Questions & Answers about Πίνω νερό για να μην διψάω.
What does bold: για να do here, and could I just use bold: να?
bold: Για να introduces a purpose clause: “in order to/so that.” In everyday speech you’ll also hear just bold: να for purpose (bold: Πίνω νερό να μη(ν) διψάω), but bold: για να is the clearest, most neutral way to express purpose. Use bold: για να by default.
Why is the negator bold: μην used instead of bold: δεν?
Greek uses bold: μη(ν) to negate verbs in bold: να-clauses (subjunctive/irrealis) and imperatives. bold: Δεν is for indicative statements.
- Indicative: bold: Δεν πίνω νερό. “I don’t drink water.”
- Subjunctive: bold: Πίνω νερό για να μη(ν) διψάω. “I drink water so that I won’t be thirsty.”
Should it be bold: μη or bold: μην before bold: διψάω?
Both appear in modern Greek. A traditional rule says keep the bold: ν before vowels and the consonants κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ and the clusters μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ; drop it before other consonants. Since bold: διψάω starts with bold: δ, the “strict” form would be bold: μη διψάω. In contemporary usage, many speakers simply use bold: μην everywhere, so bold: να μην διψάω is also very common and perfectly acceptable.
Why is it bold: να μη(ν) διψάω (present) and not bold: να μη(ν) διψάσω (aorist)? What’s the difference?
It’s an aspect choice:
- Present subjunctive (bold: διψάω): ongoing/habitual state you want to avoid in general. “I drink water so I don’t end up being thirsty (as a rule).”
- Aorist subjunctive (bold: διψάσω): a single occurrence you want to prevent. bold: Θα πιω νερό για να μη διψάσω στο δρόμο. “I’ll drink water so I don’t get thirsty on the way.” Both are correct; pick the one that matches your meaning.