Κέρδισε τον διαγωνισμό φωτογραφίας.

to win

Breakdown of Κέρδισε τον διαγωνισμό φωτογραφίας.

• η φωτογραφία: the photo
• ο διαγωνισμός: contest

Questions & Answers about Κέρδισε τον διαγωνισμό φωτογραφίας.

What is the basic form of κέρδισε, and what tense is it?

The dictionary form is κερδίζω, meaning to win.

In this sentence, κέρδισε is the aorist form, 3rd person singular. In everyday English, that is usually translated as the simple past:

κέρδισε = he/she won

The aorist here presents the action as a single completed event.

Why is there no word for he or she in the sentence?

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed. The verb ending already tells you the person and number.

So κέρδισε already means he/she/it won.

That means:

• Κέρδισε τον διαγωνισμό φωτογραφίας. = He/She won the photography contest.

If Greek speakers add αυτός or αυτή, it is usually for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

Could κέρδισε also mean win! instead of won?