Learn Hardcore Greek: Έχεις βάλει το ρολόι σου στο τραπέζι; Το έψαξα παντού. - Have you put your watch on the table? I looked for it everywhere.

It’s the present perfect: έχω + perfective form of the verb. Here, έχεις βάλει = “you have put.” The second word (βάλει) is invariable (it doesn’t change for person/number). More examples: έχω δει, έχεις φάει, έχουμε γράψει.

How is Έχεις βάλει… different from Έβαλες…?

Έχεις βάλει… (present perfect) highlights present relevance or a resulting state now (e.g., “Is your watch now on the table?”).
Έβαλες… (simple past/aorist) asks about a completed past action, often at a specific time (“Did you put your watch on the table (earlier)?”). Greek uses the aorist more often than English uses the simple past; present perfect is used when the current result matters.

Why is it το ρολόι σου and not something like σου το ρολόι?

Greek possessives usually follow the noun and the noun normally takes a definite article: το ρολόι σου (“your watch”). For emphasis you can say το δικό σου ρολόι. Fronting the possessive before the noun (e.g., σου το ρολόι) is not the normal pattern.

What is στο?

Στο = σε + το (“in/at/on the”). Other contractions: στον (= σε + τον), στη(ν) (= σε + τη(ν)), στα (= σε + τα), στους (= σε + τους), στις (= σε + τις).

Does στο τραπέζι mean “on the table” or “at the table”?

It can mean either, depending on context. Here it clearly means “on (top of) the table.” If you want to be explicit about “on top of,” you can say πάνω στο (επάνω στο) τραπέζι.

What does the initial Το in Το έψαξα παντού refer to?

It’s the unstressed direct-object pronoun το (“it”), referring back to το ρολόι (neuter). Greek often repeats the object with a clitic pronoun to avoid ambiguity and keep cohesion.

Can the object pronoun come after the verb? Why not Έψαξα το παντού?

In the indicative, clitic pronouns normally go before the verb: Το έψαξα. They appear after the verb mainly with the positive imperative: Ψάξ’ το! Compare: Θα το ψάξω, Να το ψάξω, Μην το ψάξεις (all proclitic).

Why is it έψαξα here, and what would έψαχνα or έχω ψάξει mean?

έψαξα (aorist): a completed search in the past (“I looked/searched (for it)”).
έψαχνα (imperfect): ongoing or repeated action in the past (“I was searching / used to search”).
έχω ψάξει (present perfect): focus on present relevance (“I have (already) searched”). In this context, Το έψαξα παντού stresses the completed action.

Is ψάχνω transitive in Greek, or do I need a preposition like in English “search for”?

It’s typically transitive: Ψάχνω το ρολόι (“I’m looking for the watch”). You also hear ψάχνω για: Ψάχνω για ρολόι (“I’m looking for a watch,” often with indefinite nouns). With definite nouns, both Ψάχνω το ρολόι and Ψάχνω για το ρολόι occur; the bare transitive is a bit crisper.

Why is there a semicolon after Έχεις βάλει…?

In Greek, the question mark is written as a semicolon: ; So Έχεις βάλει το ρολόι σου στο τραπέζι; is a question.

What does παντού mean exactly? How do I say “nowhere”?

παντού = “everywhere.” For “nowhere,” use πουθενά with negation: Δεν το βρήκα πουθενά (“I didn’t find it anywhere/nowhere”).

Should it be το, τον, or την as the object pronoun?

It must agree with the grammatical gender/number of the noun it refers to:

Neuter: το (here, because το ρολόι is neuter)
Masculine: τον (e.g., τον φίλο → Τον έψαξα)
Feminine: την (e.g., την τσάντα → Την έψαξα)

How is ρολόι spelled and pronounced? What about the diaeresis?

Standard spelling is ρολόι, pronounced ro-LO-i (three syllables). You may see it written with a diaeresis on the ι (ρολόϊ) to show the vowels are pronounced separately; in monotonic orthography the common form is ρολόι, and the pronunciation is the same (ro-LO-i).

Are other word orders possible for emphasis?

Yes. Greek allows fronting for focus/topicalization:

Στο τραπέζι έχεις βάλει το ρολόι σου; (emphasis on location)
Το ρολόι σου το έψαξα παντού. (topic + clitic doubling for emphasis and cohesion)

Can I drop the pronoun and just say Έψαξα παντού?

Yes, if the referent is obvious from context. Έψαξα παντού = “I searched everywhere (for it).” Including the clitic (Το έψαξα παντού) is very natural in Greek and makes the reference explicit.