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Questions & Answers about Δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα.
What does each word in Δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα mean?
- Δεν: not (negative particle placed before the finite verb)
- μπορώ: I can / I am able (1st person singular present)
- να: particle introducing a subjunctive/“infinitive-like” clause
- πάω: (for me) to go (1st person singular perfective/aorist subjunctive)
- σήμερα: today Literal structure: Not I-can that I-go today.
How do you pronounce it and where is the stress?
- IPA: [ðen~ðem boˈro na ˈpa.o ˈsi.me.ra]
- You’ll often hear assimilation: δεν
- μπορώ → [ðem boˈro].
- You’ll often hear assimilation: δεν
- Rough guide: DHEN bo-RO na PA-o SEE-me-ra (DH as in English “this”).
- Stressed syllables: μπορό, πάω, σήμερα.
Why do we use να here? Why not an infinitive like in English?
Modern Greek doesn’t use an infinitive. Instead, it uses να + subjunctive to express what English does with “to + verb.” So να πάω corresponds to “to go.”
Why is it πάω and not πηγαίνω after να?
Greek distinguishes aspect:
- να πάω (perfective/aorist): a single, complete going (fits “today”).
- να πηγαίνω (imperfective): ongoing/habitual “be going/keep going.” Example: Δεν μπορώ να πηγαίνω κάθε μέρα. = I can’t keep going every day.
Can I move σήμερα to a different position?
Yes. All are correct, with slight differences in emphasis:
- Δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα. (neutral)
- Σήμερα δεν μπορώ να πάω. (today is what’s contrasted/emphasized)
- Δεν μπορώ σήμερα να πάω. (less common, but acceptable)
Can I just say Δεν μπορώ σήμερα?
Yes, in context. It’s an elliptical, natural-sounding way to decline if the action (e.g., go/come/meet) is already understood.
Is the -ν in δεν always there? I hear δε μπορώ.
In standard writing it’s δεν. In speech, the final -ν may drop before many consonants, so you’ll hear δε μπορώ. Before some sounds (e.g., [b] as in μπορώ), the -ν often assimilates, so you may hear [ðem boˈro].
How would I say “I won’t be able to go today”?
- Δεν θα μπορέσω να πάω σήμερα. (future: I won’t be able/managed-to go) Nuance:
- Δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα. = I can’t (as a present fact).
- Δεν θα μπορέσω… = I won’t be able (looking ahead to later today).
How do I say “I can’t come today” instead of “go”?
Use the verb “come”: Δεν μπορώ να έρθω σήμερα.
- πάω = go (away from here)
- έρθω (subjunctive of έρχομαι) = come (toward here/us)
How do I make this a question like “Can/May I go today?”
- Μπορώ να πάω σήμερα; Note: Greek uses the semicolon (;) as the question mark.
Which negative goes with να-clauses: δεν or μην?
- Negate the main verb with δεν: Δεν μπορώ να πάω. (I can’t go.)
- Negate the να-clause with μη(ν): Μπορώ να μην πάω; (May I not go?)
- Double negation changes meaning: Δεν μπορώ να μην πάω. = I can’t not go.
How is μπορώ conjugated? Any useful tense pairs?
- Present: μπορώ, μπορείς, μπορεί, μπορούμε, μπορείτε, μπορούν(ε)
- Aorist (single completed ability/managed to): μπόρεσα, μπόρεσες, μπόρεσε, μπορέσαμε, μπορέσατε, μπόρεσαν
- Future: θα μπορέσω (I will be able)
- Imperfect: μπορούσα (I could/was able, habitual/ongoing)
What’s up with μπ in μπορώ? Why is it pronounced like b?
In Greek, μπ at the start of a word is pronounced [b]. That’s why μπορώ sounds like “boró.”
Should I ever use για να here, as in για να πάω?
No. για να introduces purpose (“in order to”): Πάω νωρίς για να προλάβω. Here you just need να because you’re not expressing purpose, only the content of the ability.
How can I make the refusal softer or more polite?
Add a softener:
- Συγγνώμη, δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα.
- Δυστυχώς, δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα.
- Φοβάμαι πως δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα.
How do I add a destination or more time detail?
- Destination: Δεν μπορώ να πάω στο πάρτι σήμερα. (στο = σε + το)
- Time detail: …σήμερα το απόγευμα/βράδυ/πρωί.
Is there a difference between using θα with πάω and using να πάω?
Yes:
- Θα πάω σήμερα. = I will go today (future statement).
- Δεν μπορώ να πάω σήμερα. = I can’t go today (ability/permission), with να marking the subordinate verb after μπορώ.