Questions & Answers about Αυτή προσπαθεί να μάθει να οδηγεί, αλλά εγώ προτιμώ το μετρό.
Do I have to say Αυτή and εγώ, or can I drop them?
You can drop them. Greek is a pro‑drop language, so subject pronouns are usually omitted because the verb ending shows the person.
- Without pronouns: Προσπαθεί να μάθει να οδηγεί, αλλά προτιμώ το μετρό.
- Keeping Αυτή and εγώ adds emphasis/contrast: “SHE is trying…, but I prefer….”
What’s the difference between Αυτή and Εκείνη here?
- Αυτή works as a neutral “she.”
- Εκείνη literally “that one (female),” feels more distant or pointed. In this sentence it would sound unusually contrastive unless you want to stress distance or a specific previously mentioned woman. Most of the time you’d use Αυτή (or omit it).
How do you pronounce Αυτή, and why is it “aftí,” not “avtí”?
Αυ is pronounced:
- as “av” before voiced consonants/vowels (e.g., αυγό “av‑GO”),
- as “af” before voiceless consonants (e.g., αυτό “af‑TO,” Αυτή “af‑TEE”). Because τ is voiceless, Αυτή becomes “af‑TEE.”
Why does the present προσπαθεί mean “is trying”?