Questions & Answers about Θέλεις κάτι να φας;
What does each word do here, and what form is bolded?
- Θέλεις: you want (2nd person singular, present)
- κάτι: something/anything (indefinite pronoun)
- να: particle that introduces the subjunctive
- φας: you eat (2nd person singular, aorist subjunctive of the verb τρώω “to eat”)
So the structure is “Do you want [something] [to eat]?” with να φας functioning like “to eat.”
Why is it να φας and not να τρως?
Greek distinguishes aspect:
- να φας (aorist subjunctive) = a single, complete act (“to have something to eat”).
- να τρως (present subjunctive) = ongoing/habitual action (“to be eating/keep eating”).
Here, you’re offering a single act of eating, so να φας is the natural choice.
Example contrast: Θέλεις να τρως όλη μέρα; = Do you want to be eating all day?
Is να φας the Greek infinitive?
Modern Greek has no true infinitive. It uses να + subjunctive to cover many “to do” uses in English. So να φας isn’t an infinitive; it’s a subjunctive clause that often translates as “to eat.”
Can I also say Θέλεις να φας κάτι;?