Learn Hardcore Greek: Αγαπάω να τρώω έξω, αλλά ο αδερφός μου σπάνια έρχεται. - I love eating out, but my brother rarely comes.

Full forms (more colloquial): αγαπάω, αγαπάς, αγαπάει, αγαπάμε, αγαπάτε, αγαπάνε.
Contracted forms (a bit more formal/neutral): αγαπώ, αγαπάς, αγαπά, αγαπούμε/αγαπάμε, αγαπάτε, αγαπούν(ε). Meaning is identical; it’s just a style preference.

Why is να τρώω used? Doesn’t Greek have an infinitive like “to eat”?

Modern Greek doesn’t use an infinitive. It uses the particle να plus the subjunctive. After verbs of liking/wanting, you’ll see να + verb:

αγαπάω να τρώω = “I love to eat/I love eating.” Here τρώω is the present (imperfective) subjunctive, which looks the same as the present indicative.

When would I say να φάω instead of να τρώω?

Use aspect:

να τρώω (imperfective) = habit, ongoing or repeated activity (“eating out in general”).
να φάω (aorist/perfective) = a single, complete event (“to eat out once/this time”). With verbs like αγαπάω/μου αρέσει, the imperfective (να τρώω) is the natural choice because it expresses a general preference.

Is τρώω έξω idiomatic for “eat out”? Any other natural options?

Yes, τρώω έξω is the standard idiom. Other natural ways:

Βγαίνω (έξω) για φαγητό.
Πάμε για φαγητό.
Πάμε να φάμε έξω. Note: βγαίνω έξω is a pleonasm but very common and perfectly acceptable.

Do I need the comma before αλλά?

Yes, when αλλά links two independent clauses, Greek normally puts a comma before it: …, αλλά …. That’s exactly the case here.

What’s the difference between αλλά and όμως?

Both mean “but/however,” but:

αλλά is a coordinating conjunction placed between clauses: …, αλλά ….
όμως is an adverbial connector. It can go at the start or inside the second clause and is often set off with commas: Όμως, … or …, όμως, …. Nuance is similar; όμως can feel a bit more contrastive.

Why is it ο αδερφός μου? Why the article and why is μου after the noun?

Greek typically uses the definite article with possessives. The weak genitive pronoun μου follows the noun:

ο αδερφός μου = “my brother” (most common, neutral). For emphasis/contrast you can use ο δικός μου αδερφός. Dropping the article (αδερφός μου) is possible in headlines, notes, or vocatives, but less common in neutral prose.

Is it αδερφός or αδελφός?

Both spellings are standard. αδερφός is more common in everyday writing; αδελφός looks a bit more formal/learned. Pronunciation in practice is the same in most accents.

What’s the usual plural of αδερφός?

Two options:

Masculine plural: οι αδερφοί/αδελφοί (more formal/written).
Neuter collective (most common in speech): τα αδέρφια = “siblings/brothers.”

Can σπάνια go somewhere else in the sentence?

Yes. Placement is flexible:

Ο αδερφός μου σπάνια έρχεται (neutral).
Σπάνια ο αδερφός μου έρχεται (fronted for emphasis on “rarely”).
Ο αδερφός μου έρχεται σπάνια (also fine, slightly different rhythm). Meaning stays the same; word order tweaks emphasis.

Do I need δεν with σπάνια?

No. σπάνια already means “rarely” and does not take δεν. For absolute negation you’d use ποτέ with δεν (e.g., “never”).

Why έρχεται and not πάει/πηγαίνει?

έρχομαι = come (toward the speaker’s or group’s location/plan).
πάω/πηγαίνω = go (to some place, not toward the speaker). Here the idea is “he rarely comes (along/with us),” so έρχεται fits best. If you meant “he rarely goes (to restaurants),” you’d use πηγαίνει.

Do I need to say μαζί μου to mean “comes with me”?

It’s optional. The context (loving to eat out) implies “comes along.” You can make it explicit with σπάνια έρχεται μαζί μου/μαζί μας if needed.

Why is τρώω written with two omegas? Is that normal, and what’s the past?

Yes, τρώω with double ω is the standard spelling (historically from τρώγω). Present: τρώω, τρως, τρώει, τρώμε, τρώτε, τρώνε. The aorist (simple past) is irregular: έφαγα (e.g., “I ate”).