Questions & Answers about Οι άνθρωποι εδώ βοηθάνε πολύ.
Why is there an article Οι before άνθρωποι? In English we might just say “people.”
Modern Greek normally uses the definite article with plural nouns when referring to a specific or generic group. Οι άνθρωποι εδώ means “the people here” as a known set (the locals). Omitting the article (∅ άνθρωποι εδώ) is ungrammatical in this meaning. For an indefinite idea like “some people here,” you’d say Μερικοί άνθρωποι εδώ.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
- Οι = ee (as in “see”).
- άνθρωποι = AHN-thro-pee (θ like unvoiced th in “thin”; final -οι = ee).
- εδώ = e-THO (δ is the voiced th in “this”; stress on the second syllable).
- βοηθάνε = vo-ee-THA-neh (hear the two vowels ο-η as vo-ee; stress on -θΑ-).
- πολύ = po-LEE (stress on -λί).
Stress falls where the accent mark is.
What verb form is βοηθάνε? Could it also be βοηθούν?
It’s 3rd person plural present of the verb βοηθάω/βοηθώ (“to help”). Both βοηθάνε and βοηθούν(ε) are standard and mean the same. In everyday speech βοηθάνε is very common; in more formal writing you’ll also see βοηθούν. The final -ε in 3rd plural is optional in modern Greek spelling: βοηθάν(ε), βοηθούν(ε).
Does the Greek present here mean “help” or “are helping”?