.
Common Mistakes
1. Leaving the direct object in nominative case.
❌ Ο Μάριος συνάντησε ο Αντώνης στον σταθμό.
Incorrect—the person met is the direct object and must be accusative.
✅ Ο Μάριος συνάντησε τον Αντώνη στον σταθμό.
o Mários sinándise ton Andóni ston stathmó
Marios met Antonis at the station.
2. Giving a preverbal coordinated subject a singular verb.
❌ Ο Νίκος και η Άννα έφυγε νωρίς.
Incorrect—the two-person subject requires plural έφυγαν.
✅ Ο Νίκος και η Άννα έφυγαν νωρίς.
o Níkos ke i Ána éfighan norís
Nikos and Anna left early.
3. Combining να with the subject–verb order of an ότι-clause.
❌ Νομίζω να ο Πέτρος άργησε.
Incorrect—an opinion presented as information takes ότι/πως, not this να frame.
✅ Νομίζω ότι ο Πέτρος άργησε.
nomízo óti o Pétros áryise
I think Petros was late.
Key Takeaways
- A simple sentence has one clause; compound clauses are equal; a complex sentence contains dependency.
- Greek can omit a recoverable subject, but case and verb agreement still mark roles.
- Indicative and δεν contrast with dependent να and μη(ν).
- Aspect remains meaningful inside future, subordinate, conditional, and reported structures.
- Conditionals and reported speech combine the most sentence-level choices and deserve their own focused study.
Related Topics
- The Simple SentenceA1 — Build a basic Greek clause from an optional nominative subject, an agreeing verb, and any accusative or genitive objects the verb requires.
- Conditional Sentences: OverviewA2 — See the three central Greek αν-patterns: open conditions, unreal present conditions, and unreal past conditions, with their matching result forms.
- Reported (Indirect) SpeechB1 — Report Greek statements with ότι or πως while adjusting speakers, place, and time without automatic English-style tense backshift.
- Subordinate Clauses OverviewA2 — Recognize Greek complement, adverbial, and relative clauses by what they attach to and what job they perform in a larger sentence.