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Breakdown of Αν συμφωνούσες, θα τελειώναμε αμέσως.
θα
will
αν
if
τελειώνω
to finish
αμέσως
immediately
συμφωνώ
to agree
Questions & Answers about Αν συμφωνούσες, θα τελειώναμε αμέσως.
Why are both verbs in the past if I’m talking about a hypothetical present or future?
Modern Greek uses the pattern Αν + imperfect (παρατατικός) … θα + imperfect (παρατατικός) for unreal/hypothetical present or future. Here, συμφωνούσες (imperfect of συμφωνώ) and θα τελειώναμε (θα + imperfect of τελειώνω) together mean “if … would …”
Can I put θα in the αν-clause (e.g., Αν θα συμφωνούσες )?
No. Standard Greek doesn’t use θα in the protasis. Say Αν συμφωνούσες. Using αν θα is nonstandard in this meaning.
Could I say Αν συμφωνείς or Αν συμφωνήσεις instead? What changes?
Yes, those express real/possible conditions (not counterfactual):
- Αν συμφωνείς, θα τελειώσουμε αμέσως. = If you agree (now/in general), we will finish at once.
- Αν συμφωνήσεις, θα τελειώσουμε αμέσως. = If you agree (on that one occasion), we will finish at once. By contrast, Αν συμφωνούσες, θα τελειώναμε… suggests you don’t (or probably won’t) agree.
Why is it θα τελειώναμε and not θα τελειώσουμε or τελειώσαμε?
- Θα τελειώναμε = “we would finish” (hypothetical/conditional).
- Θα τελειώσουμε = “we will finish” (simple future, real condition).
- Τελειώσαμε = “we finished” (plain past), not conditional.
What’s the difference between θα τελειώναμε and θα τελειώσουμε in English terms?
- Θα τελειώναμε = “we would finish.”
- Θα τελειώσουμε = “we will finish.”
How do I say the past counterfactual “If you had agreed, we would have finished (immediately)”?
Use a past perfect/aorist in the αν-clause and θα + perfect in the main clause:
- Αν είχες συμφωνήσει, θα είχαμε τελειώσει αμέσως.
Can I change the order of the clauses or move αμέσως?
Yes. Word order is flexible:
- Θα τελειώναμε αμέσως, αν συμφωνούσες.
- Αν συμφωνούσες, αμέσως θα τελειώναμε. Fronting αμέσως adds emphasis to “immediately.”
Is the comma after the αν-clause required?
When the αν-clause comes first, a comma is standard: Αν συμφωνούσες, …. If it comes second, no comma: Θα τελειώναμε αμέσως αν συμφωνούσες.
How do I make it polite with the formal “you”?
Use 2nd person plural:
- Αν συμφωνούσατε, θα τελειώναμε αμέσως. Optionally add εσείς for emphasis: Αν εσείς συμφωνούσατε, …
How do I negate it?
Place δεν before the verbs:
- Αν δεν συμφωνούσες, δεν θα τελειώναμε αμέσως. You can also negate only one clause, depending on meaning (e.g., Αν δεν συμφωνούσες, θα τελειώναμε αργά.).
Do I need a preposition after συμφωνώ? How do I say “agree with/on”?
- συμφωνώ με κάποιον (agree with someone): Αν συμφωνούσες με μένα, …
- συμφωνώ σε κάτι (agree on/to something): Αν συμφωνούσες σε αυτό το σχέδιο, … Omitting the complement is fine if context makes it clear.
Is αν the same as εάν or άμα?
Εάν is a more formal variant of αν; meaning is the same. Άμα is colloquial “if/when,” typically for real conditions (e.g., Άμα συμφωνήσεις, θα τελειώσουμε…). It’s not the usual choice for counterfactuals like your sentence.
“Finish” sounds instantaneous—why use the imperfect τελειώναμε?
In this conditional construction, Greek uses the imperfect to express “would,” regardless of the verb’s inherent aspect. It doesn’t imply a drawn-out action here. For the real future you’d use the perfective future: θα τελειώσουμε (αμέσως).
Any tips on stress and spelling?
- συμφωνούσες (stress on -νού-); common imperfect ending -ούσες (cf. μιλούσες).
- τελειώναμε (stress on -λώ-); spelling: τελει- (with -ει-) + ώνω.
- αμέσως (stress on -μέ-).
- αν never takes an accent.
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