Πόσα πράγματα θέλεις να φέρεις στο πανεπιστήμιο;

to want

Breakdown of Πόσα πράγματα θέλεις να φέρεις στο πανεπιστήμιο;

• να: to
• σε: to
• φέρνω: to bring
• το πανεπιστήμιο: the university
• το πράγμα: the thing
• πόσος: how many

Questions & Answers about Πόσα πράγματα θέλεις να φέρεις στο πανεπιστήμιο;

Why is it πόσα and not πόσο or πόσοι/πόσες?

Because it has to agree with πράγματα (things), which is neuter plural. The question word declines:

• Singular: πόσος (m), πόση (f), πόσο (n)
• Plural: πόσοι (m), πόσες (f), πόσα (n) So with neuter plural πράγματα, you use neuter plural πόσα.

What gender/number/case is πράγματα, and why?

Πράγματα is neuter plural, accusative. It’s the direct object of the verb inside the subordinate clause (να φέρεις). In Greek, neuter nominative and accusative look the same in both singular and plural; here it’s accusative because it’s being “brought.”

What does θέλεις να mean? Do we always need να after θέλω?

Θέλεις να means “you want to (do something).” After θέλω (I want), Greek normally uses να + subjunctive to express the action wanted: θέλω να πάω (I want to go), θέλεις να φέρεις (you want to bring).

Why να φέρεις and not να φέρνεις?

Aspect. Να φέρεις uses the perfective (a single, complete action—bring once/this time). Να φέρνεις uses the imperfective (habit/repeated/ongoing—bring regularly). Here the question is about one occasion, so perfective να φέρεις fits.

What’s the difference between φέρνω and φέρω, and which one is here?

They’re a suppletive pair: φέρνω is the imperfective stem (present/habitual: “I bring”), and φέρω is the perfective stem used in aorist/future/subjunctive (“I will bring,” “that I bring (once)”). In να φέρεις, it’s the perfective stem φέρω (2nd sg subjunctive).

Could I say Πόσα πράγματα θα φέρεις;? How does that change the meaning?

Yes. Πόσα πράγματα θα φέρεις; means “How many things will you bring?” (asking about a planned/future action). The original with θέλεις να asks about desire/intention: “How many things do you want to bring?”

Is θέλεις informal? How do I say it politely or to more than one person?

Θέλεις is 2nd person singular (informal). For polite/plural, use θέλετε: Πόσα πράγματα θέλετε να φέρετε στο πανεπιστήμιο; For extra politeness/softer tone: Θα ήθελες να… (sg) / Θα θέλατε να… (pl).

What exactly does στο mean here?

Στο is the contraction of σε + το (“in/at/to + the”). So στο πανεπιστήμιο = “to/at the university.” Other contractions: στον (σε + τον), στη(ν) (σε + την), στο (σε + το).

Does στο mean “to” or “at”? How do I choose?

Σε/στο can mean “to,” “in,” or “at.” The verb provides the motion/location meaning. With a motion verb like φέρνω (bring), στο πανεπιστήμιο is understood as “to the university.” With a stative/location verb, it could mean “at the university.”

Do I have to say εσύ for “you”?

No. Greek usually drops subject pronouns. Person/number are marked on the verb: θέλεις already tells us “you (singular).” You’d add εσύ only for emphasis or contrast.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

Approximate IPA: [ˈposa ˈpraɣmata ˈθelis na ˈferis sto paneˈpistimio] Notes:

• θ = th in “thin”
• γ before α/ο/ου is a soft g (voiced velar fricative [ɣ]): πράγματα = [ˈpraɣmata]
• Stress marks show the stressed syllable: πα-νε-πι-στί-μι-ο.

Why is there a semicolon at the end?

In Greek, the question mark is written as a semicolon (;). So …πανεπιστήμιο; is a question.

Can I drop πράγματα if it’s clear from context?

Yes. You can say Πόσα θέλεις να φέρεις; if it’s already clear you’re talking about “things.”

Why not use παίρνω (take)? What’s the difference from φέρνω (bring)?

Perspective. Φέρνω = bring toward the speaker/destination. Παίρνω = take away/along with you. From your perspective before leaving home, you might say: Πόσα πράγματα θα πάρεις μαζί σου στο πανεπιστήμιο; (How many things will you take with you to the university?)

Where does “not” go if I want to say “don’t want to bring” or “don’t bring”?

• “Don’t want to bring”: Δεν θέλω να φέρω… / Δεν θέλεις να φέρεις…
• Prohibiting “don’t bring”: Μη φέρεις πολλά πράγματα. (negative imperative) or Να μην φέρεις πολλά πράγματα. (subjunctive with negation)

Is the article necessary before πανεπιστήμιο?

Yes, Greek typically uses the definite article with nouns like institutions: στο πανεπιστήμιο. English often omits it (“to university”), but Greek does not. You’d omit it only in special contexts (signs, headlines, fixed phrases).

Can I move στο πανεπιστήμιο earlier in the sentence?

Yes. Word order is flexible for emphasis. For example: Στο πανεπιστήμιο, πόσα πράγματα θέλεις να φέρεις; The default neutral order is the one you were given.

Is θες acceptable instead of θέλεις?

Yes. Θες is a very common shorter form of θέλεις in speech and informal writing: Πόσα πράγματα θες να φέρεις στο πανεπιστήμιο;