Word
Μπορείς να παραγγείλεις εσύ; Δεν είμαι σίγουρος τώρα.
Meaning
Can you order? I am not sure now.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Questions & Answers about Μπορείς να παραγγείλεις εσύ; Δεν είμαι σίγουρος τώρα.
Why does the sentence use a semicolon (;) as a question mark?
In Greek, the semicolon character (;) is the question mark. The actual Greek semicolon is a raised dot (·), called the ano teleia. So εσύ; is simply a normal question ending in Greek.
What does adding εσύ do? Could I leave it out?
Greek normally drops subject pronouns, so Μπορείς να παραγγείλεις; is already “Can you order?”. Adding εσύ adds contrastive emphasis: “you (rather than me/someone else).”
- Neutral: Μπορείς να παραγγείλεις;
- Emphatic contrast: Μπορείς να παραγγείλεις εσύ;
- Even stronger/fronted: Εσύ μπορείς να παραγγείλεις;
What is the role of να, and what form is παραγγείλεις?
να introduces the subjunctive mood. παραγγείλεις is the aorist subjunctive, 2nd person singular, of παραγγέλνω (aorist: παράγγειλα). Together, Μπορείς να παραγγείλεις means “Can you (please) place the order (as a single action)?”
Why the aorist subjunctive here and not the present subjunctive? Could I say να παραγγέλνεις/να παραγγέλλεις?