Dialogue: Asking for Directions

A visitor asks a stranger how to reach a bank. Because the speakers do not know each other, the directions use neutral-polite plural imperatives throughout: πηγαίνετε, στρίψτε, περάστε, συνεχίστε. The route is short enough to sound like real spoken directions rather than a list copied from a map.

The complete exchange

Visitor

Local

Visitor

Local

Visitor

Local

Visitor

Local

Visitor

Local

Visitor

Local

Υπάρχει introduces the place

The visitor does not yet know whether a bank is nearby, so υπάρχει τράπεζα; presents the place as new and indefinite. Greek needs no dummy subject equivalent to English there. The verb itself supplies the existential frame.

The answer υπάρχει μία uses feminine μία as a standalone pronoun for the understood noun τράπεζα. Once both speakers have identified it, the visitor switches to definite η τράπεζα, and the local can omit the subject altogether in είναι δίπλα....

This information-structure contrast—introducing with υπάρχει, then locating a known entity with είναι—is developed under existential υπάρχει.

Polite route imperatives

The local addresses one stranger respectfully with plural forms. Πηγαίνετε is the current polite/plural imperative of πηγαίνω. Στρίψτε, περάστε, συνεχίστε are perfective imperatives that package each route step as a bounded instruction.

With a friend, the corresponding familiar singular route would use πήγαινε, στρίψε, πέρασε, συνέχισε:

The contrast is not simply “present means long” and “perfective means short.” Πηγαίνετε ευθεία views movement along the route internally, while στρίψτε and περάστε present the whole maneuver as a bounded step. Viewpoint, not event count, controls aspect.

The imperative of πάω/πηγαίνω has forms that learners must learn rather than derive from the present stem mechanically. See irregular imperatives for the full family.

Route landmarks and endpoints

Ευθεία, δεξιά, αριστερά, απέναντι function adverbially: they tell the listener how or where to move without needing gender agreement. Ως το φανάρι gives the endpoint “as far as the traffic light.” Μετά το φανάρι and πριν locate the turn relative to the landmark.

Ως and μέχρι both mark a limit here. They retain their prepositional material; Greek does not strand an equivalent of English to at the end of the clause.

The clarification Να στρίψω...; uses first-person να as a request for confirmation: “Am I to turn...?” It naturally echoes an instruction without repeating an imperative.

Locating the destination

The dialogue combines several common place expressions:

• πάνω στην πλατεία — right on the square;
• δίπλα στο φαρμακείο — next to the pharmacy;
• απέναντι από το δημαρχείο — opposite the town hall;
• μακριά από εδώ — far from here;
• στα αριστερά σας — on your left;
• με τα πόδια — on foot.

The prepositions keep the cases they govern. Everyday σε, από, με take the accusative; στην, στο, στα are contractions of σε + definite article. The compound expression δίπλα σε therefore becomes δίπλα στο, while απέναντι από retains από. See compound prepositions for the wider system.

Time as distance

Είναι περίπου πέντε λεπτά με τα πόδια measures the route by walking time. Greek uses the bare accusative measure πέντε λεπτά, not a preposition meaning “for five minutes.” Περίπου signals an estimate.

The final sentence uses weak accusative τη to refer back to feminine την τράπεζα. It appears before finite θα δείτε. Possessive σας in στα αριστερά σας belongs to the same polite package as the plural imperative endings.

Common Mistakes

Distinguishing classification from existence

Είναι τράπεζα; is grammatical when the speaker classifies an already identified building. To ask whether any bank exists nearby, use υπάρχει.

Choosing the current route imperative

Use current polite/plural πηγαίνετε or directive πάτε, not the invented Standard route form ×πάστε.

Omitting σε after δίπλα

Separating literal legs from the route expression

Bare με + noun is grammatical when actual legs are being described. Travel mode instead uses the established definite phrase με τα πόδια.

Key Takeaways

• Ask whether a place exists with υπάρχει; use είναι to classify or locate an identified place.
• Keep stranger-directed plural forms consistent: πηγαίνετε, στρίψτε, περάστε, σας.
• Aspect presents a route action as internal/open or bounded; it does not mechanically encode duration or count.
• Use adverbial ευθεία, δεξιά, αριστερά, απέναντι for route directions.
• Keep the complete place expression: δίπλα στο, απέναντι από το, μακριά από, με τα πόδια.
• A route estimate is a bare measure: περίπου πέντε λεπτά.