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Πάρε ομπρέλα αν βρέχει.

Πάρε ομπρέλα αν βρέχει.
Take an umbrella if it’s raining.
FromLesson 9inHardcore Greek
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Breakdown of Πάρε ομπρέλα αν βρέχει.

παίρνω
to take
αν
if
η ομπρέλα
the umbrella
βρέχει
to rain

Questions & Answers about Πάρε ομπρέλα αν βρέχει.

What form is Πάρε, and why is it used here?
  • Πάρε is the 2nd person singular aorist imperative of παίρνω (“to take/get”). It tells one person to do a single, complete action: “Take (it).”
  • Use it for one-off instructions: Πάρε ομπρέλα = “Take an umbrella (this time).”
  • For a habitual instruction, Greek prefers the subjunctive: Να παίρνεις ομπρέλα = “Make a habit of taking an umbrella.”
  • A softer one‑time suggestion is also with the subjunctive: Να πάρεις ομπρέλα (“Do make sure to take an umbrella”).
  • The present imperative Παίρνε means “keep taking / take regularly,” and is used for ongoing/habitual commands: Παίρνε ομπρέλα όταν βρέχει (“Keep taking an umbrella when it rains”), though in advice, Να παίρνεις sounds more natural.
Why is there no article before ομπρέλα?
  • Greek often omits the article with a direct object when it’s indefinite/generic, especially in instructions: Πάρε ομπρέλα is very natural.
  • Πάρε μια ομπρέλα is also fine and a bit more explicitly “one umbrella.”
  • Πάρε την ομπρέλα refers to a specific umbrella that both speaker and listener know.
Should it be αν βρέξει instead of αν βρέχει?

Both are correct but differ in aspect/meaning:

  • αν βρέχει = “if it is raining (right then)” or “if/whenever it rains” (simultaneous/habitual).
    • E.g., you’re about to step out now: Αν βρέχει, πάρε ομπρέλα.
  • αν βρέξει (aorist “dependent” form) = “if it rains (at some point)”—a future contingency.
    • E.g., talking about tomorrow: Αν βρέξει αύριο, να πάρεις ομπρέλα.
Can I say αν θα βρέχει?
  • Not for conditionals. Use αν βρέχει or αν βρέξει.
  • αν θα is used in indirect questions (if/whether), not in “if … then” conditions:
    • Correct: Δεν ξέρω αν θα βρέξει. (“I don’t know if it will rain.”)
    • Conditional: Αν βρέξει, πάρε ομπρέλα.
Why is there no subject like “it” with βρέχει?
  • Weather verbs in Greek are impersonal; βρέχει by itself means “it’s raining.” Greek doesn’t use a dummy subject like English “it.”
  • So βρέχει = “it is raining,” χιονίζει = “it is snowing,” etc.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
  • Πάρε: PA-re (stress on the first syllable).
  • ομπρέλα: om-BRE-la (stress on “BRE”). The cluster μπρ sounds like “mbr/br.”
  • αν: “an.”
  • βρέχει: VRE-chi (stress on “VRE”). The χ before ει is a soft “h” sound like German “ich” [ç], not like English “ch.”
  • Rough guide: “PA-re om-BRE-la an VRE-hee.”
Can I put the if-clause first? Do I need a comma?
  • Yes, word order is flexible:
    • Πάρε ομπρέλα αν βρέχει.
    • Αν βρέχει, πάρε ομπρέλα.
  • When the αν-clause comes first, use a comma after it.
How do I make this more polite or address more than one person?
  • To address multiple people or be polite: Πάρτε ομπρέλα αν βρέχει.
  • To soften the tone:
    • Καλύτερα πάρε/πάρτε ομπρέλα… (“Better take an umbrella…”)
    • Καλό είναι να πάρεις/να πάρετε ομπρέλα… (“It’s a good idea to take an umbrella…”)
    • Μπορείς/Μπορείτε να πάρεις/πάρετε ομπρέλα… (“You can take an umbrella…”)
Is there a difference between “take” and “bring” in Greek here?
  • Yes. Πάρε = “take (with you).”
  • Φέρε = “bring (to me/us/this place).”
  • To be explicit about “with you”: Πάρε μαζί σου ομπρέλα or Πάρε ομπρέλα μαζί σου (“Take an umbrella with you”).
How do I say the negative (e.g., “Don’t take an umbrella unless it’s raining”)?
  • Negative imperative uses μη(ν):
    • One-off: Μην πάρεις ομπρέλα… (“Don’t take an umbrella…”)
    • Habitual: Μην παίρνεις ομπρέλα… (“Don’t (keep) taking an umbrella…”)
  • “Unless” is εκτός αν:
    • Μην πάρεις ομπρέλα, εκτός αν βρέχει.
What’s the difference between αν and όταν?
  • αν = “if” (condition): Αν βρέξει, πάρε ομπρέλα.
  • όταν = “when/whenever” (time): Όταν βρέχει, να παίρνεις ομπρέλα. (habitual advice)
What’s the gender and declension of ομπρέλα?
  • ομπρέλα is feminine.
  • Singular: η ομπρέλα (nom), της ομπρέλας (gen), την ομπρέλα (acc).
  • Plural: οι ομπρέλες, των ομπρελών, τις ομπρέλες.
  • In the sentence it’s a direct object in the accusative; without an article, nominative and accusative look the same.
Is βρέχει related to βροχή and βρέχω?
  • Yes:
    • βρέχει (impersonal) = “it’s raining.”
    • βροχή = “rain” (noun).
    • βρέχω = “to wet (something),” and βρέχομαι = “to get wet.”
  • You may hear idioms like βρέχει καρεκλοπόδαρα (“it’s raining cats and dogs”).
What’s the difference between πάρε and πάρει? I see both spellings.
  • πάρε = 2nd person singular imperative (“take!”).
  • πάρει = subjunctive/inflected form used with particles like να/ας/θα, or as 3rd person:
    • Να πάρει (“that he/she/it take”), Θα πάρει (“he/she/it will take”).
  • Don’t use πάρει by itself as a command; for a command use πάρε (or πάρτε for plural/politeness).

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