Breakdown of Χωρίς ερώτηση δεν υπάρχει απάντηση.
δεν
not
υπάρχω
to exist
η απάντηση
the answer
χωρίς
without
Questions & Answers about Χωρίς ερώτηση δεν υπάρχει απάντηση.
What does χωρίς mean, and which case does it govern?
Χωρίς means “without” and it always takes the accusative case. In the sentence, ερώτηση is accusative after χωρίς, even though its form looks the same as the nominative in the singular.
Why is there no article before ερώτηση and απάντηση?
Greek often omits the article in generic statements. Χωρίς ερώτηση and (δεν) υπάρχει απάντηση feel general (“without a question, there is no answer”). Adding an article would narrow the reference: χωρίς την ερώτηση = “without the question (we know about).” Χωρίς μία ερώτηση is possible but gives a marked “one single question” feel.
Which cases are ερώτηση and απάντηση here?
- ερώτηση: accusative (required by χωρίς).
- απάντηση: nominative, because it’s the grammatical subject of υπάρχει (“there exists”). In the singular feminine, nominative and accusative look identical without an article, but with articles you see the difference: nominative η απάντηση, accusative την απάντηση.
What does δεν υπάρχει mean, exactly?