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Breakdown of Έχω έναν καινούριο υπολογιστή, αλλά το παλιό τηλέφωνο ακόμα δουλεύει.
έχω
to have
αλλά
but
το τηλέφωνο
the phone
δουλεύω
to work
ακόμα
still
ένας
one
καινούριος
new
ο υπολογιστής
the computer
παλιός
old
Questions & Answers about Έχω έναν καινούριο υπολογιστή, αλλά το παλιό τηλέφωνο ακόμα δουλεύει.
Why is it έναν and not ένα before υπολογιστή?
Because υπολογιστής is masculine and, after a verb like έχω, it goes in the accusative. The masculine accusative form of the indefinite article is έναν. Neuter would be ένα.
- Masculine: ένας (nom), έναν (acc)
- Neuter: ένα (nom/acc)
Why does υπολογιστής become υπολογιστή (without -ς)?
Greek marks case on nouns. Υπολογιστής (computer) is masculine in -της:
- Nominative: υπολογιστής (subject form)
- Accusative: υπολογιστή (object form; -ς drops)
- Genitive: υπολογιστή
After έχω, you need the accusative: υπολογιστή.
Why is the adjective καινούριο and not καινούριος?
Adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. Here we have a masculine noun in the accusative, so the adjective takes the masculine accusative singular form: καινούριο. Note: for many -ος adjectives, masculine accusative ends in -ο, which looks the same as neuter nominative/accusative.
Could I say νέος instead of καινούριος?
Often yes, but there’s a nuance:
- καινούριος/καινούργιος = brand new, newly bought/made (best for devices).
- νέος = new/young; good for people or newer versions, but less specific about being brand-new. Here, καινούριος υπολογιστής is the most natural. Spelling variant καινούργιος is equally common.
Why is it το παλιό τηλέφωνο and not ο παλιός τηλέφωνο?
Because τηλέφωνο is neuter. The article and adjective must be neuter nominative singular: το παλιό τηλέφωνο. Masculine would be ο παλιός.
What case is το παλιό τηλέφωνο in?
Nominative. It’s the subject of the second clause (το παλιό τηλέφωνο = the one doing the action), so the article/adjective are nominative neuter: το παλιό.
Do I need the definite article in το παλιό τηλέφωνο?
Yes, if you mean a specific, known phone: το παλιό τηλέφωνο. Without an article it sounds generic; with ένα it means “an old phone” (unspecified): ένα παλιό τηλέφωνο.
Where would I put “my,” as in “my old phone”?
Greek uses a post-nominal clitic:
- το παλιό μου τηλέφωνο = my old phone. For the first clause, if you want “my new computer” (implying possession):
- Έχω τον καινούριο μου υπολογιστή (I have my new computer [with me/possess it]).
But to state you own a newly acquired one, you normally say Έχω έναν καινούριο υπολογιστή.
Is το here an article or the pronoun “it”?
In το παλιό τηλέφωνο, το is the definite article. As a pronoun (“it”), το would appear before a verb, e.g., Το έχω = I have it.
Why is there a comma before αλλά?
It’s standard to use a comma before αλλά when linking two independent clauses. You may omit it in very short sentences, but it’s good style here.
Can I use όμως or μα instead of αλλά?
- αλλά = but (neutral default).
- όμως = however; can appear medially or initially and is more “discourse-like”: Όμως, το παλιό τηλέφωνο...
- μα = but; more informal/emphatic. All are acceptable with slight tone differences.
Can ακόμα move around, and is ακόμη different?
- Placement: You can say Το παλιό τηλέφωνο ακόμα δουλεύει, Το παλιό τηλέφωνο δουλεύει ακόμα, or Ακόμα δουλεύει το παλιό τηλέφωνο. Word order shifts emphasis but all are natural.
- ακόμα vs ακόμη: They’re interchangeable; ακόμη can feel a touch more formal/literary. Both mean “still/yet” depending on context.
How do I say “yet” in the negative?
Use ακόμα with negation:
- Δεν δουλεύει ακόμα / Ακόμα δεν δουλεύει = It doesn’t work yet.
For “no longer,” use πια or πλέον: Δεν δουλεύει πια/πλέον.
Does δουλεύει mean “he works” too? Is it okay for machines?
Yes. δουλεύω means “work” for people and “function/operate” for devices. For a more technical tone with devices, you can use λειτουργεί.
Why is the subject pronoun “I” missing in the first clause?
Greek is a pro-drop language: verb endings show the subject. Έχω already means “I have.” You add Εγώ only for emphasis: Εγώ έχω...
Could I say κομπιούτερ instead of υπολογιστής?
Yes. κομπιούτερ is a common loanword, indeclinable and neuter:
- Έχω ένα καινούριο κομπιούτερ.
Note the article switches to neuter ένα.
Can I put the adjective after the noun, like το τηλέφωνο το παλιό?
Yes. Greek has two attributive positions:
- Pre-nominal (neutral): το παλιό τηλέφωνο.
- Post-nominal (often emphatic/focused): το τηλέφωνο το παλιό.
Any common pitfalls with αλλά vs άλλα?
Yes.
- αλλά = but (accent on the last syllable, double λ).
- άλλα = other things (neuter plural of άλλος, accent on the first syllable).
They’re spelled/pronounced differently and mean different things.
Quick pronunciation tips for the key words?
Stress the syllables with accents:
- Έχω (É-kho)
- έναν (É-nan)
- καινούριο (ke-NÚ-rio)
- υπολογιστή (i-po-lo-yi-STÍ)
- αλλά (a-LÁ)
- το παλιό τηλέφωνο (to pa-LIÓ ti-LÉ-fo-no)
- ακόμα (a-KÓ-ma)
- δουλεύει (du-LÉ-vi)
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