Learn Hardcore Greek: Προτιμώ το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί επειδή δεν έχω πολλά λεφτά. - I prefer the cheaper shop because I don't have much money.

I prefer the X: Προτιμώ το Χ.
I prefer to do X: Προτιμώ να κάνω Χ. Present conjugation (most common forms):
εγώ προτιμώ/προτιμάω
εσύ προτιμάς
αυτός/αυτή/αυτό προτιμά
εμείς προτιμάμε/προτιμούμε
εσείς προτιμάτε
αυτοί προτιμούν(ε)

Does το here mean “to”?

No. το is the neuter singular definite article “the,” agreeing with μαγαζί (a neuter noun). It is unrelated to the English preposition “to.”

Why is there only one article in το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί?

When an adjective (or an adjective phrase like πιο φθηνό) comes before the noun, Greek uses a single article: το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί.
If you place the adjective after the noun, you repeat the article: το μαγαζί το πιο φθηνό. Both are correct; the first is more common here.

Does πιο φθηνό mean “cheaper” or “cheapest”?

With the article and a specific noun, το πιο φθηνό (μαγαζί) means “the cheapest (shop).”
Without the article (often with ένα), (ένα) πιο φθηνό μαγαζί means “a cheaper shop.”

Can I say το φθηνότερο μαγαζί instead of το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί?

Yes. Both are standard:

το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί = “the cheapest shop” (analytic superlative)
το φθηνότερο μαγαζί = “the cheapest shop” (synthetic superlative) For “cheaper”: πιο φθηνός or φθηνότερος.

What’s the difference between φθηνό and φτηνό?

They are spelling/pronunciation variants of the same word “cheap.”

φθηνός/φθηνή/φθηνό: more conservative spelling.
φτηνός/φτηνή/φτηνό: very common in everyday Greek.
Use whichever your course prefers; both are correct.

How do I pronounce the φθ cluster in φθηνό?

You will hear both:

[fθ] as in [fθiˈno] (matching the spelling φθηνό), and
[ft] as in [ftiˈno] (matching the spelling φτηνό). Both pronunciations are acceptable in Modern Greek.

Why use μαγαζί and not κατάστημα?

Both mean “shop/store,” but:

μαγαζί is neutral–colloquial and very common.
κατάστημα is more formal or used in official contexts. In everyday speech, μαγαζί is the natural choice.

Why is επειδή used instead of γιατί?

Both can mean “because.”

επειδή = “because” (only cause).
γιατί = “because” or “why,” so it’s more versatile.
You could also say: Προτιμώ το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί γιατί δεν έχω πολλά λεφτά. Meaning stays the same.

Do I need a comma before επειδή?

Not when the cause clause follows the main clause:
Προτιμώ … επειδή … → no comma.
If the cause clause comes first, use a comma:
Επειδή δεν έχω πολλά λεφτά, προτιμώ το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί.

Why is it δεν έχω and not μην έχω?

Use δεν to negate indicative statements: δεν έχω = “I don’t have.”
Use μη(ν) to negate the subjunctive/imperative or after να/ας:

Να μην πάω; “Should I not go?”
Also note: the final -ν in δεν is required before a vowel, so δεν έχω (not δε έχω).

Why is it πολλά λεφτά and not πολύ λεφτά?

Agreement. λεφτά is neuter plural, so the quantifier must be neuter plural: πολλά.

neuter plural: πολλά λεφτά
If you use a singular uncountable synonym, you use singular: πολύ χρήμα (“much money”). Formal plural synonym: πολλά χρήματα.

If λεφτά is plural, why do we translate it as “much money,” not “many monies”?

Greek treats τα λεφτά grammatically as a plural noun meaning “money” as a mass. English uses an uncountable singular “money.” So Greek grammar is plural, but the English concept is mass/uncountable.

What case is το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί in here?

Accusative, because it’s the direct object of Προτιμώ. In neuter, nominative and accusative look the same, so you tell by function.

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Two natural options:

Προτιμώ το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί επειδή δεν έχω πολλά λεφτά.
Επειδή δεν έχω πολλά λεφτά, προτιμώ το πιο φθηνό μαγαζί. Meaning and tone are the same; the second slightly foregrounds the reason.

What’s the difference between πιο and ποιο? They sound the same to me.

They are homophones but different words:

πιο = “more” (comparative marker): πιο φθηνό = “cheaper/more cheap.”
ποιο = “which/what” (neuter of the interrogative pronoun): Ποιο μαγαζί; = “Which shop?” Spelling distinguishes them: πιο (ι), ποιο (οι). Context also helps.