Βρήκα ένα φτερό στον κήπο.

I found a feather in the garden.

Breakdown of Βρήκα ένα φτερό στον κήπο.

• ένα: one
• σε: in
• βρίσκω: to find
• ο κήπος: the garden

Questions & Answers about Βρήκα ένα φτερό στον κήπο.

Why is Βρήκα translated as I found? What form is it?

Βρήκα is the 1st person singular form of the verb βρίσκω (to find).

In this sentence, it is in the simple past (often called the aorist in Greek grammar), so βρήκα means I found.

A few related forms:

• βρήκα = I found
• βρήκες = you found
• βρήκε = he/she/it found
• βρήκαμε = we found

So the ending -α here tells you the subject is I.

Why doesn’t Greek use a word for I here?

Greek often drops subject pronouns when they are not needed, because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

So:

• Βρήκα already means I found
• You do not need to say Εγώ βρήκα unless you want emphasis

For example:

• Βρήκα ένα φτερό. = I found a feather.
• Εγώ βρήκα ένα φτερό. = I found a feather (with extra emphasis, maybe contrasting with someone else)

This is very normal in Greek.

Why is it ένα φτερό and not ένας φτερό or μία φτερό?