Learn Hardcore Greek: Συχνά φεύγω νωρίς από τη δουλειά όταν δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα. - I often leave work early when there is no problem.

φεύγω is the present (imperfective) indicative: “I leave / I am leaving.” It fits habitual statements like this one.
φύγω is the perfective subjunctive form, used after particles like να/ας/μη(ν) or after time conjunctions for future reference: Θέλω να φύγω νωρίς (I want to leave early), Όταν φύγω, θα σε πάρω (When I leave, I’ll call you).
πάω means “I go,” not “I leave.” It’s used for going somewhere: Πάω στη δουλειά (I’m going to work).

Can I move συχνά around? What positions sound natural?

Yes. Common, natural options:

Συχνά φεύγω νωρίς από τη δουλειά...
Φεύγω συχνά νωρίς από τη δουλειά...
Φεύγω νωρίς από τη δουλειά συχνά... (more emphatic, slightly more colloquial)

Placing συχνά early gives it more prominence; placing it at the end adds afterthought/emphasis.

Why is it από τη δουλειά? Could I omit από?

You need από (“from”) to express leaving a place: φεύγω από τη δουλειά = “I leave (from) work.”
Without the preposition (e.g., “φεύγω τη δουλειά”) is ungrammatical.
Contrast: φεύγω για τη δουλειά = “I leave for work.”

Why τη and not την in από τη δουλειά?

Modern spelling commonly drops the final -ν of the feminine article την before most consonants. You keep -ν before vowels and typically before κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ and the clusters μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ. Since δουλειά starts with δ, writing τη δουλειά is standard. την δουλειά isn’t wrong, just less common in modern usage.

How does όταν affect tenses? Why present in both clauses?

For general/habitual time: use the present in both clauses, as in the sentence.
For a specific future time: use a (perfective) subjunctive-like form after όταν and θα in the main clause: Όταν φύγω, θα σε πάρω (not “Όταν θα φύγω” in standard usage).
For past habits: Όταν δεν υπήρχε πρόβλημα, έφευγα νωρίς.
For a single past event: Όταν δεν υπήρχε πρόβλημα, έφυγα νωρίς.

Why δεν and not μη(ν) in όταν δεν υπάρχει?

δεν negates indicative statements: δεν υπάρχει (there isn’t).
μη(ν) negates the subjunctive/imperative or is used in prohibitions: να μη(ν) φύγω, μη(ν) φύγεις!
Here we have a plain statement, so δεν is correct.

Why δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα and not δεν είναι πρόβλημα?

(δεν) υπάρχει πρόβλημα = “(there is no) problem” (existential “there is/are”).
(δεν) είναι πρόβλημα = “(it is not) a problem” (evaluative “it is/isn’t”).
Both are correct but mean different things. The sentence needs the existential meaning: there isn’t any problem.

Is νωρίς an adverb? How do I say “earlier/earliest”?

νωρίς is an adverb meaning “early.”
Comparative: νωρίτερα (“earlier”). You’ll also hear πιο νωρίς.
Superlative: νωρίτατα exists but is rare; people usually say πολύ νωρίς or το πιο νωρίς in context.
Note: νωρίς ≠ γρήγορα (quickly).

What’s the difference between συχνά and συνήθως?

συχνά = “often” (high frequency but not necessarily the default).
συνήθως = “usually/typically” (what generally happens).
So “I often leave early” (συχνά) is weaker than “I usually leave early” (συνήθως).

Can I say πολλές φορές instead of συχνά?

Yes. Πολλές φορές φεύγω νωρίς... is very natural and roughly equals “often.”
Nuance: πολλές φορές literally “many times,” slightly more informal/story-like than the adverb συχνά.

Is νωρίς the same as γρήγορα?

No.

νωρίς = early (in time): Ήρθα νωρίς (I arrived early).
γρήγορα = quickly/fast (in speed): Ήρθα γρήγορα (I came quickly).

Can I put the όταν-clause first?

Yes: Όταν δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα, συχνά φεύγω νωρίς από τη δουλειά.
Use a comma when the dependent clause comes first. No comma is needed when it comes after the main clause (as in the original).

Do I need to say Εγώ?

No. The verb ending in φεύγω already shows the subject “I.”
Use Εγώ only for emphasis or contrast: Εγώ συχνά φεύγω νωρίς, οι άλλοι μένουν.

Is there a more idiomatic verb than φεύγω for “get off work”?

Yes: σχολάω = finish work/school, “get off.”
You can say: Συχνά σχολάω νωρίς, όταν δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα.
It implies your shift ends early rather than you simply choosing to leave.

Can από be shortened to απ’ here?

In careful writing, απ’ is the clipped form of από before a vowel (e.g., απ’ έξω).
Colloquially you will also see/hear απ’ το/απ’ τη even before consonants: απ’ τη δουλειά. In neutral writing, από τη δουλειά is the safest choice.

How do I spell δουλειά? I’ve seen δουλιά and δουλεία.

Standard: δουλειά (work, job).
δουλιά: a simplified/colloquial spelling you may see informally.
Be careful with δουλεία (accent on -ία): it means “slavery,” not “work.”

Why no article or ένα in δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα?

Greek usually drops the article with existential negatives: δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα = “there isn’t (a) problem.”
If you want to emphasize “no problem at all,” say δεν υπάρχει κανένα πρόβλημα.
Saying δεν υπάρχει ένα πρόβλημα is unusual and would mean “there isn’t one problem (there are several),” which is a different idea.

Any tips on pronunciation here?

φεύγω ≈ fev-ɣo (ευ before a voiced consonant like γ sounds like “ev”; γ before o = a voiced fricative, like a softer g).
δουλειά ≈ dhu-liá (δ is like “th” in “this”; the -λιά sounds “lya”).
υπάρχει ≈ i-pár-chi (χ is a voiceless “kh” sound).
A rough whole-sentence guide: sih-NÁ FÉV-go no-RÍS a-PO ti dhu-li-Á Ó-tan then i-PÁR-chi PRÓ-vli-ma.