Learn Hardcore Greek: Αποφασίζω να φύγω νωρίς το απόγευμα. - I decide to leave early in the afternoon.

Greek doesn’t have an infinitive form like English “to leave.” Instead, it uses να plus the verb in the subjunctive. After verbs of intention/decision/desire (like αποφασίζω, θέλω, πρέπει), you introduce the action with να: αποφασίζω να φύγω = “I decide to leave.”

Why is it να φύγω and not να φεύγω?

Greek distinguishes aspect in the subjunctive:

να φύγω (perfective) = one complete act of leaving (appropriate here).
να φεύγω (imperfective) = ongoing/habitual leaving.

So αποφασίζω να φύγω means you’re deciding on a single departure (e.g., today). You’d use να φεύγω for habits: Αποφασίζω να φεύγω νωρίς κάθε μέρα = “I decide to start leaving early every day.”

Do I need to say εγώ for “I”?

No. Greek is a pro‑drop language; the verb ending -ω in αποφασίζω already marks first person singular. Use εγώ only for emphasis or contrast: Εγώ αποφασίζω να φύγω... (“I am the one deciding to leave...”).

Is the present αποφασίζω the best choice? What about past or future?

It depends on what you mean:

Present: Αποφασίζω να φύγω... = I am in the process of deciding now.
Aorist (past, single event): Αποφάσισα να φύγω... = I decided.
Future: Θα αποφασίσω αργότερα = I will decide later.
Present perfect (decision made, still in effect): Έχω αποφασίσει να φύγω...

Mini “principal parts”:

Present: αποφασίζω
Aorist: αποφάσισα
Future: θα αποφασίσω
Perfect: έχω αποφασίσει

Is this sentence natural in everyday Greek, or is there a more common way to express the plan?

It’s correct, but everyday Greek often prefers:

Θα φύγω νωρίς το απόγευμα (plain statement of plan)
Λέω να φύγω νωρίς το απόγευμα (colloquial, tentative: “I’m thinking I’ll leave...”)
Σκοπεύω να φύγω νωρίς το απόγευμα (I intend to leave)

Αποφασίζω να... sounds a bit more formal/deliberate unless you really mean the act of deciding.

Where can I place νωρίς το απόγευμα in the sentence?

Common, natural options:

End position (neutral): Αποφασίζω να φύγω νωρίς το απόγευμα.
Split order (also fine): Αποφασίζω να φύγω το απόγευμα νωρίς.
Fronted for emphasis on time: Νωρίς το απόγευμα αποφασίζω να φύγω.

Greek word order is flexible; moving time expressions changes emphasis, not meaning.

Why is there no preposition like “in” before το απόγευμα?

Greek often uses the definite article with parts of the day to mean “in the …”:

το πρωί = in the morning
το μεσημέρι = at noon
το απόγευμα = in the afternoon
το βράδυ, τη νύχτα

To be specific about today: σήμερα το απόγευμα = this afternoon.

How do I pronounce φεύγω and φύγω?

φεύγω ≈ “FEV-gho” (the γ is a soft voiced “gh,” like Spanish g in “amigo” before a/o/u). The ευ here sounds like “ev.”
φύγω ≈ “FEE-gho” (with υ as “ee”).

Notice both have the soft Greek γ sound [ɣ], not a hard “g.”

What exactly does νωρίς mean, and how is it different from νωρίτερα or γρήγορα?

νωρίς = early (time): Θα φύγω νωρίς = I’ll leave early.
νωρίτερα / πιο νωρίς = earlier (comparative): Θα φύγω νωρίτερα = I’ll leave earlier.
γρήγορα = quickly/fast (speed), not about time: Φεύγω γρήγορα = I’m leaving quickly.

Does νωρίς το απόγευμα mean “early in the afternoon” or “earlier than usual in the afternoon”?

By default it means “early in the afternoon” (the earlier part of the afternoon, roughly 1–3 pm). If you mean “earlier than usual,” say:

νωρίτερα απ’ ό,τι συνήθως το απόγευμα
πιο νωρίς από το συνηθισμένο το απόγευμα

How do I say “I decide not to leave early in the afternoon”?

Use μη(ν) to negate the subjunctive:

Αποφασίζω να μη(ν) φύγω νωρίς το απόγευμα. Both μη and μην are heard; a simple rule of thumb is to use μην before vowels and certain consonants for euphony. Before φύγω, you’ll commonly hear μη or μην; both are acceptable in practice.

Is να always required after αποφασίζω?

When what follows is an action, yes: αποφασίζω να + subjunctive. You can also decide “a thing” (a noun phrase), e.g., αποφασίζω την αποχώρησή μου (formal), but everyday speech strongly prefers να + verb.

Can I use two να clauses in a row, like “I must decide to leave”?

Yes. Example: Πρέπει να αποφασίσω να φύγω. Here, πρέπει takes να αποφασίσω, and αποφασίσω itself takes να φύγω. It’s grammatical; whether it sounds natural depends on context (often you’d simplify your message).

Do I need the article in το απόγευμα? Can I say just απόγευμα?

With parts of the day, the article is standard: το απόγευμα. Saying just απόγευμα without context/article typically sounds incomplete. For habitual times you might use the plural with article: τα απογεύματα (in the afternoons).