Έπρεπε να φύγω νωρίς, γιατί είχα μάθημα.

to have

Breakdown of Έπρεπε να φύγω νωρίς, γιατί είχα μάθημα.

• να: to
• πρέπει: to have to
• γιατί: because

Questions & Answers about Έπρεπε να φύγω νωρίς, γιατί είχα μάθημα.

Why is the particle να used after έπρεπε?

Modern Greek has no infinitive. After verbs/expressions of necessity, desire, possibility, etc., Greek uses να plus the subjunctive to introduce the action. So έπρεπε να φύγω literally feels like “it was necessary that I leave.”

Common triggers: πρέπει να, έπρεπε να, θέλω να, μπορώ να, είναι καλό να.

Why is it να φύγω and not να φεύγω?

Aspect. Greek chooses between:

• Perfective (aorist) subjunctive: να φύγω = one complete event (to leave at some point).
• Imperfective subjunctive: να φεύγω = ongoing/habitual/progressive leaving.

Here, the speaker had to perform the single act of leaving, so perfective να φύγω is natural.

Can I say Έπρεπε να φεύγω? What would that mean?

Yes, but it changes the meaning. Έπρεπε να φεύγω suggests either:

• a habitual/regular obligation in the past: “I was supposed to be leaving (regularly),” e.g., Έπρεπε να φεύγω στις 5 κάθε μέρα; or
• a progressive expectation around a time point: “I was supposed to be in the process of leaving (then).”

It does not mean the single completed act “I had to leave (then).”

What exactly is έπρεπε grammatically?