Learn Hardcore Greek: Η γυναίκα δεν ξεχνάει ποτέ το σχέδιο.

Use δεν for ordinary (indicative) statements: facts and descriptions. Use μη(ν) with the subjunctive/imperative: after να, ας, in prohibitions or wishes.

Indicative: Δεν ξεχνάει. (She doesn’t forget.)
Subjunctive/imperative: Να μην ξεχάσεις. / Μην ξεχνάς! (Don’t forget.)

Where does ποτέ go? Is Δεν … ποτέ the only option?

The default is after the verb: Δεν ξεχνάει ποτέ … You can front it for emphasis: Ποτέ δεν ξεχνάει … Both are standard. You can also place it near the end for focus: Δεν ξεχνάει το σχέδιο ποτέ. Fronted Ποτέ is more emphatic.

Does ποτέ always need negation? And what’s the difference between ποτέ and πότε?

In statements, ποτέ typically goes with negation (δεν) and means “never”: Δεν πίνει ποτέ καφέ.
In questions/conditionals, without negation, it means “ever/at any time”: Έχεις ποτέ ξεχάσει…; / Αν ποτέ ξεχάσεις…
πότε (stress on the first syllable) means “when?”: Πότε έρχεσαι;
ποτέ (stress on the last) means “ever/never.”

Why do I sometimes see ξεχνάει and other times ξεχνά? Which should I use?

Both are correct 3rd person singular present. Verbs of the -άω/-ώ type have two parallel forms:

ξεχνάει (more colloquial)
ξεχνά (a bit more concise/formal)
You’ll hear both in everyday Greek. Same pattern: μιλάει/μιλά, ρωτάει/ρωτά.

What’s the base form of ξεχνάει, and how do I say the other persons?

The verb is listed as ξεχνάω or ξεχνώ (“to forget”). Present tense options:

I: ξεχνάω / ξεχνώ
You (sg): ξεχνάς
He/She/It: ξεχνάει / ξεχνά
We: ξεχνάμε / ξεχνούμε
You (pl): ξεχνάτε
They: ξεχνάν(ε) / ξεχνούν(ε)

Can I replace το σχέδιο with a pronoun and say Η γυναίκα δεν το ξεχνάει ποτέ?

Yes. το here is the object pronoun “it,” and it’s very natural if the object is known from context. Greek also allows “clitic doubling” for emphasis/topicalization:

Το σχέδιο δεν το ξεχνάει ποτέ η γυναίκα. (Strong focus on “the plan.”)

Why are Η and το used? Could I say “a woman … a plan”?

Η γυναίκα and το σχέδιο use the definite article because they refer to specific, identifiable entities in context (Greek uses the definite article broadly). If you mean “a woman … a plan,” use the indefinite:

Μια γυναίκα δεν ξεχνάει ποτέ ένα σχέδιο.
With negation, Greek often prefers κανένα for “any/no”:
Μια γυναίκα δεν ξεχνάει ποτέ κανένα σχέδιο.

Is Greek word order flexible here?

Yes. Core S–V–O is common, but you can reorder for emphasis:

Neutral: Η γυναίκα δεν ξεχνάει ποτέ το σχέδιο.
Emphasis on “never”: Ποτέ δεν ξεχνάει η γυναίκα το σχέδιο.
Emphasis on “the plan”: Το σχέδιο δεν το ξεχνάει ποτέ η γυναίκα. (Note the pronoun το is preferred when the object is fronted.)

How is this pronounced? Any tricky letters?

Η is pronounced like “ee,” not an English “h.”
γ before ε/ι/υ sounds like the “y” in “yes”: γυ- ≈ “yi.”
δ is the voiced “th” of “this.”
ξ = “ks” (as in “books”).
χ before ε/ι is a soft, hissy h (like German “ich”); in σχ you get σ
- that soft χ.
Word stress: γυναίκα, ξεχνάει (two syllables: -νά-ει), ποτέ, σχέδιο.

What exactly does σχέδιο mean? Are there alternatives like πλάνο or πρόγραμμα?

σχέδιο: plan, design, drawing, scheme (very general).
πλάνο: a plan/outline; also a “shot” in film.
πρόγραμμα: schedule/program/timetable.
Choose based on context: a design/drawing = σχέδιο; a schedule = πρόγραμμα; a strategic outline or film shot = often πλάνο.

Is δεν … ποτέ a “double negation” that cancels out?

No. Modern Greek uses negative concord: multiple negative elements strengthen a single negation. Δεν … ποτέ means “never,” not “sometimes.” You’ll also see Δεν … κανένας/καμία/κανένα (“no one/none”).

How do I say “ever” in a question with this verb?

Use ποτέ without δεν:

Έχεις ποτέ ξεχάσει το σχέδιο; (Have you ever forgotten the plan?) In conditionals: Αν ποτέ ξεχάσεις το σχέδιο, …

How do I say this in other tenses: future or past?

Future: Η γυναίκα δεν θα το ξεχάσει ποτέ. (She will never forget it.)
Simple past: Η γυναίκα δεν το ξέχασε ποτέ. (She never forgot it.)
Present perfect: Η γυναίκα δεν το έχει ξεχάσει ποτέ. (She has never forgotten it.)

Why isn’t there an “about,” like “forget about the plan”?

Greek ξεχνάω takes a direct object: ξεχνάω κάτι (forget something). No preposition is needed. For “forget to do something,” use να + verb: Ξέχασα να φέρω το σχέδιο.

Is the initial Η the same as English “H”? And why not Ή?

Uppercase Η is the feminine article “the” (lowercase η), pronounced “ee,” not an English “h.” Ή (with accent) is the conjunction “or.” Here it’s the article Η, not Ή.