Learn Hardcore Greek: Αυτή έχει χάσει τα κλειδιά της, αλλά έχει βρει το ρολόι της. - She has lost her keys, but she has found her watch.

No. Greek is a pro‑drop language, so you can omit the subject pronoun when it’s clear from context. Αυτή is used for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “SHE has lost…”). A neutral version is: Έχει χάσει τα κλειδιά της, αλλά έχει βρει το ρολόι της.

What’s the difference between έχει χάσει and έχασε?

έχει χάσει = present perfect: a past action with a present result/relevance (her keys are still missing).
έχασε = simple past (aorist): a completed past event with no necessary focus on the present result.
Similarly, έχει βρει suggests she still has the watch; βρήκε is just “she found (it).”

How is the Greek present perfect formed in έχει χάσει / έχει βρει?

It’s the present of έχω (here: έχει) + the perfective form of the main verb:

χάνω → έχασα → έχει χάσει
βρίσκω → βρήκα → έχει βρει
The second part (χάσει, βρει) is invariable (it doesn’t change for gender or number).

Why is it χάσει specifically (and not something like χάση)?

For many verbs with an aorist in -σα, the perfective form used after έχω ends in -σει:

χάνω → έχασα → έχει χάσει, διαβάζω → διάβασα → έχει διαβάσει, γράφω → έγραψα → έχει γράψει.

Where does βρει come from?

From βρίσκω (to find). The patterns are: βρίσκω → βρήκα (aorist) → έχει βρει (perfect). It’s irregular, like πίνω → ήπια → έχει πιει.

Why do we see the definite article with possessives (τα κλειδιά της, το ρολόι της)?

In Greek, a possessed noun is normally preceded by the definite article: το/η/ο/τα + noun + weak possessive (μου/σου/του/της/μας/σας/τους). So τα κλειδιά της, το ρολόι της is the standard pattern.

Do both instances of της mean “her,” and do we need to repeat it?

Yes, both της are the weak possessive “her.” Repeating it is normal and keeps reference clear. You can omit the second one if context guarantees the same possessor: …αλλά έχει βρει το ρολόι. Without της, it just says “the watch.”

Does της agree with the possessor or the noun it modifies?

With the possessor. Here, the possessor is female, so της. If it were a man: Αυτός έχει χάσει τα κλειδιά του, αλλά έχει βρει το ρολόι του. If the possessor were plural: τους.

Why is the verb έχει singular when τα κλειδιά is plural?

Because the subject is Αυτή (she), not τα κλειδιά. Verbs agree with the subject, not with the direct object.

Can ρολόι mean “clock” as well as “watch”?

Yes. ρολόι can mean either. Context clarifies it. If needed, specify: ρολόι χειρός (wristwatch), ρολόι τοίχου (wall clock).

How do you pronounce ρολόι, and what are the two dots over the ι?

The two dots are a diaeresis (διαλυτικά). ρολόι is pronounced in three syllables: ro-LO-i. The diaeresis tells you to pronounce ο and ι separately; otherwise οι would sound like a single “i.”

Is the comma before αλλά required?

Yes. In Greek, a comma is typically placed before adversative conjunctions like αλλά to separate the clauses.

Where do object pronouns go with the perfect? For example, if “the watch” is το, where do we put it?

Before the auxiliary: Το έχει βρει. With negation: Δεν το έχει βρει. Clitics come before έχω/έχει in such indicative clauses.

Could I express the idea with είναι instead of έχει, like “Her keys are lost”?

Yes, but the nuance changes:

Έχει χάσει τα κλειδιά της emphasizes the action (she did the losing).
Τα κλειδιά της είναι χαμένα emphasizes the resultant state (the keys are in a lost state). Both are idiomatic, depending on what you want to stress.

Is there a passive alternative like “Her keys have been lost”?

Yes: Της έχουν χαθεί τα κλειδιά, αλλά έχει βρει το ρολόι της. Here the keys are the grammatical subject of έχουν χαθεί, and this phrasing can sound less agent-focused (it doesn’t point the finger at her).

Can the word order change for emphasis?

Greek word order is flexible. Examples:

Neutral: (Αυτή) έχει χάσει τα κλειδιά της…
Focus on the object: Τα κλειδιά της τα έχει χάσει…
Strong subject emphasis/contrast: Αυτή έχει χάσει…
The conjunction αλλά stays between the two clauses regardless.