Δεν έχω βρει ακόμα το ρολόι μου.

to have

Breakdown of Δεν έχω βρει ακόμα το ρολόι μου.

• δεν: not
• μου: my
• βρίσκω: to find
• ακόμα: yet
• το ρολόι: the watch

Questions & Answers about Δεν έχω βρει ακόμα το ρολόι μου.

Why is it Δεν and not μη(ν)?

Greek has two main negators:

• δεν is used for ordinary statements and questions (the indicative): Δεν έχω βρει... = I haven’t found...
• μη(ν) is used mainly for negative commands and with the subjunctive: Μη(ν) το ψάξεις (Don’t look for it), να μη(ν) το ψάξεις (that you not look for it).

So here we need δεν.

Why is it έχω βρει instead of βρήκα?

• Έχω βρει is the Greek “perfect” (have found) and focuses on the result up to now. With ακόμα, it means “not yet.”
• Βρήκα is the simple past (I found). Negative with ακόμα:
• Standard/natural: Δεν έχω βρει ακόμα... = I haven’t found ... yet.
• Colloquial but common: Δεν το βρήκα ακόμα. Many people say this in speech, though grammar books prefer the perfect with “yet.”

What form is βρει?

It’s the perfective (aorist) stem form used with the auxiliary έχω to make the perfect:

• έχω βρει, έχεις βρει, έχει βρει, έχουμε βρει, έχετε βρει, έχουν(ε) βρει. Related forms of the verb:
• Present: βρίσκω (I find)
• Aorist (simple past): βρήκα (I found)
• Subjunctive (1st sg): να βρω (that I find)
• Perfect with έχω: έχω βρει (I have found)

Where can ακόμα go in the sentence?

Several natural options:

• Δεν έχω βρει ακόμα το ρολόι μου.
• Δεν έχω ακόμα βρει το ρολόι μου.
• Ακόμα δεν έχω βρει το ρολόι μου. (emphasis on “still”) All mean essentially the same; the initial position adds a bit more emphasis to “still.”

Is there a difference between ακόμα and ακόμη?

They’re interchangeable in meaning (“still/yet”). Ακόμη is a touch more formal/literary; ακόμα is more colloquial. Both are very common. Both also form the expression ακόμα και = even.

How do I say it with a pronoun instead of repeating “my watch”?

Use the object clitic before the auxiliary:

• Δεν το έχω βρει ακόμα. = I haven’t found it yet. Clitics go before the first verb in the verb group; you can’t attach them to βρει.

Why is the possessive μου after the noun?

Greek weak possessives are enclitics and follow the noun (usually with a definite article):

• το ρολόι μου = my watch For emphasis, use (το) δικό μου:
• το δικό μου ρολόι (my own watch)
• Elliptical: Δεν το έχω βρει ακόμα, το δικό μου. (I haven’t found mine yet.)

Why is there a definite article (το) with a possessive?

In Greek, possessed nouns usually take the definite article:

• το ρολόι μου, το σπίτι σου, η μητέρα του. Omitting the article here sounds unnatural in standard usage.

What gender is ρολόι and what’s the plural?

• Gender: neuter. Hence the article το.
• Plural: τα ρολόγια. Examples: το ρολόι, τα ρολόγια, ένα ρολόι.

Does ρολόι mean “watch” or “clock”? How do I be more specific?

Ρολόι covers both “watch” and “clock.” Context usually disambiguates. To be specific:

• wristwatch: ρολόι χειρός (also colloquial: ρολόι (του) χεριού)
• wall clock: ρολόι τοίχου
• alarm clock: ξυπνητήρι

Can I say Δεν βρήκα ακόμα το ρολόι μου?

Yes, it’s common in everyday speech. Strictly speaking, many teachers prefer Δεν έχω βρει ακόμα... with “yet,” but the aorist version is very widely used colloquially.

Are there alternatives to ακόμα for “yet/so far”?

Yes:

• Δεν το έχω βρει μέχρι τώρα / ως τώρα / μέχρι στιγμής. = I haven’t found it so far/up to now. These sound a bit more formal or report-like than ακόμα.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

Roughly: [ðen É-ho vri a-KÓ-ma to ro-LÓ-i mu] Notes:

• δ = th in “this” ([ð])
• χ in έχω = German/Scottish ch ()
• βρει = “vree”
• ρολόι is three syllables: ro-LO-i

Why doesn’t βρει have an accent mark?

Most monosyllabic words in Greek are written without an accent (unless needed to distinguish homographs like ή vs η). Βρει is monosyllabic, so no written accent.